Whither the Midlist Publisher?

For nearly a decade, some say even longer, people in the publishing industry have been decrying the death of the midlist. As the story goes, the industry consolidated—smaller and midsize publishers were gobbled up and brought together into six large houses that themselves are small pieces of bigger media conglomerates—and the expectations for a title’s sales and revenue rose. With consolidation, the big players began swinging for the fences, focusing on acquiring big bestsellers (or at least books they thought they could turn into big bestsellers), abandoning a model in which they could make small amounts of money on books for audiences of varying sizes. Now, as a result of these changes, the sea of authors who sold modestly at the big six are increasingly being turned away. While a cluster of small presses have sprung up that trade in specialized categories and literary fiction, more commercial authors, abandoned by their big publishers, are finding there aren’t many options in the middle. Continue reading at 'Publishers Weekly'

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]

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The great unbowed

This week we reveal the small presses and independent bookshops that make up our regional and country shortlists for this year’s British Book Awards. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-18 13:15:35 UTC ]
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Costa-winning Peepal Tree longlisted for Republic of Consciousness Prize

Peepal Tree is among the indie publishers to be longlisted for this year's Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-03 18:33:01 UTC ]
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Nonprofit Publishers Seek Help on Giving Tuesday

The first Tuesday after Thanksgiving is a chance for such small presses as Archipelago and Haymarket to ask readers for the financial support that keeps their businesses alive and thriving. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-12-01 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The Magic of Plot and Catharsis: A Conversation with Smith Henderson and Jon Marc Smith

LET’S DISPENSE WITH the small surprises up front. The latest outing from Smith Henderson, acclaimed author of what others might call literary fiction — his award-winning 2014 debut, Fourth of July Creek — is indeed a thriller. And it’s not a solo endeavor — he’s teamed up with a friend, Jon Marc... Continue reading at Los Angeles Review of Books

[ Los Angeles Review of Books | 2020-10-11 12:30:47 UTC ]
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16 Brilliant Bi and Lesbian Literary Fiction Novels to Keep You Thinking

Bi and lesbian books from the last two decades for fans of literary fiction, from haunting collections to atmospheric historical fiction like Miss Timmins’ School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-10-02 10:38:36 UTC ]
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Italian Publishers: Small-Press Aid From Rome, Solidarity With Frankfurt

The Italian Publishers Association expresses support for Frankfurt's decision on a physical exhibition and cheers funding for small presses. The post Italian Publishers: Small-Press Aid From Rome, Solidarity With Frankfurt appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-09-10 18:48:13 UTC ]
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How Yaa Gyasi Found Religion (in Literature)

“There isn’t much literary fiction that deals with evangelicalism. ‘Go Tell It on the Mountain,’ by James Baldwin, was the first book I read that spoke to that part of my life and it moved me so deeply to see faith rendered on the page with such care and brilliance.” Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-08-20 09:00:04 UTC ]
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10 Eclectic Books With Beatles Songs as Titles

A wide array of books, from literary fiction to romance to YA, have borrowed their titles from songs by The Beatles. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-07-10 10:34:48 UTC ]
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10 Works of Literary Fiction for Runners

Over the past few months, as gyms and yoga studios and fitness centers have remained closed, many of you antsy yogis and barre-enthusiasts and Zumba-addicts have gone back to that most elemental of exercises: the run. For those of us who like to read and run, well, plenty of books on the subject... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-06-23 08:49:25 UTC ]
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Translation in Service of More Empathy, Less Fear: A Conversation with Megan McDowell, by Veronica Esposito

Interviews Veronica Esposito Photo by Camila Valdés Megan McDowell has translated many contemporary authors from Latin America and Spain, including Alejandro Zambra, Samanta Schweblin, and Lina Meruane. Shortlisted for the Man Booker... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2020-06-22 15:20:00 UTC ]
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Yes, Literary Fiction With Happy Endings Exists: Here are 20 Must-Read Examples

If you think lit fic endings are all sorrow or question marks, think again. Here are some happy literary fiction books that will leave you hopeful. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-05-21 10:34:27 UTC ]
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Coronavirus has left small publishers desperately fighting for survival

A survey of indie presses shows that 60% fear they could be out of business by the autumn, writes Galley Beggar Press cofounder Sam JordisonOver the past few years, the success of independent publishers such as Fitzcarraldo, And Other Stories, Bluemooose and Influx Press has been something to... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-05-15 06:00:32 UTC ]
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The Bookseller and Spread the Word launch survey for small presses

The Bookseller and writer development charity Spread the Word have launched a survey of small independent presses to assess the financial pressures they are under as a result of the coronavirus lockdown. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-04 09:12:42 UTC ]
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Why small presses matter

As more and more authors potentially feel disenfranchised by the larger counterparts, or feel like they never had a shot in the first place, small presses are uniquely positioned to get writers to market. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-10 21:57:10 UTC ]
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5 of the Best Books That Celebrate Male Friendships

From literary fiction to fantasy, here are five books that celebrate male friendships to fight toxic masculinity and homophobia. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-03-05 11:35:47 UTC ]
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When Did Self-Help Books Become Literary?

Walk into a contemporary bookstore and self-help manuals are likely to be among the first books you’ll see. In my local Barnes & Noble, a “self-improvement” section is featured in the vestibule, luring customers before they even open the store’s main doors. Inside the store, the boundary... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-01-29 09:49:07 UTC ]
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Listen to Book Riot’s New Podcast NOVEL GAZING!

Get a fresh take on literary fiction with Book Riot's new podcast, Novel Gazing, your destination for lit fic news, book recommendations, and more. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-01-14 11:34:19 UTC ]
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Ann and Jeff VanderMeer On Classic Fantasy, Fearsome Ducks, and Dead Astronauts

In this episode, taped live at the Miami Book Fair, writer Jeff VanderMeer and editor Ann VanderMeer talk to Fiction/Non/Fiction podcast co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell about editing The Big Book of Classic Fantasy anthology, historical understandings of fantasy, editing beyond... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-12-05 09:48:07 UTC ]
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Border crossing: How translated fiction can open up the world

The new Elena Ferrante is just one of the exciting novels in translation coming next year. Lara Feigel talks to the UK editors who are rediscovering classics and finding new audiencesThere are voices that speak to us across oceans and centuries with more intimacy than the people who surround us... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-11-23 08:00:49 UTC ]
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7 Standup Comedy Memoirs That Will Make You Laugh And Cry

Writers of literary fiction are supposed to disdain celebrity memoirs. They’re sucking up all the big advances and lowering the bar of what’s supposed to be Literature, right?  But I’ve got a dirty reading secret. I love celebrity memoirs, particularly by standup comedians (and not just because... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2019-11-20 12:00:00 UTC ]
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