Queen of the Spanish-language literary world: Isabel Allende on Carmen Balcells

Thanks to the celebrated agent, a generation of writers, among them Pablo Neruda and Gabriel García Márquez, could make a living from their work. She was the godmother of every word I have writtenCarmen Balcells, the queen of the Spanish literary world, died last Sunday, 21 September. She was 85 years old and reigned as the supreme literary agent for half a century, representing almost all the great Spanish-speaking authors. She single-handedly created the “boom” in Latin American literature of the 60s and 70s, starting with Pablo Neruda and Gabriel García Márquez, and managed to change the draconian publishing deals of the past, when authors signed open-ended contracts. Thanks to her, a generation of writers could make a living from their work and the Spanish publishing houses were forced to modernise and compete.She represented several Nobel prizewinners and managed some of the largest literary estates in the world, including those of Neruda, Clarice Lispector and Carlos Fuentes. She was a tough negotiator, feared by some but revered by her clients, whom she defended with a knife between her teeth. She had an unfailing memory and an extraordinary zest for life, even in a wheelchair; she was bossy, direct, extravagantly generous and sentimental. The passion and kindness with which she took care of her authors won her the nickname “Mama Grande”. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #carlos fuentes

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Queen of the Spanish-language literary world: Isabel Allende on Carmen Balcells'


Queen of the Spanish-language literary world: Isabel Allende on Carmen Balcells

Thanks to the celebrated agent, a generation of writers, among them Pablo Neruda and Gabriel García Márquez, could make a living from their work. She was the godmother of every word I have writtenCarmen Balcells, the queen of the Spanish literary world, died last Sunday, 21 September. She was 85... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #carlos fuentes


On Carmen Balcells: Remembering the Role of a Literary Agent

Kalem Literary Agency remembers legendary Spanish literary agent Carmel Balcells and her contributions to international authors, writing and agenting. The post On Carmen Balcells: Remembering the Role of a Literary Agent appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Spanish-language Specialists Mertin Literary Agency Honored

Spanish and Portuguese-language specialists, the Mertin LIterary Agency, took home "International Literary Agent of the Year" prize at the LBF this month. The post Spanish-language Specialists Mertin Literary Agency Honored appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-05-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How Trome’s Ladder Brand Strategy Made it the World’s Largest Spanish-Language Newspaper

In much of the INMA network worldwide, the focus is on big news brands producing life-changing, business-building journalism that transforms democracies and speaks truth to power. Yet among the other 99% of news publishers worldwide, the challeng ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How Booksellers Can Succeed with Spanish Books: Spanish-Language Publishing 2014

Hispanics are the fastest-growing ethnic group in the U.S., and they are not only growing in terms of numbers but also expanding their presence in regions across the country. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Texas Book Fest Expands Spanish-Language Programs

The Texas Book Festival, running November 11 and 12 in Austin, will feature more Spanish-language programming, including a dozen Spanish-language authors among the more than 300 authors participating. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-09 05:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins Expands Its Spanish-Language Business

In July, HarperCollins Focus launched a new Spanish-language publishing imprint, HarperEnfoque, as the publisher continues to make gains in the trade and religion markets. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Religion Publishers See Growth in Spanish-language Books

Faith and spirituality houses see potential—and obstacles—in reaching Spanish-language markets. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperEnfoque is HarperCollins’ New Spanish-Language Imprint

HarperCollins Focus' Cris Garrido is opening HarperEnfoque, a Spanish-language imprint based in the United States. The post HarperEnfoque is HarperCollins’ New Spanish-Language Imprint appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-07-27 13:59:05 UTC ]
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HarperCollins Focus Launches Spanish-Language Imprint

HarperCollins Focus is launching HarperEnfoque. The new imprint, based in Nashville, will offer original works in Spanish as well as translations of bestselling English-language books, focused on "empowering lives and fostering change." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-07-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookforum Is Returning, Months After Its Closure Was Mourned in the Literary World

The literary magazine will be back in print in August, with a new publishing partner: The Nation. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-06-22 10:10:16 UTC ]
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Dosdoce: Growing Sales in Spanish-Language Audiobooks

Ahead of this week's Readmagine, Dosdoce's Javier Celaya issues a new report on Spanish-language audiobooks and ebooks in 2022. The post Dosdoce: Growing Sales in Spanish-Language Audiobooks appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-06-05 14:37:57 UTC ]
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Three Spanish-language Audiobook Success Stories

Mariane Féged, director of Spanish markets at Bookwire, highlights three titles that have been especially popular on the service. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Virago founder Carmen Callil was a powerhouse who changed the publishing world for the better

The publisher and writer – who has died aged 84 – was a pioneering champion of female writers. Virago’s chair Lennie Goodings remembers her long-time colleague and friendMore than 40 years ago when Carmen and I were working late in the first Virago office on Wardour Street I asked her why she... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-10-18 15:06:43 UTC ]
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PRH Sees Sales of Spanish-Language Books Surge

Silvia Matute, president of Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial’s U.S. division, discusses the company’s growth and the Spanish-language book market in the U.S. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
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7 Novels Set in the Literary World

At the risk of seeming obnoxiously obsessed with ourselves, writers and readers do tend to love books about writers and readers—especially when those fictional writers and readers behave badly. (It’s no wonder, really, why the Bad Art Friend discourse hit a nerve; so many people were frantic... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2022-03-11 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Survey says: the Booker is the most important literary prize in the world.

An interesting dispatch from prize world: as The Bookseller reported, a new international survey conducted by Nielsen Book shows publishers, writers, booksellers and media consider the Booker Prize the “most important” literary prize. The Booker’s status isn’t completely out of left field, but... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-12-23 20:28:47 UTC ]
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Female Spanish thriller writer Carmen Mola revealed to be three men

Trio step out from behind pseudonym marketed as ‘Spain’s Elena Ferrante’ to accept €1m prizeA million euro literary prize has lured three Spanish men out of anonymity, to reveal that they are behind ultra-violent Spanish crime thrillers marketed as the work of “Spain’s Elena Ferrante”The men had... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-10-16 22:37:44 UTC ]
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Isabel Allende isn't passing the feminist torch — she's sharing it

The bestselling novelist, subject of an upcoming HBO Max biopic and author of the new memoir 'The Soul of a Woman' discusses aging, feminism and home. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-02-24 17:00:12 UTC ]
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