Publish and be branded: the new threat to literature's laboratory

Increasingly fixated on the stars of today, such as Hilary Mantel and JK Rowling, publishers are neglecting the experimenters who could save their industry tomorrow: the mid-list writersThe tickets sold out months ago. Long before the admiring reviews of the stage adaptation of Hilary Mantel's novels Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies hit the press at the end of last week, theatre-goers were in no doubt they wanted to see six hours of blazing Tudor intrigue.A £7m BBC adaptation beckons, with the actor Mark Rylance teaming up with Peter Kosminsky, director of The Government Inspector.The runaway success of Mantel's story could be seen as a heartwarming tale for the book industry, but it comes at a time when many insiders worry such a tale will become increasingly rare as talented authors find it ever harder break through.Authors with middling sales – like Mantel, before she led Thomas Cromwell up the bestseller list – are getting less care and attention from large publishers, with readers ever-more fixated on fantasy blockbusters, it is said.For HarperCollins, the publishing giant behind 4th Estate, the imprint that publishes Mantel, bestselling authors have become more important than ever. Charlie Redmayne, chief executive of HarperCollins, recently described Mantel as one of several writers, along with Michael Morpurgo and JK Rowling, "who have transcended being an author and are brands in their own right".He added: "In a digital world, they are going to create a huge... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #nathan filer #costa award

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Publish and be branded: the new threat to literature's laboratory'


Global Publishing Leaders 2013: Haufe-Lexware

Haufe-Lexware is a German media group operating in business, law, and tax. The company was founded as Rudolf Haufe Verlag in 1934 in Berlin. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Global Publishing Leaders 2013: Cengage

Cengage Learning is present in six educational markets: academic, career, school, research, professional, and international. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cengage learning #educational markets


Keeping the Green in Publishing

With the publishing industry dealing with problems caused first by the Great Recession and then by the transition to a more digitally oriented marketplace, it is easy to think that environmental concerns have been pushed far down companies’ to-do lists. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #problems caused #great recession


Bolan son sues music publisher

The son of T Rex frontman, Marc Bolan, is suing a UK music publisher for $2m, alleging the company has violated copyright laws. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Global Publishing Leaders 2013: Bungei Shunjū Ltd.

Bungei Shunjū Ltd. was established in 1923 by the best selling writer Kan Kikuchi. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bungei shunjū


Why Games Like Rogue Legacy</cite> Should Terrify Big Publishers

Rogue Legacy, from the makers of Don't S**t Your Pants, is the sort of indie game that should have traditional game publishers staining their pants indeed.     Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Global Publishing Leaders 2013: Les Editions Lefebvre-Sarrut

Les Editions Lefebvre Sarrut is the result of a merger between Editions Francis Lefebvre and Editions Législatives in 1999, with a focus on publishing, professional education, and database integration. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #editions lgislatives #professional education #database integration


Global Publishing Leaders 2013: Kadokawa Shoten

The Kadokawa Group, which aims to become a "Mega Software Publisher," is moving beyond its existing publishing business to achieve sustainable growth in film and software (which includes websites and mobile sites), and by developing business overseas with an emphasis on Asia. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kadokawa shoten #kadokawa group #mobile sites


Global Publishing Leaders 2013: Cambridge University Press

Cambridge University Press publishes 45,000 peer-reviewed academic research and professional-development titles, 300 research journals, school-level education, English-language teaching aids, and bibles under three main publishing groups: Academic, Cambridge English, and Education. The Press has... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cambridge english


Global Publishing Leaders 2013: Gallimard

Gallimard has been home to many of the most prestigious writers in French literature throughout the 20th century, including Marcel Proust, Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, and 2008 Nobel laureate Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #prestigious writers #french literature #20th century #albert camus #jean-paul sartre


Global Publishing Leaders 2013: La Martinière

Founded in 1992 by Hervé de la Martinière, the French publishing company initially focused on illustrated books in Photography, Heritage, Art, and Leisure, and is now also active in general trade. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #la martinire #illustrated books #general trade


Global Publishing Leaders 2013: China Education

In December 2010, China Education Publishing &amp; Media Group (China Education) was formed as a strategic merger to reshape educational publishing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #china education #strategic merger


Global Publishing Leaders 2013: Kyowon

Kyowon, founded in 1985, is one of the biggest publishing companies in Korea. They have a high reputation for educational books, especially for prenatal, baby, toddler, and pre-school topics. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #educational books


The Agents’ View: A Case Study in Agent-Assisted Publishing

Movable Type literary agents Jason Allen Ashlock and Adam Chromy write of their experiences assisting The Rogue Reader authors in self-publishing their work. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #case study #agent-assisted publishing


Restructure at BookData Publisher Services

Nielsen Book has reorganised its BookData Publisher Services team, making four new appointments... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nielsen book


“My Agent By My Side”: An Author’s Assisted Publishing Experience

Under the Carib Sun author Ro Cuzon's essay describes journey to becoming a novelist and his experience in the agency-created Rogue Reader self-publishing program. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Two Experiments Running: Agent-Publishing in London

Literary agents Jonny Geller and Edina Imrik in London talk with Porter Anderson about Curtis Brown's and Ed Victor's author-publishing approaches. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #porter anderson #curtis brown #ed victor


Ether for Authors: Agent Kristin Nelson Signs Self-Publishing Star Barbara Freethy

Led by the news that Hugh Howey agent Kristin Nelson has signed self-publisher Barbara Freethy, who has sold 3 million books, the Ether looks at agent mystique. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Icon signs self-published guide

Icon Books has signed a self-published self-help book directly from the author. Kate Hewson,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #icon books #book directly #kate hewson


“Agent-Assisted Publishing”: An Interrupted Debate

To kick off a week-long series on agents and self publishing from guest editor Porter Anderson, we start by reopening the discussion on literary agents as publishers. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #agent-assisted publishing #literary agents #week-long series