Kamila Shamsie: let’s have a year of publishing only women – a provocation

It is clear that there is a gender bias in publishing houses and the world of books. Well, enough. Why not try something radical? Make 2018 the Year of Publishing Women, in which no new titles should be by menSeveral years ago, Martin Amis chaired a literary festival panel on “The Crisis of American Fiction” with Richard Ford, Jay McInerney and Junot Díaz. I was in the audience, and halfway through the discussion leaned over to the person sitting next to me and said: “Clearly the crisis of American fiction is that there are no women in it.” It’s not just that there weren’t any women on the stage. In the entire discussion, which lasted nearly an hour, there was no mention of Toni Morrison, Marilynne Robinson, Annie Proulx, Anne Tyler, Donna Tartt, Jhumpa Lahiri or any other contemporary female writer. A single reference to Eudora Welty was the only acknowledgment that women in the US have ever had anything to do with the world of letters. Díaz, near the end of the hour, made the point that the conversation had centred on white American males, but it was too little, too late.I think of this panel when reading yet another article or survey about the gender imbalance that exists in publishing houses, in terms of reviews, top positions in publishing houses, literary prizes etc. The issue can’t of course be broken down into a story of fair-minded women versus bigoted men. Like any effective system of power – and patriarchy is, over time and space, the world’s most effective... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #anne tyler #donna tartt #jhumpa lahiri #gender imbalance #top positions #literary prizes #effective system #win prizes

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Kamila Shamsie: let’s have a year of publishing only women – a provocation'


Major Publishers Untroubled by Ad Blocking

According to ad-blocking data provider PageFair, more users are now making use of browser plugins such as Adblock Plus to remove ads from the sites they visit. A recent report it published claimed the trend “is threatening the business mode ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ad blocking #remove ads #recent report


Publishing Hears Echoes of Netflix Business Model

Offering unlimited television shows and music for a flat monthly fee has worked for Netflix Inc. and Spotify AB. Will it work in the book industry? Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book industry


September’s Top Reviews of Self-Published Books from BlueInk Review

This month's “starred” reviews of self-published books include a collection of spiritualist lectures, an examination of the Andean Q’ero faith and a pair of compelling novels. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #top reviews #self-published books #blueink review #starred reviews


Egyptian Publishers Diversify in Face of Uncertain Future

Ongoing political uncertainty has resulted in a depressed local book market leading Egyptian to look elsewhere in the Arab world and further abroad to bolster business. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uncertain future #arab world


Bloomsbury acquires Hart Publishing for £6.5m

Bloomsbury has acquired legal publisher Hart Publishing for £6.5m. The addition of Hart... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


The View From The Tree : 6 Things Magazine Publishers Should Stop Doing Now

By D. Eadward Tree The future of publishing ain't what it used to be. A few years ago, "everyone" knew what was coming: except for a few old-timers and Luddites, consumers would soon switch entirely to digital... Continue reading at Publishing Executive

[ Publishing Executive | 2013-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #eadward tree


The ABA-Kobo Partnership, a Year Later

Almost exactly one year ago, the American Booksellers Association announced that it would replace its ebook partnership with Google for one with Kobo, in time for the 2012 holiday season. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook partnership


Beijing 2013: Savvy Publishers, Closer Collaboration

Almost everybody reported increased sales to China, and no one had failed to note (and welcome) the changes within the Chinese reading and publishing community. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #closer collaboration #publishing community


Kindle ebookstore and self-publishing platform now available in Mexico

Both readers and writers in Mexico have a reason to rejoice today, as Amazon has just launched the Kindle Store and Kindle Direct Publishing in their country. The ebookstore will feature over 70,000 Spanish-language titles, as well as ebooks in indigenous tongues like Nahuatl. To help fill up... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #paulo coelho #basic kindle #kindle paperwhite #mortar shops #press releases


Sales, Profits Up at Lagardere Publishing

Total sales at Lagardere Publishing rose 1.4% in the first half of 2013, to 917 million euros, while EBIT increased 24.6% to 71 million euros. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #total sales #lagardere publishing


Guinness World Records Signs Deal with China’s Largest ELT Publisher

In a ceremony at the 2013 Beijing International Book Fair, Guinness World Records (GWR) and China’s Foreign Language Teaching and Research Publishing (FLTRP) signed an agreement for the publication of the 2014 Chinese-language edition of the Guinness World Records annual book. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


AUDIO: Roeg reflects on 60-year career

Veteran filmmaker Nicolas Roeg has published a book of memoirs, featuring insights from a career spanning six decades. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2013-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #career spanning


VIDEO: Online publishing firms growing

The internet and new technology is making a dream of being an author a reality for many writers. Online self-publishing - bypassing agents and publishing houses is now a fast-growing sector. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2013-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing houses


Six iPad Magazines That Are Changing The Publishing Business

Remember when the iPad was supposed to save publishing? For all the hype of the tablet revolution and its impact on the industry, most digital magazines are still growing into the form factor. Far too often, tablet mags are simply regurgitated copies of the print edition served up as clunky,... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #traditional format #good start


Hot Key to publish Alloy titles

Hot Key Books has signed a deal to become one of the UK publishers for Alloy Entertainment,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hot key #uk publishers #alloy entertainment


Hanson Leads S&S Canada into Publishing

After finally winning permission in May from the Canadian government to publish Canadian books, rather than just marketing titles from the U.S. and U.K., Simon & Schuster Canada is gearing up to release its first domestic list under the direction of Kevin Hanson. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kevin hanson


Haruki Murakami's latest novel to be published in the U.S. in 2014

The Haruki Murakami book that has sold 1 million copies a week in Japan is coming to America. It has been selling spectacularly -- particularly for a work of complex literary fiction.The Haruki Murakami book that has sold 1 million copies a week in Japan is coming to America. It has been selling... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #haruki murakami


Publishing Perspectives Frankfurt Book Fair Preview 2013

Download Publishing Perspectives' Frankfurt Book Fair preview of what’s new, what’s happening, and what are likely to be some of the hot topics of discussion this year. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hot topics


Ether for Authors: How Clear a View of Publishing Do We Have?

At Publishing Perspectives, Porter Anderson looks at Bowker's new market research, at grassroots survey efforts, and at questions around ebooks' potential. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #porter anderson #market research


Book festival celebrates 30 years

The Edinburgh Book Festival, which is celebrating 30 years, is the "largest and best respected literary festival in the world", according to its director. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |