The new Scandi noir: the Korean writers reinventing the thriller

The country has emerged as a surprising literary force as a novel by the ‘Korean Henning Mankell’ bags a six-figure deal and sparks a global bidding warLast December, Korean novelist Un-su Kim set out on an eight-month deep-sea fishing trip as part of research for his next book. Unreachable by phone or email until next August, when his boat docks in Fiji, he has no idea that his thriller The Plotters has been the subject of a wildly enthusiastic auction in the US, where it recently sold to Doubleday for a six-figure sum. German publisher Europa Verlag has called Kim “the Korean Henning Mankell”, while publishers in the UK, Czech Republic and Turkey have placed offers, and international film companies are also battling for rights.His agent, Barbara Zitwer, who plans to meet him in Fiji to reveal the news, believes Kim’s novel, about an organisation that masterminds assassinations, has caught a wave of interest in Korean thrillers – a previously unknown quantity. “The world is finally embracing them. Korean thriller writers are invigorating the genre,” she said. “They are pumping new life into it. Readers are tiring of Scandinavian thrillers – they crave something new.”Human Acts by Han Kang Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Peter Carey among writers to protest PEN honour for Charlie Hebdo

Writers withdraw from literary and human rights organisation’s American Center gala, citing objection to award for the French satirical magazinePeter Carey, Michael Ondaatje, Francine Prose, and at least three other writers have withdrawn from next month’s PEN American Center gala, citing... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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No Exit prepares for new Starr thriller

No Exit Press has acquired the latest thriller by Jason Starr, his 10th crime novel and his first for six years. Managing director Ion Mills bought UK and Commonwealth rights excluding Canada direct from the author. Set in the suburbs of New York City, Savage Lane is said to be a thriller that... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #latest thriller #exit press #gillian flynn


'Huge inequality' in writer earnings

There is a “huge inequality” in earnings between writers, with a small number – 10% - earning most of the money made by professional authors, research released today (20th April) has found. The Business of Being an Author: A Survey of Authors Earnings and Contracts was commissioned by the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ig Plans Series on Books That Inspired Writers to Write

We all know how certain books, read at key moments in our lives, remain memorable and influential for years afterward. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Thrillers, killers, spillers: Aussie pulp fiction of the 40s and 50s – in pictures

Passion! Mystery! Crime! After the Australian government banned the import of American pulp magazines at the onset of the second world war, publisher Frank Johnson stepped into the market with a flurry of crime, adventure and romance novels. Drawn from his archives, a collection of cover art,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #world war #romance novels #cover art #south wales


Pan Mac signs standalone thriller from Hannah

Pan Macmillan has acquired the first standalone thriller from crime writer Mari Hannah. Publishing director Wayne Brookes bought UK and Commonwealth rights including Canada to The Silent Room from Oli Munson at A M Heath. Hannah is the author of a series of novels, published by Pan Macmillan,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pan macmillan #standalone thriller #oli munson #tv rights #sprout pictures #stephen fry


Male writers continue to dominate literary criticism, Vida study finds

Women buy two-thirds of books sold but magazine reviews are centred on male authors and critics – though picture is beginning to changeThe continuing bias towards men in the British and American literary establishment has been confirmed by a study released on Tuesday.Vida, a US organisation... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books sold #favourite books #male authors #study released #wide range #london review


Can Independent Publishers Rescue in South Korean Publishing?

Independent publishing and bookstores that offering indie press books are lone bright spots in an otherwise depressed South Korean publishing landscape. The post Can Independent Publishers Rescue in South Korean Publishing? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BuzzFeed Launches Emerging Writers Fellowship: An Interview with Literary Editor Saeed Jones

BuzzFeed is going literary. The ever-growing media company launched BuzzFeed Books in December of 2013, and this year it is launching several projects under new Literary Editor Saeed Jones. First up is the BuzzFeed Emerging Writers Fellowship pr ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Coffee House Press Uses $100K Grant to Build Up Writers Residency Program

Coffee House Press in Minneapolis has just received a $100,000 grant from the Bush Foundation. The press said it intend to use much of the grant money its In the Stacks residency program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Stirring the Plot: New Cookbooks Offer Recipes from Top Mystery Writers

In two new books out this spring, mystery writers provide recipes from their lives, and the lives of their characters. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Confessions of a Gay Erotica Writer in the Era of Indie Publishing

Self-published gay erotica writer M.P. Rey reveals his joy at moving from the dusty shelves of hidden rainbow-flag bookstores to better status on Amazon. The post Confessions of a Gay Erotica Writer in the Era of Indie Publishing appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Twins thriller to Bloomsbury

Bloomsbury has signed a literary thriller about identical twins from writer Ann Morgan. Beside Myself follows two twin sisters, Ellie and Helen, who swap places aged six. At first, it is a game, but when Ellie refuses to switch back, Helen is forced into a new identity, developing a host of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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St. Patrick's Day: New York City residents can get a free book by an Irish writer

The Irish Arts Center in New York City will be handing out thousands of books by Irish writers to NYC residents on the holiday. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #free book #irish writer #irish writers


Sphere signs thriller from Fountain

Sphere has bought a psychological thriller titled Painkiller by Private Eye staff writer N J Fountain. Cath Burke, fiction publisher at Sphere, bought UK and Commonwealth rights to the novel in a deal brokered by Piers Blofeld at Sheil Land Associates. Painkiller tells the story of a once... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bangladeshis protest after atheist writer Avijit Roy hacked to death

Hundreds rally against fundamentalism in Dhaka as Islamists claim responsibility for murder of prominent US-Bangladeshi bloggerHundreds of people have taken to the streets of Dhaka in protest at the murder of a prominent secular American blogger of Bangladeshi origin who was hacked to death with... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Headline signs title from comedy writer Shaw

Headline has acquired a humour title by comedy writer Dale Shaw. Editor Richard Roper pre-empted world rights to F**k This Journal (Betterness Through Bitterness) by Dale Shaw from Jamie Coleman at Greene & Heaton. Headline is describing the book as a “hilarious and subversive take on the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tom Rob Smith thriller tops chart

Tom Rob Smith scores his first UK Top 50 number one with the paperback of his latest thriller, The Farm. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why all writers are vain

I’ve met, interviewed and shared stages with many authors over the years, and seen all too many signs of pride and oversensitivity to criticism. There is an inherent egotism in believing your voice matters – but that’s no reason not to put pen to paperMany years ago, when I had just started... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why Writers Need to Know the Publishing Business

Publisher Deborah Emin argues that as publishing professionals, we should want writers to understand each stage of the process: how they are acquired, marketed and sold. The post Why Writers Need to Know the Publishing Business appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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