Publishing must make room for disabled authors - for its own good

Attention to diversity has yet to pay much heed to us, but we are the biggest minority in the world, so if space is cleared everyone stands to win As a disabled writer, it has been a little strange to watch publishers rush to put on online events during the pandemic. Authors have been understandably worried about the impact of Covid-19 on sales and their relationship with their readers – book signings are pretty tricky over Zoom – but this sort of adaptation isn’t novel for all of us. When I released my book, Crippled, last year, my chronic illness meant I couldn’t do a traditional in-person book tour. Instead, I did several online events with book groups with audiences from Belfast to London, all from my living room. Everyone I worked with was kind and problem-solving, but I was very aware I was doing something rare. At times, I felt like the only disabled author out there.Diversity in publishing has thank goodness been on the agenda of late, but there’s been very little mention of disability. Disabled people are the biggest minority in the world – one in five will have a disability, mental health condition or chronic illness in their lifetime – but the publishing industry is still disappointingly unrepresentative of us. A 2019 Publishers Association survey found only 6.6% of the workforce identified as having a disability, and there aren’t any available statistics on disabled authors. Another 2019 study found that only 3.4% of children’s books published last year had a... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2020-09-04 14:00:57 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Publishing must make room for disabled authors - for its own good"


Clifford wins Bread & Roses Award for Radical Publishing

Ellen Clifford has won the Bread & Roses Award for Radical Publishing with her book The War on Disabled People: Capitalism, Welfare and the Making of a Human Catastrophe (Zed Books). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-29 01:12:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this


John Hitchin obituary

My father, John Hitchin, who has died aged 88, was a marketing and publicity specialist in the publishing industry who spent three decades with Penguin Books, where he was responsible for a number of innovations, including the first paperback gift set and the first display “dump” bin. As... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-10-28 19:33:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this


At Reimagining Bookstores, 'Provocations' Fuel Drive for Sustainable Bookselling

Reimagining Bookstores, a two-day online gathering of booksellers and publishing industry professionals, came to a close on October 19 with a clear mandate to continue building a movement to develop strategies that will lead to a more diverse, sustainable, and equitable bookselling trade in America. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-10-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


International Publishers Association Names Prix Voltaire Shortlist

The Prix Voltaire shortlist, honoring valor in the defense of free speech, includes publishers in Guatemala, Turkey, Lebanon, Belarus, and Gaza. The post International Publishers Association Names Prix Voltaire Shortlist appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-10-18 09:49:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Before Frankfurt: IPA Welcomes Four New Full Member-Associations

Ahead of its meetings and programs at Frankfurter Buchmesse, the International Publishers Association holds its general assembly. The post Before Frankfurt: IPA Welcomes Four New Full Member-Associations appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-10-14 19:10:01 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Frankfurt Week Planning: International Publishers Association Events

The International Publishers Association's series of Frankfurt Week events includes programs open to the public, many both live and digital. The post Frankfurt Week Planning: International Publishers Association Events appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-10-12 17:44:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Access Denied: disabled employees and job seekers reveal their stories

An in-depth report into the publishing industry, and how accessible it is to those with disabilities, shows there is much work to do to make the book trade truly reflective of society Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-26 08:40:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Freelancing and mental health in the publishing industry

Reedsy's Thao Nguyen reflects on some of the benefits and challenges of being your own boss. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-22 12:07:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


PA launches guidance on author data collection

The Publishers Association has released guidance for publishers seeking to collect data about the protected characteristics of authors, illustrators and translators after a report found many companies were reluctant to engage in diversity auditing. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-17 03:26:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Gardners and Raynor among award winners at BA Conference

Awards celebrating figures from across the publishing industry have been announced at the Booksellers Association Conference, with recognition for Gardners and Headline's Caitlin Raynor among others.     Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-14 02:38:56 UTC ]
More news stories like this


2021 Top Women in Media Awards Luncheon

The women spearheading the progression of the publishing industry will be recognized at the Top Women in Media Awards Celebration on September 30, The post 2021 Top Women in Media Awards Luncheon appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2021-09-10 21:00:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this


2021 Top Women in Media Awards Luncheon

The women spearheading the progression of the publishing industry will be recognized at the Top Women in Media Awards Celebration on September 30, 2021 in New York City. Join your industry peers, the Folio: and AdMonsters Team, and a few surprise guests to celebrate the honorees and all of their... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2021-09-10 21:00:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Trade invited to form group and change industry 'for the better'

An open invitation from figures including Nikesh Shukla and Yara Rodrigues Fowler has been issued for people in the trade to form a group that will "change the UK publishing industry for the better".   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-10 01:23:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Guardian view on changes to copyright law: book lovers beware | Editorial

A government proposal to ease restrictions on the sale of imported cultural works risks harming a world-class industryThe hoopla around the release of Sally Rooney’s new novel on Tuesday – with bookshops opening early, and queues of shoppers eager to lay their hands on Beautiful World, Where Are... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-09-07 18:00:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Emirates Publishers Association Sends Team to Ghana Book Fair

The UAE's Emirates Publishers Association met with key African publishing organizations at the Ghana International Book Fair last week. The post Emirates Publishers Association Sends Team to Ghana Book Fair appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-08-31 12:14:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this


UK’s Publishers Association: 64 Percent of Book Revenue at Stake in Copyright Question

As much as £2.2 billion (US$3.1 billion) in revenue, the Publishers Association says, is imperiled in the UK's copyright consultation. The post UK’s Publishers Association: 64 Percent of Book Revenue at Stake in Copyright Question appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-08-30 00:44:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this


New Zealand Publishers’ Conference Features Al Qasimi, Evans, Brown

The Publishers Association of New Zealand Te Rau o Tākupu has a daylong conference, with trade show directors and IPA's Bodour Al Qasimi. The post New Zealand Publishers’ Conference Features Al Qasimi, Evans, Brown appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-08-13 16:56:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Censorship on the Rise Worldwide

The International Publishers Association and PEN have documented hundreds of attacks on press freedom, many of them targeting LGBTQ and dissident groups. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Outside the echo chamber

The polite, white middle-class mass that encompasses most of the publishing industry doesn’t hold prejudice against foreigners, probably voted Remain, and yet they will still shut the door in your face. If you’re not British and middle-class, the chances are that you won’t understand the subtle... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-07-27 06:45:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Printing in Hong Kong and China 2021: All Our Coverage

While the publishing industry had a relatively stable 2020 and a pretty sunny 2021 thus far, we are definitely not out of the woods yet, not with the mutating virus around. For Hong Kong/China print manufacturers, pandemic-induced challenges outside of their control are hampering the efforts to... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-07-23 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this