‘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 ]

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


Lit Hub Weekly: August 21-25, 2023

“Whatever has been invented, Le Guin teaches us, can be reinvented.” John Plotz revisits Earthsea. | Lit Hub Criticism Moeen Farrokhi on writing and humiliation under Iranian censorship: “I began to question the very act of writing itself.” | Lit Hub Memoir “No one needs my opinion about books.”... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-08-26 10:30:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Booksellers Predict The Big Books of Fall 2023

Every fall season, bookseller enthusiasm builds for certain subjects, and novels—notably high-stakes historical fiction and immersive work in translation—are extra hot for 2023. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-08-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Lit Hub Daily: August 23, 2023

“No one needs my opinion about books.” Longtime indie bookseller Josh Cook against the cultural authoritarianism of “good taste.” | Lit Hub Criticism When folk went mainstream: On Harry Everett Smith and the cultural paradigm shift that his Anthology of American Folk Music. | Lit Hub Music... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-08-23 10:30:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The BBC’s Fergal Keane: ‘The breakdowns get harder to recover from each time’

The former BBC war reporter, now special correspondent, on the terror of PTSD, his tips for living with it day to day, and the people and poets he admiresDuring a career spanning more than 30 years, BBC special correspondent Fergal Keane has covered brutal conflicts in South Africa, Rwanda and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-08-06 08:30:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this


British Independent Publisher HopeRoad Opens Fundraising Appeal

London's 13-year-old HopeRoad Publishing, focused on Caribbean, African, and Asian work, announces it's having cash-flow struggles. The post British Independent Publisher HopeRoad Opens Fundraising Appeal appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-07-28 17:14:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this


'It could very well bankrupt us,' says bookseller suing over Texas school book ban

Valerie Koehler says that if her book shop is forced to comply with a new state law regulating public school literature, she might go out of business. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-07-26 21:13:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Yes, it can be very stressful to publish a book, and young writers need more support.

An April report by the UK-based publishing site, The Bookseller, showed that more than half of the debut authors they surveyed said the experience of publishing a book adversely affected their mental health. Further reporting from The Guardian reveals that (some) publishers have quickly... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-07-19 19:03:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Barnes & Noble reopening, new stores planned at The Avenue at White Marsh

Barnes & Noble will reopen its bookstore at The Avenue at White Marsh in a redesigned format on July 26, the bookseller announced Wednesday. It's one of several changes and new stores planned for the center. Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2023-07-19 17:11:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


‘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... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-07-18 15:13:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Christine Baker obituary

Editor with the Paris-based publisher Gallimard Jeunesse who was determined to give British children’s books a presence in FranceChristine Baker, who has died aged 71 of cancer, did much to give British children’s books a presence in France, making them readily available to families and schools... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-07-10 16:54:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Black-owned publishing houses that shaped the Windrush generation

Community-produced newsletters informed newcomers of the local shops, clubs and bars that were most welcoming to Caribbean migrants. Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2023-06-19 09:17:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Want a Living Wage? You Won’t Find It Working at Most Indie Bookstores

You won't make a living wage working as a bookseller in an indie bookstore. Here's a look at wages across the country. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-06-12 10:37:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center Waives Exhibitor Book Fair Fees

For a third year, publishers, publishing houses, and booksellers will enjoy no-fee participation in all Abu Dhabi book fairs. The post Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center Waives Exhibitor Book Fair Fees appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-06-05 15:40:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Coalition Sues Over New Arkansas Library Obscenity Law

A coalition of 18 plaintiffs—including a powerful alliance of library, publishing, author, and bookseller groups—are suing to strike down a controversial new law that would expose librarians and booksellers to criminal liability for making allegedly inappropriate books accessible to minors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


U.S. Book Show 2023: Jacqueline Woodson Works from Memory and Empathy

At a lunch-hour keynote on May 24, National Book Award winner and former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Jacqueline Woodson sat down with bookseller Miwa Messer. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Definitive proof that publishing your novel won’t make you happy.

Hug an author today! Fifty-four percent of debut authors responding to Bookseller survey said the process had a negative impact on their mental health—equally likely to feel bummed out whether they pubbed with a Big Four or an indie publisher. One, quoted anonymously in The Bookseller’s report,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-04-24 15:32:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Barnes & Noble Revamps Loyalty Program with Premium Membership

The bookseller announced new benefits and discount perks in an effort to "revitalize" its membership ranks and unveiled an alternative free B&N Rewards loyalty program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Amazon to close Book Depository online shop

Gloucester-based bookseller bought by the retail giant in 2011 will shut at the end of AprilThe online shop Book Depository is due to close at the end of April, vendors and publishing partners have been told. This comes after the bookseller’s parent company Amazon announced it had decided to... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-04 11:07:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Children’s books publisher Peter Usborne dies at 85

Publisher pays tribute to ‘genius’ who was an ‘inspirational leader’Peter Usborne, the founder of the children’s books publisher Usborne and the co-founder of Private Eye magazine, has died aged 85, the publisher has announced.He died “unexpectedly but peacefully” surrounded by his family this... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-03-30 18:46:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this


U.K.'s Joffe Books Acquires Choc Lit

The romance and women’s fiction specialist, with a 250-book backlist, was purchased for and undisclosed sum by the largest independent publisher of e-books in the U.K. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-03-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this