‘There’s an industry-wide mental health crisis’: authors and publishers on why the books sector needs to change

After a survey revealed the stresses that authors face when placed in the spotlight for the first time, publishing houses and industry bodies have pledged extra training and pastoral careAuthor and publisher welfare has been a hot topic in the books industry of late. Publishing houses, trade unions and industry bodies have scrambled for solutions following a survey by the Bookseller in which debut authors reported overwhelmingly negative publication experiences: more than half of respondents said the process adversely affected their mental health. Now, a series of measures are being rolled out across the industry in response to these concerns.This month, Anna Frame, communications director at the independent publisher Canongate, has confirmed the launch of two initiatives: an authors’ handbook in partnership with the Society of Authors (SoA) and a resource pack for publishers, in conjunction with English Pen. Canongate has also announced that it will publish fewer books so that it can dedicate more time to authors. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2023-07-18 15:13:43 UTC ]

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Indie Book Day backed by bookshops and publishers

Indie Book Day is set to make a mark on the UK this year after starting in Germany two years ago and quickly spreading across Europe. The campaign – which hopes to become comparable to the American Record Store Day event, but for books – wants readers to flock to independent bookshops on 21st... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Attempt to ban performing artist’s abuse memoir ‘threatens free speech’

Artist is appealing against temporary injunction obtained by his ex-wife, who says book will be distressing for his son to readAn attempt to prevent a performing artist from publishing his memoir on the grounds that its contents would be distressing for his son to read has opened up “a new,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors speak out against ethnic and cultural stereotyping

Writers believe that the publishing industry still views them largely through a prism of ethnicity, but industry insiders say that there is no pigeonholing based on race. Authors told The Bookseller they are still defined by their racial identity for marketing purposes and receive more success... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dawson pens mental health guide

YA author James Dawson is writing a guide to mental health for young people with clinical psychologist Olivia Hewitt. Mind Your Head, which will be published by Hot Key Books in 2016, will give tips on managing emotional wellbeing and finding support for mental health issues. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Vigil for Saudi blogger

English PEN is holding a weekly vigil outside the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in London in support of activist and blogger Raif Badawi.   Badawi was convicted in May 2014 for insulting Islam and founding a liberal website.  He received a fine of one million riyals (£175,000) and a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mark Smith to join Bonnier Publishing

Mark Smith, the founder and former c.e.o. of Quercus, is to join Bonnier Publishing as c.e.o. of its fiction department. Smith left Quercus after the formerly independent publisher was bought by Hachette UK’s Hodder & Stoughton earlier this year. He will now become c.e.o. of Bonnier... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book ban campaigners deliver "hundreds of books" to MoJ

English PEN and the Howard League for Penal Reform today (11th December) delivered hundreds of books to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to send on to prisoners. Authors Francesca Simon and Miranda France joined representatives of the charities, who wore Christmas-themed clothing and offered mince... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Same-day delivery from SelfMadeHero

Graphic novel publisher SelfMadeHero is attempting to beat Amazon's delivery promises by offering free same-day delivery across central London. The independent publisher will offer the service for two weeks from 1st December, with orders placed before 2p.m. on Monday to Friday delivered the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Half of C&R staff have now left Little, Brown

More than half of staff at Constable & Robinson have left the publisher since Little, Brown Book Group bought the company, it has emerged. The formerly independent publisher was purchased by the Hachette division in February, with the Constable & Robinson team moving into Little,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Consumer insight 'now at the heart of publishing'

Consumer insight is not just a buzzword but has become an integral part of modern publishing, speakers at a FutureBook panel on the topic said today. Sara Lloyd, digital and communications director at Pan Macmillan, said consumer insight has an impact across the whole business. ”It is basically... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HC appoints Fiona Allen as communications director

Fiona Allen has been appointed as the new communications director for HarperCollins Publishers UK, following Susanna Frayn’s decision to step down after 13 years with the company. Allen worked for Waterstones for eight years, most recently as head of brand communications, and will start her new... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Orion creates group publicity department

Orion has created a new group publicity department, to be headed by Helen Richardson, who takes on the role of group publicity and communications director. The new department will comprise of two teams – a non-fiction team led by deputy publicity director Elizabeth Allen, and a fiction team led... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Four-unit restructure for The History Press

The History Press has restructured following a company-wide review, creating four distinct business units, and putting "a small number" of people into consultation over their jobs. The independent publisher, specialising in local history as well as military history titles, underwent a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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IDG’s Apollo CMS Makes a Case to Build It Yourself

Proprietary content management systems have been a hot topic in digital publishing over the past year. Companies like Vox, Say Media, Forbes and others have made huge commitments to building out their platforms to not only serve internal needs but also provide licensed solutions for outside... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2014-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing houses are throwing book deals at YouTube 'stars'

Let's say you can't get enough of it'sGrace (above) on YouTube but you're taking a week-long no-tech camping trip soon and aren't excited about missing her wit and charm. Well, host Grace Helbig's book Grace's Guide: The Art of Pretending to Be a... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Frankfurt Book Fair 2014: Apple, Amazon in Race for Mobile Readers

The rise of reading on mobile phones is a hot topic at the Frankfurt Book Fair, but perhaps the most surprising finding of a new survey is that Apple is giving Amazon a run for its money among younger readers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Four Questions for...Brooklyn Book Festival Host Johnny Temple

Publisher Johnny Temple might be Brooklyn's biggest cheerleader. In addition to overseeing one of Brooklyn's best known publishing houses, Temple is also the host of the borough's flourishing book festival. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publisher Opening Classics Pop-Up

The Press at Toad Hall, an independent publisher of classics based out of Philadelphia, will be opening its first retail location, a pop-up store that will feature new editions of classic works, later this summer. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Poorest Man’s Copyright

You could have heard about the “poor man’s copyright” anywhere: from an older relative, from a friend, from a high school English teacher. They find out that you’ve been working on a novel and they want to help, so they tell you to mail it to yourself once it’s done. That way, even if you don’t... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2014-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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English PEN and Foyles partner on World Bookshelf

English PEN in partnership with Foyles has launched a new website which celebrates contemporary... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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