By encouraging the young to publish fan fiction, story-sharing startup Movellas is tackling English children's low literacy levelsLiteracy levels among English young adults compare poorly with those in other industrialised countries, according to an OECD survey last autumn which ranked England a "must try harder" 22nd out of 24 in tests for literacy.Turning this around is a challenge that appeals to Movellas, an online story-sharing startup. Taking to heart the maxim that "reading for pleasure" is vital to a child's educational attainment, the company's founders believe that encouraging young people to write about their passions and share those stories with others can have a positive effect on literacy.In other words, if your daughter's writing One Direction fan fiction on her phone, she could be on her way to an A* at English GCSE. Or, at the very least, a book deal. "Movellian" Emily Baker's 1D-inspired Loving the Band was snapped up by Penguin. Helen Hiorns's The Name on Your Wrist was published by Random House after she won the inaugural young movellist of the year, sponsored by Sony and judged by children's laureate Malorie Blackman.High-profile success stories can help build its user base (200,000 and growing), but Movellas does more than sell the dream of literary fame.When surveyed, 50% of respondents said Movellas had made them enjoy reading more; 70% enjoyed writing more. Importantly, 20% of its users get free school meals (about the national average). Only 25%... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2014-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Where Jeff Bezos goes, other tech billionaires follow. The latest titan to invest in print media is Salesforce founder Marc Benioff who, along with wife Lynne, is buying Time magazine. The pair are using $190 million from their personal fortune to bu... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2018-09-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Thames & Hudson is to launch a Big Ideas series on 6th September, with titles investigating capitalism, democracy, gender and space. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Mantle, a New York publisher focused on African fiction, has just published its first work of from outside the continent: the novel 'Sweden' by New Zealander Matthew Turner. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Over 500 people turned out in support of Bookmarks' solidarity event this weekend following the attack on the socialist bookshop by a far-right group a week earlier. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A doctor of theoretical linguistics turns her hand to fiction, exploring the power of language in her dystopian début. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Headline imprint Tinder Press has acquired American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins in a "very competitive" auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Oxford University Press Children’s has bought two middle-grade titles by author Cerrie Burnell. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Bristol Mayor has reportedly reversed a decision on cuts which would have seen 17 of the city’s 27 libraries closed. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Geraldine McCaughrean, accepting award for Where the World Ends, warned that restricting the language children read risks creating a future underclass who are ‘easy to manipulate’Carnegie medal winner Geraldine McCaughrean has castigated the books industry for dumbing down language in children’s... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2018-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jack Martin, a 23-year-old carpenter from Devon, has won this year’s Big Idea Competition with an idea based on a story he wrote in primary school. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A new investigative biography of Vice President Mike Pence, 'The Shadow President,' will be released this August by St. Martin's Press. It is the latest in big-name political books from Macmillan, which has released two other marquee politics titles this year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins Children’s Books has revealed the cover of Judith Kerr’s new picture book to celebrate the author’s 95th birthday. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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This summer Hoopla, the digital arm of Midwest Tape, which provides digital media lending services for more than 1,600 U.S. and Canadian public libraries, is marking its fifth year since startup. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Founded in 1918 in New York City, Church Publishing Inc. is celebrating its first century this year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Calling it 'a truly essential organization for making our marketplace work,' Canadian publishers say they'll honor the Access Copyright revenue collection agency, which is under sustained attack from the education sector. The post Beleaguered Access Copyright, Turning 30, Is Honored by Canadian... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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YA novelist Sarah J Maas is to write her first series for adults, set to be published by Bloomsbury in late 2019. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rosie Revere, Engineer, a bestselling picture book about a girl who dreams of becoming an engineer, will be turned into a series of chapter books this autumn by the publisher Abrams. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Stockbridge branch to open under Waterstones name rather than appearing independent Waterstones has backtracked on plans to open one of its new unbranded stores in a district of Edinburgh that is already home to an independent bookshop – following an outcry that included criticism from figures... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2018-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The white suit-and-white hat–wearing Wolfe made his name as a literary journalist and found bestselling success with such books as 'The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test,' 'Bonfire of the Vanities,' and the NBA-winning 'The Right Stuff.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Playwright Roger Hall, 79, has updated the script - and books - of his 1999 off-beat romantic comedy The Book Club for a 2018 audience and a season at Takapuna's PumpHouse Theatre Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2018-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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