Literary fiction conveys the human character | Letters

Helen Cross, Andy Stelman, Mark Stewart and Richard Adams respond to a recent Guardian article by Tim LottAs someone whose tiny, grimy literary novels have attracted the interest of the film industry, the truth is the opposite of what Tim Lott (Why should we subsidise writers who’ve lost the plot?, 2 January) suggests; it’s the screenwriter who needs the literary novelist. Plot is easy to learn (and even easier to flog to impressionable students excited by the supposed glamour of the writing life), but impossible to make work on the page without an ability to master what the novel can uniquely convey: the deep mysteries of human interiority. Or, as the screenwriters say, character.Helen CrossFlamborough, East Yorkshire• Tim Lott clearly has not heard of, nor read: Adam Thorpe (Ulverton), Graham Swift (Waterland and Mothering Sunday), Sebastian Barry (A Long, Long Way and Days Without End), Colm Tóibín (Norah Webster), Kamila Shamsie (Home Fire), Salley Vickers (Miss Garnet’s Angel) and many other contemporary British and Irish authors who maintain and expand a “great tradition” of fictional output.Andy StelmanBishop’s Castle, Shropshire Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-01-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #mothering sunday #sebastian barry #irish authors

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Literary fiction conveys the human character | Letters'


The Man Booker Prize for Fiction Names Its 2018 Shortlist

'Ranging across space and time,' according to jury chair Kwame Anthony Appiah, the 2018 Man Booker Prize shortlist includes three authors from the UK, one from Canada, two from the United States. The post The Man Booker Prize for Fiction Names Its 2018 Shortlist appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


DHH Literary goes north to find 'distinctive and diverse' talent

DHH Literary Agency is travelling to York - agency founder David Headley's home city - in a concerted effort to find "distinctive and diverse" voices outside of the M25. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #concerted effort


National Book Awards 2018 Longlist: Fiction

The 10 books longlisted by the National Book Foundation for the 2018 National Book Awards in fiction feature five titles from imprints of Penguin Random House and one each from Graywolf, McSweeney's, Soho Press, Workman, and Simon & Schuster. The post National Book Awards 2018 Longlist:... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fiction appeared #soho press #simon schuster


Oldcastle Books launches digital-only genre fiction imprint

Independent publishing group Oldcastle Books is launching a digital-only sister company, Verve Books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sister company


Who are the real pirates in academic publishing? | Letters

Readers respond to George Monbiot’s article on the global scientific publishing industryI would like to thank both the Guardian and George Monbiot for pointing out to the public what academics like myself have known for a long time (Those who set knowledge free are heroes, not thieves, 13... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-09-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #widely read #developing world #poverty line


Scribe 'recommits' to European non-fiction with three deals

Scribe has commissioned three “fascinating forays into European non-fiction” as part of its “recommitment” to the genre. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


The compost chaos of John Calder’s office | Letters

Chris Barlas recalls working in the Brewer Street office of the publisher and bookseller who championed some of the great avant-garde writers of the 20th centuryI worked for John Calder (Obituary, 3 September) for a couple of years in the 70s, as editor of Gambit, the theatre magazine. It was... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-09-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Fourth Estate signs fiction from 'multi-talented' Inua Ellams

Fourth Estate is to publish two works of fiction by poet and playwright Inua Ellams. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fourth estate


Non-fiction drives Children's growth in 2018

While the Children's market as a whole has plateaued in value since leaping 7% in 2016, with the full-year for 2017 posting a razor-thin 0.07% in growth, the Children's Non-Fiction category is booming in 2018. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Folio Literary Management Acquires Harold Ober Associates

Folio Literary Management, LLC, has acquired Harold Ober Associates, a full-service literary agency founded in 1929 that has represented some of the literary titans of the 20th century, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner, Agatha Christie and J.D. Salinger. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #20th century #scott fitzgerald #william faulkner #agatha christie


‘Words Without Borders’ September: Translating the Frankfurt-Bound Character of Georgia

'Our culture is perfectly compatible with the values of the free world.' Gvantsa Jobava is guest editor of the September issue of 'Words Without Borders,' as Georgia prepares to be Guest of Honor at Frankfurter Buchmesse. The post ‘Words Without Borders’ September: Translating the... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post words #guest editor #free world #frankfurter buchmesse


Partnership sees students attend Cliveden Literary Festival

The Cliveden Literary Festival has announced a new educational partnership with the London Academy of Excellence Tottenham. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #london academy


Weekly E-Ranking: Kay runs away with longest-running non-fiction number one

Adam Kay’s This is Going to Hurt (Picador) has swiped the Weekly E-Ranking number one spot for a third week on the trot, making the junior doctor memoir the longest-running non-fiction number one in the chart’s history. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #adam kay #hurt picador


OWN IT! founder launches literary agency

Multimedia publisher OWN IT! has launched a literary agency arm, signing author Courttia Newland as its first client. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #multimedia publisher


Parneros Sues B&N for Defamation of Character

Former Barnes & Noble CEO Demos Parneros has charged the retailer with breach of contract and defamation of character. The suit contains numerous unflattering revelations about the inner workings of B&N, and includes the bombshell news that a deal to sell the company to a “book retailer”... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Puffin strengthens licensing and non-fiction team

Puffin, a division of Penguin Random House Children’s, is strengthening its non-fiction and licensed publishing by promoting Ruth Knowles and hiring Jamie Coleman. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #non-fiction team #licensed publishing


Literary Agent Joseph Vallely Dies at 74

The longtime independent literary agent, best known for representing political and military nonfiction, died at his home in Front Royal, Va., on August 15. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


David Mitchell receives Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence

Novelist David Mitchell has received the Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence, given in recognition of a writer's entire body of work. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary excellence


Nurturing the literary landscape

Benedicte Page reflects on the current status of literary fiction and the role of independent publishers in the book industry. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary landscape #literary fiction #independent publishers #book industry


Northern Fiction Alliance flourish in partnership

Created two years ago to showcase the output of northern indie presses to the international market, and to promote regional diversity, the Northern Fiction Alliance is making a name for itself as a growing force in the publishing industry. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #international market #growing force #publishing industry