The facts on fiction and Marley’s origins | Letters

Karl Sabbagh says small publishers face with huge obstacles with selling books and even letting anyone know they exist; plus a descendant of Dr Miles Marley sets the record straightWith reference to your leader on literary fiction (28 December), as a small publisher we are faced with huge obstacles in the way of selling our books or even letting anyone know our titles exist, however good they are. Last year we published an excellent novel called To the Lake, by a Russian writer, Yana Vagner. This had sold over 100,000 copies in Russia, and is being made into a TV series there. It has won prizes throughout Europe, and been translated into half a dozen languages, with sales outside Russia running into tens of thousands. We paid an advance to the author, a fee to a translator, and typesetting, cover design and printing costs, a total of about £9,000. We sent at least 50 copies out to major periodicals, newspapers and broadcast media in the hope of getting reviews, but there were none. The one thing we couldn’t afford was advertising, at a cost of £1,000 or so for a quarter page in a literary journal and far more in widely selling newspapers. So far, we have sold 64 copies. Can anyone wonder why we don’t publish more such books?Karl SabbaghManaging director, Skyscraper Publications• Dr Christopher Goulding (Letters, 26 December) may regard Barry West’s “theory” about Dickens’ use of the name Marley as tenuous; in our family we regard it as long-established fact. I am a... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2017-12-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #won prizes #dozen languages #cover design #printing costs #broadcast media #literary journal

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Illustration to Thrillers, Fiction and Nonfiction: International Titles on Offer at London 2016

We asked a few publishers which international titles they are especially excited to present to the publishing world at the London Book Fair this spring. The post Illustration to Thrillers, Fiction and Nonfiction: International Titles on Offer at London 2016 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sphere non-fiction acquires Instagram star's 'Fit in 3'

Sphere non-fiction has acquired a debut health and fitness book by Instagram sensation Faya Nilsson, a personal trainer and winner of Cosmopolitan’s Lifestyle Blogger of the Year for her blog, fitnessontoast.com. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Peter Dunne letters to Trapeze

New Orion imprint Trapeze is publishing The Fifty Things by Peter Dunne, a book of letters exploring the "social mores and morality of our time" in a bid to answer for his children "the eternal questions that line the path to peace of mind". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Harriet Bourton to join Orion Fiction as publishing director

Harriet Bourton, editorial director at Transworld, is joining Orion Fiction as publishing director. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A letter supporting Carnegie Library occupiers

A letter from authors and illustrators calling on Lambeth Council to keep libraries in the borough open. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Header-bidding tech should be free. An open letter to publishers

by Andrew Rutledge, VP Sales, Publisher Technology Group, AppNexus Dear Readers: If you’re a digital publisher or app developer, chances are you’ve been approached by numerous ad tech sales teams in recent months, each extolling the virtues of header bidding. How do I know this? Well, I run... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2016-04-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Isla Fisher pens children’s fiction series

Piccadilly Press has acquired world rights, excluding North America, to a children’s fiction series by actress Isla Fisher. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Remembering the Indy and C&A | Letters

The Independent | Asa Briggs | English National Opera | C&A | Selfish geneAll thinking people will agree that the print world is a poorer place without what you call the “class act” of the Independent (Editorial, 26 March). It simply doesn’t suffice to “regret its fate” as you say and move... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling offers rejection letters as lesson in perseverence

When fans struggling with literary rejection reached out to J.K. Rowling on Twitter, the best-selling author responded with words of inspiration and examples of some of her own rejection letters. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Impossible Task of Writing Historical Fiction

Kelly Kerney, who spent a decade writing the historical novel "Hard Red Spring," talks about the impossible task of historical fiction. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sony's original TV show 'Powers' returns on May 31st

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[ Engadget | 2016-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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JK Rowling posts letters of rejection on Twitter to help budding authors

Harry Potter writer shares publishers’ brush-offs for first Robert Galbraith novel in attempt to to inspire other authorsThe Harry Potter author JK Rowling has shared some withering rebuffs publishers sent to her alter ego Robert Galbraith, in an effort to comfort aspiring authors.Rowling posted... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fond memories of Jackie and dead tortoises | Letters

Ah, fond memories of Jackie magazine in the Guardian (‘Girls sent us urine samples in Charlie perfume bottles’, G2, 22 March). Jackie was where I (and dozens of other writers) learned the writing trade. I sold my first short story to Jackie in December 1973 and earned £14. Flushed with success,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fiction v nonfiction – English literature's made-up divide

Some cultures do not distinguish between fiction and nonfiction – and instead talk of ‘stories’. Is that a barrier to English-language writers and publishers? Or should they just learn to enjoy telling tales?There’s a mighty canyon that runs down the middle of the world of the word, carving... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Blending Faith with YA Fiction: PW Talks to Jody Hedlund

Adult romance-turned-YA author Jody Hedlund explains the importance of writing books for young people and how she weaves a clean, faith-focused story together with relationships and adventure. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Graham Norton pens 'darkly funny' fiction debut

Hodder & Stoughton has acquired Graham Norton's "darkly funny" fiction debut. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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American University in Cairo Press Launches New Fiction Imprint

The mission of new fiction imprint Hoopoe is to "accurately reflect what is going on in the Middle East, from the Middle East." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Texture Debuts Exclusive Series with Eyes on Producing Original Content

Seven-part serial produced by The Atavist Magazine will enjoy exclusive first-runs on the digital reader app. The post Texture Debuts Exclusive Series with Eyes on Producing Original Content appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2016-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A Letter from PW on the Cuban Book Embargo

Ending the embargo on books and educational materials would be an important first step in improving relations between the U.S. and Cuba. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sky News editor pens non-fiction debut on British identity

Jonathan Cape is publishing BRIT(ish): Getting Under the Skin of Britain’s Race Problem by Afua Hirsch, social affairs editor for Sky News. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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