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'


Erika L. Sánchez Wishes More Authors Would Write About Money

“I grew up working class and money was a factor in everything we did,” says the poet and novelist, whose new book is the memoir “Crying in the Bathroom.” “That’s why I always write about the financial realities of my characters.” Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-07-07 09:00:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #working class #memoir crying #memoir


‘The Crane Wife’ essay hit a nerve. A new book reminds us why.

C. J. Hauser’s memoir-in-essays is a frank exploration of intimacy and romance that doesn’t always lead to a happily ever after. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-07-05 13:21:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #crane wife #book reminds


HarperCollins Union Authorizes Strike

The more than 250 members of HC's union overwhelming voted to authorize a strike if current negotiations do not lead to a contract. No deadline for a strike had been announced. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Jesmyn Ward has won the 2022 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction.

Jesmyn Ward—the two-time National Book Award-winning author of Salvage the Bones and Sing, Unburied, Sing—has just become, at 45, the youngest ever winner of the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction. The prize, which was established in 2008 as a lifetime achievement award, honors “an... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-07-01 17:08:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #congress prize #jesmyn ward #american fiction #award-winning author


Auden was more than a great poet. Two books remind us why.

Volumes I and II of ‘The Complete Works of W.H. Auden: Poems’ delve deeply into the masterful works I have long admired. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-06-29 13:00:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books remind #complete works #delve deeply #masterful works #long admired


German Book Trade’s Peace Prize: Ukraine’s Serhiy Zhadan

The Peace Prize board praises Serhiy Zhadan for his illumination of wartime conflict and his humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. The post German Book Trade’s Peace Prize: Ukraine’s Serhiy Zhadan appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-06-27 12:15:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #peace prize #serhiy zhadan #humanitarian efforts #german book


Long Island library board comes to its senses and reverses ban on children’s Pride displays.

Following the recent onslaught of attacks on LGBTQ+ rights across the nation, the Smithtown Library Board of Trustees passed a resolution on June 21st to remove all Pride month displays from their children’s sections across all four buildings in the library’s district. The New York Library... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-06-24 15:19:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pride displays #june 21st #library association


NBC’s Katy Tur took abuse from Trump; it reminded her of her childhood

The reporter chronicles her career, her volatile father and how she withstood Trump's bullying on the campaign trail. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-06-24 12:00:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #campaign trail


111 Queer Books Recommended by Librarians, Booksellers, and Authors

While we celebrate queer literature and history all year long at Lit Hub dot com, we also love a good book list. This year, in honor of Pride, we reached out to some of our favorite librarians, booksellers, and authors and asked them about the queer books they find themselves recommending over... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-06-24 08:52:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #year long #queer books #good book


Register Today for AAPI Communities in Conversation #7, Featuring Marie Myung-Ok Lee, Author of 'Finding My Voice'

Lee is set to appear in conversation with Lynn Nguyen from the Los Angeles Public Library. The live stream is set for Tuesday, July 5th at 1 PM ET. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #register today #aapi communities #live stream


The German Publishing Prize: 66 Publishers Honored, Three With €60,000 Each

With a total value of more than €1.6 million, the German Publishing Prize selects and honors socially engaged independent publishers. The post The German Publishing Prize: 66 Publishers Honored, Three With €60,000 Each appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-06-23 16:19:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #german publishing


Scotland’s Highland Book Prize Goes to Jen Hadfield’s ‘The Stone Age’

'Our neurodiversity is a gift,' as Pan Mac/Picador's commentary about Jen Hadfield's 'The Stone Age' positions her 'visionary panpsychism.' The post Scotland’s Highland Book Prize Goes to Jen Hadfield’s ‘The Stone Age’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-06-22 18:57:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post scotland #jen hadfield #book prize


Malorie Blackman Wins England’s 2022 PEN Pinter Prize

The former children's book laureate in the United Kingdom, Malorie Blackman will select English PEN's next 'International Writer of Courage.' The post Malorie Blackman Wins England’s 2022 PEN Pinter Prize appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-06-21 14:29:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #united kingdom #malorie blackman #international writer #children's book


Ada Calhoun comes to terms with a neglectful father in ‘Also a Poet’

Calhoun explores the life of poet Frank O'Hara while considering her relationship with her father, art critic Peter Schjeldahl. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-06-17 15:41:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ada calhoun


Ruth Ozeki Wins U.K. Women's Prize for Fiction

Ruth Ozeki has won the 2022 Women’s Prize for Fiction for her novel 'The Book of Form and Emptiness' (Penguin), which comes with a £30,000 ($36,500) cash award. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ruth ozeki


James Patterson apologizes for saying white male authors face ‘racism’

The 75-year-old writer has penned more than 300 titles, sold more than 500m copies and is worth an estimated $800mThe bestselling author James Patterson has apologized for saying white male authors face “another form of racism”.In an interview with the Sunday Times, Patterson said white male... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-06-15 18:35:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sunday times #bestselling author


A Daughter, Her Father and the Long-Gone Poet Who Brought Them Together

In her memoir “Also a Poet: Frank O’Hara, My Father, and Me,” Ada Calhoun set out to write a poet’s biography and found a connection to her father instead. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-06-09 09:00:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #memoir


David Albahari Wins Serbia’s Aleksandar Tišma International Literary Prize

The Serbian-Canadian author David Albahari wins the €10,000 biennial Aleksandar Tišma International Literary Prize. The post David Albahari Wins Serbia’s Aleksandar Tišma International Literary Prize appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-06-06 18:45:34 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary prize


The Morning After: The French government bans English gaming terms, including ‘eSports’

Not satisfied with trying to replace “WiFi” with “l’access sans fil à internet” (which didn’t work), l'Académie française set its sights on gaming terms in 2017. It’s now gained traction with the government, and France’s Ministry of Culture has announced it’ll ban terms including "streamer" and... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-06-01 11:15:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #business model #kindle


Register Today for AAPI Communities in Conversation #6 Featuring Malaka Gharib, author of I Was 'Their American Dream'

The sixth installment in the AAPI Communities in Conversation series, featuring Malaka Gharib, author of 'I Was Their American Dream,' is now set for Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at 1:00 pm ET. Register here. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-27 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #register today #aapi communities #american dream #sixth installment #conversation series