UK’s visa ban raises spectre of apartheid | Letters

Author Beverley Naidoo condemns the UK’s decision to deny an Iranian artist a visa to attend the Edinburgh festivalThe UK government’s denial of a visa to Ehsan Abdollahi (Iranian artist barred from Edinburgh festival after ‘Kafkaesque’ visa refusal, 21 July) suggests a game of snakes without ladders in a hall of mirrors. Being divorced, he was told that “no one is dependent on you” ie a bad mark for not having a pull factor to go back to Iran. Last year, however, the artist Marjan Vafaian was refused a visa despite her husband intending to stay in Tehran when she’d be travelling. Her bad mark was apparently for being too young. Making pots of money as an artist in the UK would be a pull factor to keep her here while, in Abdollahi’s case, his work as an illustrator and teacher in Tehran was insufficient explanation for the funds in his bank. This is the third year that the brave little indie children’s book publisher Tiny Owl has had artists’ visas turned down. I have a personal interest as Marjan Vafaian is illustrating my text of Cinderella on the Nile and I have been hoping that we can do some events together after our book is published next year. Apartheid South Africa banned people and books in order to stop dialogue and communication of ideas. These visa denials ban UK audiences, particularly young people, from engaging with these Iranian artists. Why?Beverley NaidooBournemouth Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2017-07-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #indie children #personal interest

Other Publishing stories related to: 'UK’s visa ban raises spectre of apartheid | Letters'


Header-bidding tech should be free. An open letter to publishers

by Andrew Rutledge, VP Sales, Publisher Technology Group, AppNexus Dear Readers: If you’re a digital publisher or app developer, chances are you’ve been approached by numerous ad tech sales teams in recent months, each extolling the virtues of header bidding. How do I know this? Well, I run... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2016-04-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers appeared #open letter #digital publisher #app developer #recent months #header bidding


‘Occupy Carnegie’: The UK’s Fast-Growing Library Crisis

According to a recent BBC report, some 15,000 volunteers have been recruited to run UK libraries, the paid staffers of which have been laid off. A standoff in south London is throwing the situation into sharp relief. The post ‘Occupy Carnegie’: The UK’s Fast-Growing Library Crisis appeared first... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #south london #sharp relief


Candlewick Press’ New Imprint To Stand in Both UK and US Markets

Candlewick Press' 'Studio' will feature design-driven children's books and be carried by both Walker Group's US and UK imprints, as well as by Walker Books Australia. The post Candlewick Press’ New Imprint To Stand in Both UK and US Markets appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-03-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #markets appeared #candlewick press


Pushkin to publish Bass for first time in UK

Pushkin Press is to publish American writer and activist Rick Bass for the first time in the UK. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pushkin press


Remembering the Indy and C&A | Letters

The Independent | Asa Briggs | English National Opera | C&A | Selfish geneAll thinking people will agree that the print world is a poorer place without what you call the “class act” of the Independent (Editorial, 26 March). It simply doesn’t suffice to “regret its fate” as you say and move... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #print product


J.K. Rowling offers rejection letters as lesson in perseverence

When fans struggling with literary rejection reached out to J.K. Rowling on Twitter, the best-selling author responded with words of inspiration and examples of some of her own rejection letters. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rejection letters


JK Rowling posts letters of rejection on Twitter to help budding authors

Harry Potter writer shares publishers’ brush-offs for first Robert Galbraith novel in attempt to to inspire other authorsThe Harry Potter author JK Rowling has shared some withering rebuffs publishers sent to her alter ego Robert Galbraith, in an effort to comfort aspiring authors.Rowling posted... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #robert galbraith #rowling posted #popular request #rejection letters #budding authors #boy wizard #@rgalbrath


Self-published titles '22% of UK ebook market'

Sales of self-published ebooks accounted for 22% of the digital book market in the UK last year, the Nielsen BookInsights Conference today was told, although growth in overall ebook sales is slowing. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook sales #self-published titles


Audible UK sponsors short story salon

Audible UK has signed a deal to sponsor events organised by Pin Drop, the short story salon founded by curator Simon Oldfield and writer Elizabeth Day. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #audible uk


Fond memories of Jackie and dead tortoises | Letters

Ah, fond memories of Jackie magazine in the Guardian (‘Girls sent us urine samples in Charlie perfume bottles’, G2, 22 March). Jackie was where I (and dozens of other writers) learned the writing trade. I sold my first short story to Jackie in December 1973 and earned £14. Flushed with success,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fond memories #short story


Bertelsmann plans to raise stake in Penguin Random House

German media group reiterates plan to increase stake to 70-75% as full-year core profits climb 4.7%Bertelsmann has reported a 4.7% rise in full-year core profit and reiterated its plan to raise its stake in Penguin Random House, the book publisher which helped to drive the earnings increase. The... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publisher #earnings increase #bestselling authors #john grisham #stephen king #paula hawkins #joint venture


Universal Studios Hollywood raises daily ticket prices ahead of Harry Potter opening

Three weeks before the opening of its new Harry Potter attraction, Universal Studios Hollywood has quietly raised daily ticket prices by up to 20%. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter -- a land that includes two new rides, one restaurant, a food cart and eight shops -- is expected to be the most... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #wizarding world #shops --


How the BBC, Sky Sports and other UK media are using Facebook Live video

Facebook Live video has caught fire in the U.S., but in the U.K., the trend has less traction. But this is sure to grow. U.K. publishers are experimenting with Facebook Live video across politics, live-event streaming and, most popularly, in sports. The BBC’s "Match of the Day" was first using... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2016-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk media #short videos


Hachette UK optimistic despite 'challenging' year

Shares in Hachette’s parent company Lagardere have fallen by 8.2% this morning after announcing a lower-than-expected profit forecast and the departure of its chief financial officer. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Singapore's Monsoon Books opens UK branch

Monsoon Books, the independent publisher of English-language books based in Singapore, has opened an office in the UK for its editorial and marketing teams. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #independent publisher #marketing teams


A Letter from PW on the Cuban Book Embargo

Ending the embargo on books and educational materials would be an important first step in improving relations between the U.S. and Cuba. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #educational materials


Jimmy Fallon picture book gets UK publishing deal

Hodder Children’s Books, part of the Hachette Children’s Group, has acquired a picture book by US TV host Jimmy Fallon. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hodder children #hachette children #picture book


Jamie Byng: ‘Listening to letters being read out is quite something’

The Canongate Books boss on the success of Letters Live, performances of notable correspondence by leading lights of stage and screenJamie Byng, 46, son of the 8th Earl of Strafford, grew up in Hampshire and studied at the University of Edinburgh. After graduating he joined Canongate Books as an... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nick cave #good friend #gillian anderson #spencer tracy #benedict cumberbatch #neil gaiman


E-book seller Nook pulls out of UK

Barnes & Noble will stop selling digital books for its Nook device on 15 March, the firm said on World Book Day. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2016-03-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #barnes noble #nook device


Barnes and Noble to close its Nook ebook store in the UK

Barnes and Noble has decided to lay down its arms and stop competing with Amazon for ebook and e-reader sales in the UK. The bookstore operator has announced it will stop selling digital content, including fiction and non-fiction, magazines and video... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2016-03-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #e-reader sales #including fiction