On eve of Costa awards, experts warn that top books prizes are harming fiction

The dominance of three honours in the UK can be prohibitively expensive for small publishers, and end up discouraging risk-taking on ‘difficult’ authorsCutting-edge British literary fiction risks being undermined by its growing reliance on a handful of powerful book prizes, a leading literary agent has warned. But the associated costs of entering the biggest awards mean independent publishers willing to take risks on “difficult” works without obvious marketing potential are being shut out of contention.The warnings, from Jonny Geller of Curtis Brown, come as the Costa book of the year judges prepare to announce the shortlist for the £30,000 award. He said: “Literary fiction is under threat in this country due to a combination of factors – reluctance by major houses to take risks; a bottleneck in the distribution chain [and] diverse voices being ignored by a predominantly white, middle-class industry.” Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2017-01-02 00:00:00 UTC ]

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Costa Book of the Year: Helen Dunmore wins another award

Helen Dunmore's poetry collection, Inside the Wave, wins 2018's Costa Book of the Year prize. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2018-01-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Female writers dominated 2017's literary bestsellers, figures show

Topped by Margaret Atwood, the UK’s Top 10 bestselling authors of literary fiction last year features only one male writer, Haruki MurakamiFlying in the face of Norman Mailer’s infamous comment that “a good novelist can do without everything but the remnant of his balls”, Haruki Murakami was the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Explosive' exposé about Prince Charles coming in March

William Collins will publish an “explosive” book about Prince Charles’ “desperate bid to rehabilitate himself” after Princess Diana’s death by investigative historian Tom Bower. Rebel Prince: The Power, Passion and Defiance of Prince Charles will be published on 22nd March in hardback retailing... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jilly Cooper believes literary fiction should not receive state funding

Author Jilly Cooper has said that literary fiction should not receive state support, arguing instead that the money would be better spent on the declining newspaper industry. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Costa’s Book Award: Five Category Winners in the UK, One To Win Book of the Year

Now in line for the overall Costa Book of the Year award–to be announced January 30–the five Costa category winners include three titles from HarperCollins UK imprints. The post Costa’s Book Award: Five Category Winners in the UK, One To Win Book of the Year appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-01-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Helen Dunmore wins posthumous Costa award for collection Inside the Wave

Dunmore wins poetry category, while Jon McGregor takes best novel prize for Reservoir 13 and Gail Honeyman’s bestselling debut Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine lands first novel awardThe poet Helen Dunmore is in the running to become the second posthumous winner of the Costa book of the year... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-01-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why should we subsidise writers who have lost the plot? | Tim Lott

I’m not surprised sales of literary fiction are in decline – too many authors fail to engage their readers with any sort of story• Tim Lott is an author and journalistFollowing the announcement from Arts Council England that sales of literary fiction are plummeting, it is suggested that arts... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-01-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Literary fiction under threat, ACE report concludes

Arts Council England has pledged to engage with more bookshops, fund more writers and lobby the government to provide tax relief to independent publishers following a report finding that “the general trend for literary fiction is a negative one”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Arts Council England’s Alarm for Literary Fiction: ‘The Problem Is a Real One’

'Overall the books selling well' in the UK 'are not literary,' Arts Council England's commissioned report from the Canelo team announces. The post Arts Council England’s Alarm for Literary Fiction: ‘The Problem Is a Real One’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Crisis in literary fiction a 'wake-up call'

Arts Council England’s report into the crisis in literary fiction should serve as a "wake up call" to the industry which needs to "radically rethink" how it presents the genre, the chief executive of Curtis Brown has warned. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fun, fantasy and feminism forecast for 2018

Editors and agents are predicting a continued focus on empowering female-led narratives and diverse voices in children’s and YA books in 2018. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookCon Looks to Broaden Audience

Since its inception in 2014, BookCon has mainly drawn women in the 18 to 30-year-old age bracket, but organizer ReedPop is adding more programming for the 2018 event to attract readers interested in literary fiction, mystery/thriller, sci fi/fantasy and romance. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Frankfurt frenzy led by PFD and RCW

Peters Fraser + Dunlop (PFD) and Curtis Brown both sewed up 17 deals apiece in the latest edition of The Bookseller’s Rights Report, which covers the heavy trading months of August, September and October. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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FutureBook’s 2017 Triple Threat: Big Asks and Diverse Voices

Leading questions and an extensive three-tracked structure frame the programming of this year's FutureBook conference from The Bookseller team in London. The post FutureBook’s 2017 Triple Threat: Big Asks and Diverse Voices appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Obituary: Brian Aldiss

Genre-bending author Brian Aldiss is remembered by his agent, Gordon Wise of Curtis Brown. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Curtis Brown leads the way in dealmaking as new lists thrive

The UK’s biggest literary agency, Curtis Brown, tops our rights league table for the first half of 2017, doubling the reported deals of the next biggest firm. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Henley reveals ACE's 'concerns for literary fiction'

Arts Council England is broadening its literature work, which has previously concentrated on areas such as poetry and translated literature, into a new emphasis on literary fiction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Curtis Brown buys Ed Victor Ltd

Curtis Brown has bought Ed Victor Ltd, following the passing of agent Ed Victor. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Two UK Acquisitions: Curtis Brown and Victor Ltd., Ingram and NBNi

The US-based Ingram Publishing Services adds a UK distribution operation, while the late Ed Victor's agency list in London moves to Curtis Brown. The post Two UK Acquisitions: Curtis Brown and Victor Ltd., Ingram and NBNi appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Aussie Rules: Black Inc launches in the UK

Australian publisher Black Inc, which specialises in literary fiction and non-fiction, is to launch in the UK this September. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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