‘It’s quite galling’: children’s authors frustrated by rise in celebrity-penned titles

Keira Knightley is latest star to publish a children’s book, but some say trend pushes aside genuine writers and makes it harder to find great children’s fiction“A modern classic by Keira Knightley” reads the provisional cover of the actor’s debut children’s book, I Love You Just the Same. Set to be published next October, the 80-page volume, written and illustrated by Knightley, is about a girl navigating the changing dynamics that come with the arrival of a sibling.The Pirates of the Caribbean star is the latest in a long list of celebrities to have turned to writing children’s books. McFly’s Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter have been hovering at the top of the bestseller chart since the publication last month of their latest book The Dinosaur that Pooped Halloween!. Earlier in the year, David Walliams dominated with his newest book Astrochimp. The entertainer has sold 25m copies of his children’s titles in the UK alone, according to Nielsen BookData. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2024-10-20 13:00:48 UTC ]
News tagged with: #authors frustrated #trend pushes #genuine writers #provisional cover #80-page volume #girl navigating #changing dynamics #caribbean star #long list #tom fletcher #dougie poynter #bestseller chart #pooped halloween #nielsen bookdata #nielsen #latest book

Other Publishing stories related to: '‘It’s quite galling’: children’s authors frustrated by rise in celebrity-penned titles'


New picture book imprint for Macmillan Children's

Pan Macmillan will this autumn launch a children’s book imprint within Macmillan Children’s Books (MCB), to be run by Suzanne Carnell. Carnell is currently publishing director of picture books and pre-school of the MCB Under 6 division. Under the new imprint, which is yet to be named, she will... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books mcb #book imprint #suzanne carnell #macmillan children #pan macmillan #picture books #emily gravett


Children's Choice Book Award Finalists Announced

The finalists for this year's Children's Choice Book Awards have been announced, in seven categories, which young readers across the country will vote for online from Tuesday, March 17through Sunday, May 3. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #young readers


Sales rise, but Foyles dips into loss

Foyles reported a loss last year due to the closure of its Westfield White City branch and the move of its new flagship store, although sales were up 2.2%. Results for the year to 30th June 2014 show that the six-shop mini-chain slipped into a loss of £600,000, up from a profit of £100,000 in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #year due #sales rise #flagship store


BEA Unveils 2015 Adult Author Breakfast Lineup

The event will be emceed by Kunal Nayyar, best known for his role as Raj on CBS’s 'The Big Bang Theory.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


VIDEO: India's chart-topping author Amish Tripathi

Amish Tripathi's Shiva trilogy about the popular Hindu deity has become the fastest selling book series in Indian publishing. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2015-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #indian publishing


Patterson most borrowed author but loan numbers fall

James Patterson remains the most borrowed author in UK libraries for the eighth year running, according to data released today (13th February) by the Public Lending Right (PLR). Daisy Meadows holds firm in second place, while fellow children’s authors Julia Donaldson and Francesca Simon remain... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk libraries #public lending #fellow children #nora roberts #jacqueline wilson #roald dahl #lee child


Valentine's Day: Bookstores take part in celebrations

One store is having staff act out famous rom-com bookstore scenes, while another is giving a prize to someone with a great love story. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Peru’s Colmena Editores Gives Edgy Debut Authors a Voice

One of Peru's fledgling publishers, Colmena Editores, is making room for edgy new generation of authors, while also offering classics and criticism. The post Peru’s Colmena Editores Gives Edgy Debut Authors a Voice appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post peru #making room


'Into the Wild' author Jon Krakauer will write a book about sexual assaults on campus

Jon Krakauer's upcoming book 'Missoula' will center on stories he was told by those who said they experienced sexual assault at the University of Montana. Krakauer is also the author of 'Into Thin Air.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #upcoming book #thin air


Faber to publish Would I Lie to You? titles

Faber has acquired the rights to publish two books based on the BBC comedy panel show "Would I Lie to You?". The publisher beat seven other publishers to acquire the rights and the first, Would I Lie To You? Presents the 100 Most Popular Lies of All Time, will be released in October. The book... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books based #popular lies


Riddell, Scheffler contribute to freedom of speech title

Illustrators such as Chris Riddell [pictured], Axel Scheffler and Peter Sís have contributed to a book defending freedom of speech after the terror attack on Charlie Hebdo in France. The book will be published on the 12th February by German children’s publisher Aladin and is entitled... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #german children #axel scheffler #terror attack #charlie hebdo #12th february


Orion Children’s acquires new Lawrence series

Orion Children’s Books has acquired a new adventure series by Caroline Lawrence, author of The Roman Mysteries books, set in Roman Britain. Editor Felicity Johnston acquired the world rights to four books, excluding the US and Canada, from Clare Pearson at Eddison Pearson. The series, entitled... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #world rights #adventure series #orion children


Celebration and protest marks National Libraries Day

Around 700 events took place to celebrate National Libraries Day on Saturday (7th February), 100 more than the previous year, according to CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, which now organises the day. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #chartered institute #information professionals


Authors on the Air February 10, 2015: David and Jason Benham

David and Jason Benham, authors of 'Whatever the Cost: Facing Your Fears, Dying to Your Dreams, and Living Powerfully' (W Publishing Group/HarperCollins, 9780718032999), will appear on 'Fox & Friends' on Tuesday, February 10. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fox friends


Children's, Harlequin and backlist sales boost HarperCollins

A strong performance from HarperCollins and the acquisition of Harlequin has boosted parent company News Corp's quarterly results. Revenue for publisher's worldwide operation for the second quarter of the financial year, covering the three months to December 31st 2014, increased 20% from $391m... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #strong performance #harpercollins uk #quarterly results #results released #financial year


Speed, Flexibility Wins Spain’s Lantia Two Coelho Titles

POD publisher and digital distributor Lantia will provide global print publication for two Paulo Coelho novellas, beating out his traditional publishers. The post Speed, Flexibility Wins Spain’s Lantia Two Coelho Titles appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #traditional publishers


'Go Set a Watchman': more discussion, questions about 'To Kill a Mockingbird' author Harper Lee's new book

It was recently announced that 'To Kill a Mockingbird' writer Harper Lee, who famously only released her classic novel, will publish a second book this summer. 'If you read the book ... only Harper Lee could have written this novel,' said Jonathan Burnham, senior vice president and publisher of... Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harper lee #recently announced #jonathan burnham


Q&A with Strand Book Store Children's Buyer Stella Williams

Bookseller Stella Williams tells PW about working at the New York City's famed Strand Book Store, and the plans to grow the store's children's department. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Hutchinson to publish charity title on fathers and sons

Bono, Colm Tóibín, Paul McCartney and Salman Rushdie are among the big names contributing to an anthology about sons and fathers, as part of a joint venture between Hutchinson and The Irish Hospice Foundation. Jason Arthur, publisher of Hutchinson, Heinemann and Windmill, agreed a joint-venture... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #colm tibn #paul mccartney #joint venture #world rights #excluding ireland


Boom! Studios Celebrates 10 Years

Boom! Studio celebrates a decade publishing original graphic novels and comics, as well as recent movie and TV deals and a push for diversity. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tv deals