Literary fiction is in crisis. A new chapter of funding authors must begin | Claire Armistead

Competition from smartphones and readers sticking to well-known writers means novelists are suffering. We must find ways better ways to enable themFinally it’s official: literary fiction is in crisis, and writers across the land are burning the midnight oil in their garrets, teaching or slogging away in unrelated jobs to keep the fire ablaze in the grate. This Dickensian picture was revealed by Arts Council England today in a report that suggests it may have to shift its funding priorities in order to save a population whose economic and cultural solvency has been chipped away over the years.So why has it come to this, and how much does it really matter? The first thing to be clear about is that people are not necessarily reading less – print sales of books across fiction, nonfiction and children’s titles rose almost 9% in the UK last year, while on Tuesday market analysts Nielsen BookScan will reveal that sales over the all-important Christmas period have risen 20% since 2013. Related: Literary fiction in crisis as sales drop dramatically, Arts Council England reports Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2017-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Literary fiction is in crisis. A new chapter of funding authors must begin | Claire Armistead"


Obituary: Literary Agent Lois Wallace, 73

In the forty years since she founded the Wallace Literary Agency, she has represented authors like William F. Buckley, Joan Didion, and Don DeLillo. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #don delillo #joan didion #forty years


Authors Guild Hits Back at Google Ruling

Late Friday afternoon, the Authors Guild filed its appeal in its copyright infringement lawsuit against Google. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Authors on the Air April 11, 2014: Robert Dawson

Robert Dawson, author of "The Public Library: A Photographic Essay" (Princeton Architectural Press, 9781616892173), will appear on "Weekend Edition Saturday" on Saturday, April 12. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #public library


Authors on the Air April 10, 2014: Martin Goldsmith

Martin Goldsmith, author of "Alex’s Wake: A Voyage of Betrayal and a Journey of Remembrance"(Da Capo, 9780306823220) will appear on MSNBC TV's "Hardball with Chris Matthews" on Thursday, April 10. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #chris matthews #msnbc tv #da capo #martin goldsmith


Authors on the Air April 8, 2014: Barbara Ehrenreich and Martin Goldsmith

Barbara Ehrenreich, author of "Living with a Wild God: A Nonbeliever’s Search for the Truth About Everything" (Twelve, 9781455501762) will appear on MSNBC’s "Morning Joe" and NPR’s "Fresh Air" on Tuesday, April 8. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #fresh air #morning joe #martin goldsmith


Authors on the Air April 4, 2014: Michael Lewis

Michael Lewis, author of "Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt" (Norton, 9780393244663) will appear on C-SPAN2's "BookTV" on Saturday, April 5. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #flash boys #michael lewis


Literary debut for Myriad Editions

Myriad Editions has signed a debut novel, discovered during the publisher's annual Writer... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #myriad editions #literary debut


'Prejudice' claim from Scottish authors

London publishers are turning down work they consider “too Scottish”, the chair of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #london publishers #scottish authors


Authors Guild's Constantine Testifies

In testimony delivered before a House subcommittee, AG counsel Jan Constantine recapped the AG’s long running copyright dispute with Google and offered one possible solution—a collective licensing agreement for digital presentation rights to out-of-print books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #out-of-print books #authors guild


Cengage emerges from Chapter 11

Cengage Learning has emerged from Chapter 11 after completing its financial restructuring.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #financial restructuring #cengage learning


Authors on the Air March 31, 2014: Jennifer Buhl and Max Brooks

Jennifer Buhl, author of "Shooting Stars: My Unexpected Life Photographing Hollywood’s Most Famous" (Sourcebooks, 9781402297007), will appear on "Entertainment Tonight" on Monday, March 31. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #max brooks


'Genre-blending' non-fiction for Chatto

Chatto & Windus has acquired a “genre-blending non-fiction” book by Lauren Elkin... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #lauren elkin #chatto windus


Only the Beginning For PRH

Commenting on the merger of Random House and Penguin, Thomas Rabe, CEO of RH parent company Bertelsmann, wrote in the company’s annual report that the “formation of Penguin Random House is the best possible path to new growth in the book industry—and to new growth for Bertelsmann.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #annual report #thomas rabe #random house


IB Tauris signs Ukraine crisis study

IB Tauris has commissioned a book from author Richard Sakwa on the ongoing situation in Ukraine,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


With 'Orphan Train,' Author Finds Bestsellerdom Fifth Time Around

Sixty thousand is the number of copies Christina Baker Kline thought her newest book, "Orphan Train," might sell in her "wildest dreams." For a midlist author on her fifth novel, it was a lofty number. It turns out, it was also way too low. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #midlist author #wildest dreams #newest book #sixty thousand #orphan train #lofty number


'The Vatican Diaries' author John Thavis looks at the Catholic Church under the leadership of Pope Francis

John Thavis released The Vatican Diaries' in 2013 and added a section about Pope Francis for the paperback edition. 'It has struck me how the level of enthusiasm around the world for this new Pope is definitely a notch or two above that inside the Vatican,' the author said. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #paperback edition #catholic church #pope francis


Rush Limbaugh: rightwing talkshow host to bestselling children's author

He's no friend of those on the political left, but he knows how to woo kids. He's been named as one of four finalists for book of the year at the Children's and Teen Choice Book AwardsName: Rush Limbaugh.Age: 63.Appearance: Angry face drawn on a pink dish.Occupation: Radio talkshow host,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #sales figures #bestseller list


Beyond the Bank: Bookstores and Alternative Funding

Ever since Janet Geddis launched one of the first bookstore crowdfunding campaigns in March 2010 to raise money to open Avid Bookshop in Athens, Ga., Indiegogo and, to a lesser extent, Kickstarter, have become the go-to places for cash-strapped booksellers trying to open a bookstore, add a... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #lesser extent #raise money #alternative funding


Obituary: Author and Editor Donald Michael Kraig, 63

Kraig is perhaps best known as the author of "Modern Magick," published in 1988. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


How to Write a Good Non-fiction Book Proposal for Submission

Veteran author Christian Jennings offers tips, techniques and strategies on how to write a good non-fiction proposal for submission. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |