The Desmond Elliott prize reminds us that authors need long-term support

With her prizewinning debut, Claire Fuller could be following in the footsteps of Ian Rankin and Hilary Mantel who found success with their later work – but only with the support of her publisherAs one of the judges for the Desmond Elliott prize for best debut novelist this year, I couldn’t help reflect on some of the challenges still to come for the authors. With three such accomplished novels on our shortlist, there was some hard talking in the judges’ room, but in the end we decided, by an honourable 2:1 vote, to award the prize to Claire Fuller for Our Endless Numbered Days. It is a dark and perfectly poised account of a survivalist father hiding out in a remote forest with his increasingly embattled daughter that recalls the early work of Ian McEwan in its brooding slow build to a dramatic climax. But nobody could dispute the literary skill evident in the other books on the shortlist: Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey and Carys Bray’s A Song for Issy Bradley.The vital thing now is that these writers are offered long-term support from their agents and publishers. The amount of publicity given to those first novels that become instant bestsellers distorts the reality for the majority of debut novelists, even very gifted ones: a moderate advance, a small amount of acclaim, a continuing battle to get their next book written and then published. This is the reality for authors who want a sustained career in books. Related: Desmond Elliott prize goes to Claire Fuller's... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #emma healey #carys bray #debut novelists #book written #sustained career

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The Desmond Elliott prize reminds us that authors need long-term support'


Authors Guide to Frankfurt Available in Spanish

Our Authors Guide to the Frankfurt Book Fair is now available in Spanish, thanks to Dosdoce, The Spanish Digital Link, and Actualidad Editorial. Download it here. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors guide #actualidad editorial


Planeta Donates 1m Peso Novel Prize Money to Mexican Flood Victims

After discovering the winner of a debut novel prize was co-authored, Planeta is donating the prize money of million pesos (USD $76,800) to Mexico's flood victims. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #prize money #flood victims


Science books prize doubles award money

The Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books has more than doubled its prize fund this year.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #science books #prize fund


Oswald wins Warwick Prize for Writing

Poet Alice Oswald has won the third £25,000 Warwick Prize for Writing. It is the first time... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Author Bryson urges ebook tie-up

Author Bill Bryson calls on publishers to give away ebooks with printed copies in order to tempt readers back to buying physical books. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2013-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #printed copies


Ether for Authors: What Happens When Everybody’s a Critic?

Our look at the week's web buzz including hotbutton issues around reader reviews, at questions of print vs. ebooks, and at Amy Tan's new book cover. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reader reviews #amy tan #book cover


Man Booker Prize will now be open to any novel written in English

The prestigious UK writing prize will now be open to any works that are published in the UK and were written in English. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


The Giller Prize at 20: Focus on Canada 2013

On September 16, the Scotiabank Giller Prize, in its 20th year, released the longlist for this year’s prize. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #giller prize #20th year


Bodley Head and FT launch essay prize

The Bodley Head and the Financial Times have launched their annual essay prize. The award will... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bodley head


Nonfiction long-list announced for book awards

A pair of best-selling works by staff writers for The New Yorker, Lawrence Wright's "Going Clear" and George Packer's "The Unwinding," were among 10 books chosen for the nonfiction long-list of the National Book Awards.Besides Mr. Wright's investigation of Scientology and Packer's bleak account... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2013-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #true story #sunshine state #bully pulpit #golden age


Man Booker Prize reveals criteria changes

The Man Booker Prize has extended its criteria and will from next year accept any novels... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Ether for Authors: What’s Important in the Man Booker Debate?

This week's buzz round-up looks at the controversial possible changes in the Man Booker Prize rules, New Zealand's publishing decline, Frankfurt tips and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-09-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


First long-list of finalists for book awards

Kate DiCamillo and David Levithan were among the 10 authors who made the first-ever long-list of finalists for the National Book Awards, part of a new nominating process that prize organizers hope will lead to increased attention and sales.Ms. DiCamillo and Mr. Levithan were nominees in the... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2013-09-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #vice president #boys kissing #meg rosoff


National Book Award releases long-list for Young People's Literature

The National Book Awards launched its first long-list with the 10 books in the running for the 2013 award for Young People's Literature on Monday.The National Book Awards launched its first long-list with the 10 books in the running for the 2013 award for Young People's Literature on Monday. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Cameron supports Books Are My Bag

Prime Minister David Cameron stepped out to support the industry-wide Books Are My Bag campaign... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bag campaign #industry-wide books


Malcolm Mackay wins crime book prize

Author Malcolm Mackay is named as the winner of this year's Deanston Scottish Crime Book of the Year for his novel How a Gunman Says Goodbye. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Man Booker Prize shortlist includes Jhumpa Lahiri, Colm Toibin

Books including 'The Lowland' by Jhumpa Lahiri and 'We Need New Names' by NoViolet Bulawayo made the shortlist for the Man Booker Prize this year, and some are calling the shortened list of nominees the best in years. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-09-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #colm toibin #books including #jhumpa lahiri


Kearns to help judge Roald Dahl Funny Prize

John Kearns, the winner of the best newcomer award at the Foster's Edinburgh Comedy Awards,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Discover the German Book Prize 2013 Finalists

The finalists for the 2013 German Book Prize range from historical fiction to explorations of contemporary love and a brutal future for planet Earth. Find out the winner on October 7 in Frankfurt. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #historical fiction #planet earth


2013 Man Booker Prize Shortlist Led by Crace, Catton

Favorites among year's six Booker Prize finalists — which "shows the English language novel to be a form of world literature" — are Jim Crace and Eleanor Catton. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-09-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jim crace #eleanor catton #english language #world literature