Romance so white? Publishers grapple with race issues amid author protests

New report exposes decline in diversity in romance writing, as editor resigns after telling author they avoid putting non-white characters on covers ‘because we like the book to sell’Readers, writers and editors of romance books are grappling with the genre’s record on diversity, after a week where a report found that books by authors of colour were on the decline, an imprint specialising in diverse romances closed, and another publisher was forced to apologise for telling a writer they avoided putting people of colour on book covers because they didn’t sell.Queer romance writer Cole McCade came forward last week to reveal conversations with editor Sarah Lyons of the New Jersey-based publisher Riptide. McCade, who also writes as Xen Sanders, described Riptide as “at all levels hostile to me as a person of colour”. He published an email from Lyons in which she told him: “We don’t mind POC But I will warn you – and you have NO idea how much I hate having to say this – we won’t put them on the cover, because we like the book to, you know, sell :-(.” Related: 'Women are having different fantasies': romantic fiction in the age of Trump Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #romance writing #editor resigns #report found #romantic fiction

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Romance so white? Publishers grapple with race issues amid author protests'


Romance writer's bid to stop authors from using word 'cocky' fails in court

Self-published author Faleena Hopkins asserted her right to the word, but judge calls attempt to stop other authors using it ‘weak’ Romance writers around the world can breathe a sigh of relief after a US court ruled that they can continue to use the adjective “cocky” in their book titles, after... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book titles #trademark office #individual titles #common words


Freedom to Publish Advocacy: Authors Guild Wins ‘CockyGate’ Court Ruling

In a court case mounted with the Romance Writers of America, the Authors Guild has prevailed against Faleena Hopkins in the Southern District of New York: Authors can use the word 'cocky' in titles. The post Freedom to Publish Advocacy: Authors Guild Wins ‘CockyGate’ Court Ruling appeared first... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors guild #post freedom #court ruling #romance writers #southern district


New publisher plans to offer budding authors £24,000 salary

De Montfort Literature will employ an algorithm ‘to identify career novelists’, and hopes to free its writers from second jobsEven the most revered authors held down day jobs, from TS Eliot’s time at Lloyd’s to Walt Whitman’s stint as a government clerk. Now a “successful hedge fund with a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #day jobs #ts eliot #walt whitman #selection process #provide advice


Bookouture signs two thrillers from bestselling self-published author

Bookouture has struck a deal for two new psychological thrillers with the author of number one ebook bestseller Silent Child. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookouture signs #psychological thrillers


At BookExpo, a Look at Copyright Issues: ‘It’s the Author Who Suffers’

'Good public policy,' the Association of American Publishers says at BookExpo, includes "good copyright policy.' And the Authors Guild is producing a new, major survey of authors' earnings. The post At BookExpo, a Look at Copyright Issues: ‘It’s the Author Who Suffers’ appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors guild #copyright issues #american publishers #major survey


Publishers Association Issues Statement on UK VAT for Digital Content

'It makes no sense in the modern world that readers are being penalized with an additional 20-percent VAT for choosing to embrace digital,' says the Publishers Association chief. The post Publishers Association Issues Statement on UK VAT for Digital Content appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital content #modern world #embrace digital


Authors and publishers donate thousands of books to Oxfam

Paula Hawkins, Margaret Atwood, Neil Gaiman and Robert Webb are among the authors donating thousands of books to Oxfam in a bid to boost sales in the charity's shops and raise money for its work. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #paula hawkins #margaret atwood #neil gaiman #robert webb #boost sales #raise money


Russian Publishers Warn of Lost Profits Amid a Newly Announced VAT Hike

The prosperity that some in the Russian book industry thought was rising this year may be headed in the other direction, if the expected rise in book VAT becomes a reality. The post Russian Publishers Warn of Lost Profits Amid a Newly Announced VAT Hike appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


When Rights Are Alleged To Be ‘Trampled’: Authors Sue Education Publisher Cengage

How are authors' contractual rights with a publisher best handled when the house rolls out a digital subscription offer and promises that its entire content library will be on offer that way? An authors' lawsuit of Cengage is calling the question. The post When Rights Are Alleged To Be... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Virago to publish two new collections by Ballet Shoes author Noel Streatfeild

The forgotten stories, discovered among the late writer’s papers, will be published beginning in November with Christmas Story CollectionTwo collections of forgotten stories by Noel Streatfeild are to be published for the first time. They were discovered among the late writer’s... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #forgotten stories #late writer #best-loved classics #world war


Canongate to publish Think Like a White Man

Canongate has snapped up the "definitive self-help gospel on how to understand, overcome and overthrow the White Man", by Penguin WriteNow graduate Nels Abbey. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #white man


Embracing the digital transformation in publishing—and its impact on authors

Steffanie Ness on how digital transformation empowers publishers to be responsive in a demanding market place. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital transformation


Publishing in the Baltic Region 2018: Piret Raud - Estonia's Favorite Children's Author

Piret Raud is one of the leading children's book authors and illustrators in Estonia, having illustrated over 40 books and written 16 Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #favorite children #leading children #book authors


Hearst's Troy Young on Publishing Amid Chaos: 'Facebook Doesn't Owe Me Anything'

Subscribe to us on iTunes, check us out on Spotify and hear us on Stitcher, Google Play and iHeartRadio too. This is our RSS feed. Tell a friend!It's been five years since Troy Young came to Hearst to build out the magazine company's digital division. Today as the global president of digital for... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2018-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #good housekeeping #media space


Digiday Research: European publishers grapple with Facebook’s news feed changes

Digiday surveyed European publishers about their strategies for countering changes to Facebook's news feed algorithm. The post Digiday Research: European publishers grapple with Facebook’s news feed changes appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digiday research


Philip Pullman calls for authors to get fairer share of publisher profits

His Dark Materials author condemns way book industry ‘allows corporate profits to be so high at a time when author earnings are markedly falling’Philip Pullman has called on publishers to stop damaging “the ecology of the book world” and start giving authors a fairer share of the money their... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-03-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #philip pullman #book world #books earn #profit margins


SoA challenges publishers to reveal how much they pay authors

The chief executive of the Society of Authors has challenged publishers to reveal how much they pay writers in their annual financial accounts. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pay authors #challenged publishers #pay writers


The profits from publishing: authors' perspective

Nicola Solomon, chief executive of the Society of Authors, makes the case for author pay. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nicola solomon #author pay


Book clinic: why do publishers still issue hardbacks?

The editor of the Bookseller explains why the hardback format will be with us for a while yetQ: Years ago, I read that publishers were going to end the practice of bringing out hardback editions before paperbacks. But it never happened. Why do they still do this, and does anyone apart from... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book clinic


Border Patrol Agent-Turned-Author Meets Protests in California

Activists have interrupted Francisco Cantú's tour for his buzzed-about new book 'The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the Border,' after descending upon a reading the author did in San Francisco. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-02-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |