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

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Waterstone's asks publishers to scale-back March orders

Written By: Lisa Campbell Waterstone's is cutting orders it makes on new titles from March to reduce its number of returns. The book retailer contacted suppliers this week asking them to reduce initial orders by about 20%. Publishers were asked to cancel existing pre-orders so that new orders... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fry Communications Builds Out Suite of Publisher Services

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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2011-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Republic Editor (and Part Owner) Steps Down After 37 Years

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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For Publishers, Who Are the Gatekeepers of Social Media?

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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hachette to close teen magazine Sugar after 16 years

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[ Media Week | 2011-01-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How One Small Publisher Cracked the App Store Top 25

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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-01-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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