UK publishing less accessible to Black authors now than before 2020, industry names say

Ahead of the Black British book festival, literary figures say the number of books being published by Black writers has ‘plummeted’UK publishing is less accessible to Black authors now than it was five years ago, according to some of the biggest names in the industry.The Black Lives Matter movement of 2020 led to many publishing houses making commitments to address the longstanding racial inequality in the industry. But, ahead of the Black British book festival (BBBF) this weekend, a number of Black literary figures say there has been a noticeable downward shift in the number of Black writers being published. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2025-03-26 17:06:01 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "UK publishing less accessible to Black authors now than before 2020, industry names say"


We don't need 'black' books. We need human books

Last week I had the honour of being a panelist on a webinar about publishing values in 2020. I listened to the various publishers, both big and small, in the UK and abroad talk about the challenges and opportunities brought by the Black Lives Matter movement and the pandemic. Everyone is talking... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-16 14:10:29 UTC ]
More news stories like this


What black writers think about the UK's publishing industry – a survey

Limited promotion and marketing budgets reinforce false ideas about how well diverse books and writers will sell. This leads to a negative cycle for black, Asian and minority ethnic writers. Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2020-07-15 09:57:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this


I'm the first black author to win book of the year. I'm proud, but not completely happy

Instead of celebrating myself, I’m going to celebrate the books by black authors that came before meI have a funny thing about winning. I find it overwhelming. I don’t know how to cope or act when things are meant to be “good”. What do I do? Should I be happy? What is that? How many ways can I... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-07-02 07:00:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Bookseller asks for trade views of social media

The Bookseller would like to capture the trade’s thoughts on social media and, in particular, "cancel culture" and its impacts on UK publishing, bookselling and writing. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-01 19:32:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Evaristo and Carty-Williams become first black authors to win top British Book awards

Candice Carty-Williams and Bernardine Evaristo take book of the year and author of the year categories, as publishers face criticism for treatment of black authorsCandice Carty-Williams and Bernardine Evaristo have become the first black authors to win the top prizes at the British Book awards,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-06-29 17:45:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this


British Book Awards: Online and Upbeat, a Busy Round of the Nibbies

The 2020 British Book Awards are announcing prize winners in two parts online, the industry awards first, followed by the book awards. The post British Book Awards: Online and Upbeat, a Busy Round of the Nibbies appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-06-29 16:44:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Carty-Williams' Queenie wins Book of the Year at British Book Awards

Candice Carty-Williams has become the first black female writer to win Book of the Year at the British Book Awards. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-29 15:02:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Pan Mac and Waterstones triumph at British Book Awards 2020

Pan Macmillan has been named Publisher of the Year, while Waterstones has claimed Book Retailer of the Year, at the British Book Awards 2020. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-29 14:20:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Star guests to join British Book Awards virtual ceremony today

The best authors, publishers and retailers will be crowned at the British Book Awards in a virtual ceremony today. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-28 17:13:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Dear black publishers and creatives...

I have been writing children's books for over 10 years now. I have worked as an editor in children's publishing houses for 15. For the last 18 months, I have been mentoring writers and illustrators of colour, and doing my best to try and explain how publishing works. How to navigate this... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-26 10:43:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Diversity needs unions

In response to the discussions around the #PublishingPaidMe and #BookJobTransparency hashtags, and the open letter from the Black Writers’ Guild, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Book Branch recognises that these problems are not new and will not be fixed without ambitious, far-reaching... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-25 09:04:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this


We've come a long way with LBGTQ+ literature

In 2012, the literary critic Suzi Feay lamented the lack of new lesbian voices in UK publishing. Describing what she saw as “a shortage of lesbian writers in Britain today”, she wondered who would follow in the footsteps of established authors like Ali Smith, Sarah Waters and Jeanette Winterson.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-22 12:20:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Nibbies on the Ether: The British Book Awards Online at 30

The next awards program to move online is the 'Nibbies,' set for June 29 with access available to readers as well as to book business players. The post Nibbies on the Ether: The British Book Awards Online at 30 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-06-22 09:40:01 UTC ]
More news stories like this


'Change is not happening fast enough': UK publishers promise to tackle inequality

Responding to the newly formed Black Writers’ Guild, all five of the biggest publishers say they will make more room for black authors and staffThe “big five” UK publishing houses have separately acknowledged that “change is not happening fast enough” and that they must do a lot more to address... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-06-17 12:45:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Can #BlackoutBestsellerList be the reckoning the publishing industry needs?

The social media campaign could force publishers to focus on black writers by encouraging readers to buy their booksCould the New York Times’ Best Seller book list ever be filled entirely by black authors?As industries undergo reckonings around race, in the wake of international demonstrations... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-06-17 10:00:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this


We could and should do more: publishers reply to the Black Writers' Guild

Publishers have responded to the Black Writers’ Guild’s open letter, welcoming their suggestions and agreeing they have work to do Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-16 13:02:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Black Writers’ Guild calls for sweeping change in UK publishing

More than 100 authors join new body calling for the industry to address deep-seated inequalities in output and personnelMore than 100 writers including Booker winner Bernardine Evaristo, Benjamin Zephaniah and Malorie Blackman have called on all major publishing houses in the UK to introduce... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-06-15 17:08:57 UTC ]
More news stories like this


An open letter to UK publishing from the Black Writers' Guild

The protest movement sweeping the world since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis has forced an international soul searching to understand the pervasive racial inequalities that haunt most sectors of our society. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-15 17:05:27 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Amistad Launches #BlackoutBestsellerList on Social Media

Looking to showcase the popularity of Black literature, Amistad Press has launched the hashtag campaign #BlackoutBestsellerList and #BlackPublishingPower in an effort to support the work of Black authors and Black book professionals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-06-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Black Writers' Guild tells UK publishing how to get its own house in order

The Black Writers' Guild has issued an open letter, signed by writers including Dorothy Koomson, Malorie Blackman, Candice Carty-Williams, David Olusoga and Bernardine Evaristo, telling British publishers it is "deeply concerned" they are "raising awareness of racial inequality without... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-14 19:50:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this