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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Shortlist unveiled for Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses

Novels dominate this year’s shortlist for the Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-03-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New at the British Book Awards: 41 Contenders in Small Presses

'An incredibly strong list of more than 50 submissions' has been winnowed to the area shortlists for the British Book Awards' new small-press category. The post New at the British Book Awards: 41 Contenders in Small Presses appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-02-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Shortlists for inaugural Small Press of the Year award revealed

Forty-one small presses have made it into the regional and country shortlists of The British Book Awards’ new prize for Small Presses, sponsored by the CPI Group, launched to celebrate the innovative and nimble publishers making names for themselves outside the mainstream. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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British Book Awards Expanded for 2019 in Children’s Books, Small Presses

The annual British Book Awards, with winners to be announced May 13, are widening their recognition of independent publishers and of nonfiction and illustrated work in children's books. The post British Book Awards Expanded for 2019 in Children’s Books, Small Presses appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Late-Night TV Hosts Give Publicity-Starved Novelists the Star Treatment

TV coverage of literary fiction has dwindled, but Trevor Noah and Seth Meyers are exceptions. “Who would have guessed that a 700-page novel would be on national TV?” one publishing executive said. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2018-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Record numbers exhibit at indie presses fair

Sixty-eight small presses will be descending on Central London's Conway Hall in the second week of November, for the 17th edition of the Small Publishers' Fair. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Graham Norton: ‘In a world going to hell in a handcart, Ireland is a wonderful beacon’

The chatshow host’s new novel centres on Irish lives dominated by shame and repression. Yet, after ‘decades of darkness’, the country’s legalisation of abortion and gay marriage have made him hopefulGraham Norton’s second novel, A Keeper, had not gone to press before this interview, so his... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nurturing the literary landscape

Benedicte Page reflects on the current status of literary fiction and the role of independent publishers in the book industry. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Republic of Consciousness Prize gains new sponsor in UEA

The Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses is moving into its third year with a major new sponsor, the University of East Anglia (UEA), whose MA Creative Writing students will also have a single bloc vote on the 2019 Prize judging panel. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry Notes: Germany’s Buchtrailer Awards and the UK’s Republic of Consciousness

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Literary fiction and Michelle Obama top Super Thursday picks

Super Thursday will fall on 4th October this year, The Bookseller can reveal, when a whopping 544 new hardbacks will be hitting shelves—40 more than on last year’s equivalent day—all vying for a slice of the lucrative Christmas book market. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bologna Rights Roundup: Nine for the Season, Led by a ‘New Neopolitan’

From Finland by way of Kosovo, as well as the UK, Israel, Nigeria, Sweden, Spain, and the United States, the writers of our roundup are producing thrillers, literary fiction, memoir, children's historically reflective work and, of course, children's stories. The post Bologna Rights Roundup: Nine... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Influx wins Republic of Consciousness Prize

Hackney-based independent publisher Influx Press has won the 2018 Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses for its title Attrib. and Other Stories by Eley Williams. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rights Roundup: Eight Titles To Watch in Springtime International Rights Trades

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Female writers dominated 2017's literary bestsellers, figures show

Topped by Margaret Atwood, the UK’s Top 10 bestselling authors of literary fiction last year features only one male writer, Haruki MurakamiFlying in the face of Norman Mailer’s infamous comment that “a good novelist can do without everything but the remnant of his balls”, Haruki Murakami was the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jilly Cooper believes literary fiction should not receive state funding

Author Jilly Cooper has said that literary fiction should not receive state support, arguing instead that the money would be better spent on the declining newspaper industry. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why should we subsidise writers who have lost the plot? | Tim Lott

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[ The Guardian | 2018-01-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Literary fiction under threat, ACE report concludes

Arts Council England has pledged to engage with more bookshops, fund more writers and lobby the government to provide tax relief to independent publishers following a report finding that “the general trend for literary fiction is a negative one”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Arts Council England’s Alarm for Literary Fiction: ‘The Problem Is a Real One’

'Overall the books selling well' in the UK 'are not literary,' Arts Council England's commissioned report from the Canelo team announces. The post Arts Council England’s Alarm for Literary Fiction: ‘The Problem Is a Real One’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Crisis in literary fiction a 'wake-up call'

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[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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