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 ]
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Education Publishers Push Digital Content as the New School Year Begins

A study commissioned by Ingram finds that students delay or avoid purchasing expensive textbooks. Education publishers respond with digital textbooks. The post Education Publishers Push Digital Content as the New School Year Begins appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Women in Publishing reactivates, schedules pay gap meeting

Women in Publishing is to restart its regular meetings this autumn, launching with a panel discussion to explore the pay gap in September. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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NYU’s Summer Publishing Institute Wraps its 40th Year

The New York University Summer Publishing Institute marked its anniversary year with a number of special events this summer. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-07-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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U.K. Reports 2017 As Record Year for Publishing

The U.K. publishing industry had a record-breaking year in 2017, with income up 5% to £5.7 billion, according to figures released by the Publishers Association in its annual Yearbook. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Church Publishing Looks Back on 100 Years of Books

Celebrating 100 years in the book business, Church Publishing Incorporated is honoring its Episcopal roots while also adapting to a broad and changing audience. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Europe’s Transbook Project Closes: Four Years in Digital Publishing for Children

In its four years, the partners brought together by the Transbook project based in children's literature, tried to learn 'what is the digital model in the publishing industry?' The post Europe’s Transbook Project Closes: Four Years in Digital Publishing for Children appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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John Murray and Hodder celebrate 400 years of publishing

Four hundred years of publishing history was toasted last night at the combined John Murray 250th and Hodder & Stoughton 150th anniversary party. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Shamsie scoops 2018's Women’s Prize for Fiction

Kamila Shamsie has scooped this year's £30,000 Women’s Prize for Fiction for her "extraordinarily topical" novel Home Fire (Bloomsbury Circus).  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Parker to leave Bonnier Publishing after 20 years

Sharon Parker, Bonnier Publishing's group chief operating officer, is stepping down from her role after 20 years with the company. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As BookExpo Approaches, US Publishers Cite Revenue Up In First Quarter of the Year

Once more, downloaded audiobooks are the format leader, up 32.1 percent in the first quarter of 2018, according to the Association of American Publishers' StatShot report. The post As BookExpo Approaches, US Publishers Cite Revenue Up In First Quarter of the Year appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Urbane to publish title on 50 years of Airbus

Indie publisher Urbane Publications is to bring out a book in May 2019 commemorating the 50th anniversary of European aerospace company Airbus. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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US Publishers’ StatShot 2017 Report: Fifth Year of Double-Digit Audiobooks Growth

The Association of American Pubslishers StatShot program cites 29.7-percent growth over 2016 in downloaded audiobook revenue, despite overall flat performance in publisher revenue in 2017. The post US Publishers’ StatShot 2017 Report: Fifth Year of Double-Digit Audiobooks Growth appeared first... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BIEF’s Nicolas Roche on French Publishing in the World: ‘Meetings All Year Long’

About six months into his new role as managing director of the Bureau international de l'édition française, or BIEF, Nicolas Roche is leading the French publishing industry's outreach program to open new markets and develop new readership for France's literature. The post BIEF’s Nicolas Roche on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-04-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A U.K. Oral History Documents Women in Publishing

An oral history project just launched in the U.K. to document the history of women in publishing has collected interviews with a pioneering generation of female book industry professionals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-04-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rebuck, Calder, Gregory reflect on the impact of Women in Publishing

Thirty high-profile former members of Women in Publishing reflect on how the group empowered women in the industry in the 1970s and '80s in an oral history being made available at the British Library. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Best Children’s Publishers of the Year’ Named at Bologna Book Fair

Named in six parts of the world, Bologna's six annual cohort of 'Best Children's Publishers of the Year' is named on the first evening of the book fair. The post ‘Best Children’s Publishers of the Year’ Named at Bologna Book Fair appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Radical’ Verso Wins IPG’s Frankfurter Buchmesse Trade Publisher of the Year

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hay and The Pool to celebrate 100 years of women's literature

Hay Festival is partnering with The Pool on a public campaign to select 100 books by women from the last 100 years to be celebrated at its festivals in the UK and around the world. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Maths - No Problem! scoops IPG's Independent Publisher of the Year

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[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Women's manifesto' backed by Shamsie and Wood

PEN International is launching a "Women's Manifesto" on International Women's Day: a set of principles aiming to protect women's free expression. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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