The National Book Awards are getting a rewrite.New rules announced Tuesday include a "long list" of 10 nominees to be offered for each of the four competitive categories before being narrowed to the traditional five finalists. And the pool of judges will be expanded beyond writers to include critics, booksellers and librarians.The changes are the most extensive since the mid-1990s for the awards, presented each fall by the National Book Foundation, as the major New York publishers attempt to broaden their appeal. The publishers have been unhappy with the selection of fiction finalists in recent years and the omission of such high-profile works as Jonathan Franzen's Freedom and Marilynne Robinson's Gilead.The expansion to 10 mirrors a recent change in the Oscars, but foundation board members said they had been looking to Britain's popular Man Booker Prize as a model."We just basically borrowed some of their ideas," said foundation board vice president and Grove/Atlantic CEO Morgan Entrekin, citing the Bookers' use of long lists and non-writers as judges. "The Bookers do a fantastic job at getting a conversation going about good books. With the long list, for instance, you get this conversation bubbling up about what made it and then about what doesn't get on the short list."Mr. Entrekin said that some of the recent National Book Award fiction lists, which usually get the most attention, had been "very eccentric" and that allowing critics and booksellers as judges could... Continue reading at 'Crains New York'
[ Crains New York | 2013-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
Paris, June 1930. At 3.00 in the morning, Nancy Cunard quickly writes a letter to her friend Louise Morgan, American journalist and editor at Everyman magazine: We found a poem, a beauty, by a poet—so much so that it must be printed by itself. Irishman of 23, Ecole Normale here, that’s all I... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2024-06-26 08:56:36 UTC ]
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After 11 years, Jason Pinter's small press fell under the weight of a host of issues all too familiar to indie publishers. But his elegance under the pressure of handling the collapse—including the rehoming of 60% of Polis's 171-title backlist—stands out. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Independent Publishers Group and Itasca Books have both signed former SPD clients to new distribution deals. IPG has taken on nine new publishers, while Itasca has picked up five. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-05-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
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On March 28, Small Press Distribution (SPD), the 55-year old company that helped 385 indie publishers deliver their books to customers, collapsed without warning. This is an existential blow in a business where finances are delicate at the best of times. Books remain stranded in warehouses and... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2024-04-26 11:10:00 UTC ]
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When SPD (Small Press Distribution) announced its sudden and immediate closure at the end of March, hundreds of small and indie presses were not only caught off-guard but immediately thrown into existential limbo. Publishers and authors took to whatever platforms they had available to share... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2024-04-25 16:35:33 UTC ]
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Ingram Publisher Services has told former Small Press Distribution clients that they have 60 days to remove inventory from its warehouse, prompting some publishers to panic, and Independent Publishers Group will participate in two informational sessions for small presses early this week. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Get ready for the fun and the fantastical. Caroline Carlson recommends new children’s books by Maple Lam, Felicita Sala, Laurie Morrison and more. | Lit Hub Reading Lists The collapse of Small Press Distribution has left over 400 publishers uncertain about the future. Adam Morgan talks to small... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2024-04-03 10:30:45 UTC ]
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Last week, Diane Goettel was on vacation in Florida when she saw an alarming email on her phone. After 55 years, Small Press Distribution (SPD)—one of the last remaining independent book distributors in the US—was shutting down immediately, with no advance notice or transitional support. Its... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2024-04-03 08:54:49 UTC ]
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The abrupt shut down of Small Press Distribution has left roughly 400 former publisher clients with a host of questions as they look to find new distribution options. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Depending on which corners of literary social media you frequent, yesterday’s breaking news that SPD (Small Press Distribution) was going under was either an enormous surprise or a predictable tragedy, but the suddenness of the news was a shock to everyone. Effective immediately, the 55-year-old... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2024-03-29 13:17:08 UTC ]
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With its award ceremony coming up in May, the British Book Awards program has released its bookstore and small-press shortlists. The post The UK’s Nibbies: Small Press and Bookstore Shortlists appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-03-04 16:24:55 UTC ]
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Small Press Distribution has finished moving 300,000 titles from its former warehouse in Berkeley, Calif., to facilities owned by Ingram and Publishers Storage and Shipping, and has begun a new fundraising effort to help the distributor roll out new services to publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-26 05:00:00 UTC ]
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“I’m reeling a bit, but mostly I’m catatonic—yes, that’s the word!" Dave Eggers described the aftershock of learning of his Newbery win for 'The Eyes and the Impossible.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-01-23 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Solstice has come and gone, but in addition to the returning of the light, we can also herald another excellent small press publishing season. What I love about these titles is the richness of imagination and inquiry, leading to inventive plots in fiction and deep emotional honesty in... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2024-01-15 12:00:00 UTC ]
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During the often-dread-inducing/dreadful time of year when publications are putting out there “best of the year” lists, I’m glad to shine a light on a book I loved and deserved more attention than it seemed to receive. This is always a hard task, especially for small press books. I would have... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2023-12-14 09:44:56 UTC ]
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As we move into the fall reading season, deeply imagined short stories and inventive linked essays are having a moment alongside novels. What’s thrilling about the books coming out from small presses is the breadth of range—there are intentional and accidental murders, family drama and... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2023-09-26 11:15:00 UTC ]
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This year's Small Press Expo Ignatz Awards struck a note of solidarity and defiance against censorship. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Small presses have been publishing excellent work by writers who you may not know (yet). From compelling short stories to heart-wrenching novels, these books will take you on a journey across states and countries, into the past or to the future, as well as deep into the minds of richly-drawn... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2023-06-30 11:00:00 UTC ]
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The Presence of the Past in Good Night, Irene: A Conversation with Luis Alberto Urrea, by Renee H. Shea Interviews [email protected] Fri, 05/26/2023 - 13:30 The author’s mother, Phyllis Irene McLaughlinAward-winning writer Luis Alberto Urrea... Continue reading at World Literature Today
[ World Literature Today | 2023-05-26 18:30:53 UTC ]
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Kevin Powers was among the best in a wave of novelists on Iraq and Afghanistan. His new thriller, "A Line in the Sand," signals their slow fade from relevance. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-05-12 13:00:10 UTC ]
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