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

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Freedom to Read Supporters Say It's Time to Get Louder

At an American Booksellers for Free Expression session, panelists discussed different approaches booksellers can take to fight book bans. Among the ideas floated were outreach to government officials, creating library-style “request for reconsideration of materials forms,” and improving Banned... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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'They can't ban all the books': Why two banned authors are so optimistic

"Banned Books," one of the most popular panels at the Festival of Books, featured Angie Thomas, George M. Johnson and some sharp students from Fairfax High. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-04-24 19:40:50 UTC ]
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Never too late: over-50s urged to write fiction with prize for debut novel

Award launched at London book fair aims to help older authors take the plunge and submit a first workLondon book fair, which concluded earlier this month, always brings with it a flurry of headlines about debut authors signing six-figure publishing deals. Most of these have at least one thing in... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-23 09:00:35 UTC ]
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Los Angeles Times Book Prizes Winners Announced

The 43nd annual Los Angeles Times Book Prizes were awarded tonight at the University of Southern California's Bovard Auditorium. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-04-22 04:49:44 UTC ]
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Jamil Jan Kochai’s The Haunting of Hajji Hotak has won the 2023 Aspen Prize.

Last night, the $35,000 Aspen Words Literary Prize was awarded to Jamil Jan Kochai for his collection, The Haunting of Hajji Hotak and Other Stories, following a suite of Afghani characters between modern-day Afghanistan and contemporary America as they grapple with guilt and displacement, and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-04-20 13:38:06 UTC ]
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Jamil Jan Kochai Wins $35,000 Aspen Words Literary Prize

Jamil Jan Kochai wins the Aspen Words Literary Prize for his short stories focused on the absurdity and violence Afghans have endured. The post Jamil Jan Kochai Wins $35,000 Aspen Words Literary Prize appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-04-20 08:22:53 UTC ]
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At London Book Fair: The International Booker Prize 2023 Shortlist

The International Booker Prize shortlist again this year is announced at London Book Fair. The post At London Book Fair: The International Booker Prize 2023 Shortlist appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-04-19 03:27:08 UTC ]
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How lawyer-author Orlando Ortega-Medina turned his exile from L.A. into a legal thriller

'The Fitful Sleep of Immigrants' began as a memoir about Orlando Ortega-Medina's exile from a homophobic U.S. How it became an immigration thriller instead Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-04-18 13:00:23 UTC ]
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As London Book Fair Opens: Authors Seed a ‘Tree to Me’ Campaign

Authors are asking their publishers in the UK 10 questions about the climate crisis and what it takes to get a book from the 'Tree to Me.' The post As London Book Fair Opens: Authors Seed a ‘Tree to Me’ Campaign appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-04-18 05:42:45 UTC ]
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Survey Finds Self-Published Authors Making Gains

The median income for self-published authors increased substantially in 2022 compared to 2021, to $12,749 last year—more than the median for authors published by traditional houses. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Rachel Pollack, Transgender Activist and Authority on Tarot, Dies at 77

Her science fiction writing won awards. Her tarot books won her a devoted following. And she created DC Comics’ first transgender superhero. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-04-13 20:05:34 UTC ]
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Scotland’s Highland Book Prize Names Its Shortlist

With a £2,000 purse for the winner, four shortlistees are named by the regionally specific Highland Book Prize. The post Scotland’s Highland Book Prize Names Its Shortlist appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-04-12 19:07:00 UTC ]
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Author Chuck Forester Donates $250K to Lambda Literary

Lambda executive director Samiya Bashir called Forester's gift "transformational," which will allow Lambda Literary to usher in a new phase of expansion. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Aims to Glorify God One Hat At a Time

La Verne Wimberly, whose Sunday morning selfies in her fabulous hats went viral, is promoting the newly released 'My Sunday Best' during Easter season. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
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What’s going on with all the empty author signing pics?

In December 2022, author Chelsea Banning had 37 people RSVP “yes” to her book event. On the day, only two showed up. In March 2023, Jamar Perry showed up to his 7 p.m. book event to find the bookstore empty, and figured he would give it another 40 minutes. Still, no one came. This week, […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-04-05 11:57:06 UTC ]
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‘I love nothing more than making people cry’: author Cheryl Strayed on her hugely moving TV show

Profound, big-hearted, and raw, the adaptation of bestselling book Tiny Beautiful Things is powerful television. Its writer talks grief, sorrow and being friends for life with Reese WitherspoonIn 2011, a little-known fortysomething author called Cheryl Strayed was about to become huge. She had... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-05 05:00:25 UTC ]
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Authors Guild Meets with Legislators Over Generative AI Concerns

The Guild led a coalition of creative groups who spent a week lobbying lawmakers for legal guardrails against generative artificial intelligence programs and educating them on potential harms posed by such programs on literary and creative industries. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
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German Book Prize: 172 Titles Submitted for the 2023 Competition

The 2023 German Book Prize program has drawn submissions from 111 publishers based in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. The post German Book Prize: 172 Titles Submitted for the 2023 Competition appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-04-04 18:54:52 UTC ]
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Children’s author who sued John Lewis over Christmas ad loses case

Fay Evans alleged similarity between the 2019 Excitable Edgar TV campaign and her self-published book A self-published author who sued John Lewis over its 2019 Christmas advert about a trouble-making dragon has lost her case.Fay Evans brought a case for copyright infringement, alleging that... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-03 12:29:46 UTC ]
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In Wales, Swansea University’s Dylan Thomas Prize: The 2023 Shortlist

Work from Australia, Nigeria, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Somalia is on the Dylan Thomas Prize 2023 shortlist. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson ‘Hugely Different in Style, Subject, and Genre’ arlier this month, the Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-03-29 00:28:48 UTC ]
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