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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BookCon Looks to Broaden Audience

Since its inception in 2014, BookCon has mainly drawn women in the 18 to 30-year-old age bracket, but organizer ReedPop is adding more programming for the 2018 event to attract readers interested in literary fiction, mystery/thriller, sci fi/fantasy and romance. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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TLS and Arts Council back Republic of Consciousness Prize

The Times Literary Supplement has become the official media partner of The Republic of Consciousness Prize for Small Presses. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Henley reveals ACE's 'concerns for literary fiction'

Arts Council England is broadening its literature work, which has previously concentrated on areas such as poetry and translated literature, into a new emphasis on literary fiction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indie Pub Two Dollar Radio to Open Bookstore

The Ohio-based literary press is opening a bookstore/cafe/bar in its new headquarters in Columbus's South Side neighborhood. The new store will sell Two Dollar Radio's titles, as well as books published by other small presses. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Aussie Rules: Black Inc launches in the UK

Australian publisher Black Inc, which specialises in literary fiction and non-fiction, is to launch in the UK this September. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S Shuts Down Tyrus Books, Relocates Howard Books

Tyrus Books, which published crime and literary fiction, is closing six months after S&S acquired its parent company, Adams Media, from F&W. Christian imprint Howard Books is being relocated to the publisher's New York City headquarters and losing its publisher in the move. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Publishing at London Book Fair: Literary Fiction, Suspense, Memoir

Amazon Publishing, the largest publisher of translations, will be at the London Book Fair with a rights list of suspense, memoir and literary titles. The post Amazon Publishing at London Book Fair: Literary Fiction, Suspense, Memoir appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fitzcarraldo's Counternarratives wins inaugural Republic of Consciousness Prize

Counternarratives by John Keene (Fitzcarraldo Editions) has won the inaugural Republic of Consciousness Prize for small presses, for its "once in a generation achievement for short form fiction". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The International Prize for Arabic Fiction’s Shortlist: Strong on Issues

At a time when literary fiction has a chance to illuminate the struggles and needs of many, the leading Arabic fiction prize's shortlist makes the point. The post The International Prize for Arabic Fiction’s Shortlist: Strong on Issues appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Germany’s ‘Future Publish’ at Leipzig; Faber’s Page and Europa’s Reynolds on Literature

Future Publish's program at Leipzig Book Fair includes a tour, as literary fiction and free speech intersect at conferences in the US and UK. The post Germany’s ‘Future Publish’ at Leipzig; Faber’s Page and Europa’s Reynolds on Literature appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Faber CEO speaks out after winning indie trade publisher of the year

Head of venerable press says his sector has important role in the defence of free speech and champions the revival of literary fiction and traditional booksFaber & Faber’s chief executive has called for publishers to oppose crackdowns on free speech and the rise of so-called fake news.... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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McCormack's Solar Bones up for Republic of Consciousness Prize

Irish author Mike McCormack’s Goldsmiths prize-winning novel Solar Bones (Tramp Press) is one of the eight titles shortlisted for the inaugural Republic of Consciousness Prize for small presses, alongside titles from indies including Freight Books, Galley Beggar Press and Cassava Republic. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Crowdfunded small-press prize announces inaugural shortlist

Neil Griffiths’ Republic of Consciousness prize for ‘brave and brilliant’ works from small publishers unveils contenders for award funded by online raffleA prize designed to reward “brave, bold and brilliant” literature from small presses that raised its purse from crowdfunding has announced its... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-01-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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On eve of Costa awards, experts warn that top books prizes are harming fiction

The dominance of three honours in the UK can be prohibitively expensive for small publishers, and end up discouraging risk-taking on ‘difficult’ authorsCutting-edge British literary fiction risks being undermined by its growing reliance on a handful of powerful book prizes, a leading literary... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-01-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tramp, Daunt and New Island presses longlisted for Republic of Consciousness Prize

Irish publishers Tramp Press and New Island are among the small presses that have been longlisted for the Republic of Consciousness Prize.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Country Spotlight: Singapore: Literary Publishing

Singapore literature, or Sing lit as it is known locally, is getting hot—and it is not because of the island’s tropical climate. Recent months have seen many titles, from literary fiction to middle grade series, getting picked up by overseas publishers, including those from the U.K. and U.S. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Country Spotlight: Singapore: Top 12 Writers and Titles to Watch

From literary fiction to middle-grade series, Singapore’s new literary voices are getting louder, and their works finding new homes far away from the tropical city-state. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Joanne Harris: We should all celebrate Bookshop Day

Small presses, libraries and independents are all under threat. No one wants to hear their child ask: ‘What’s a bookshop?’On Saturday it is Bookshop Day. My heart always sinks a little when I hear that a day has been set aside to celebrate something I love: it too often feels like being put on a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Man Booker Prize longlist includes Paul Beatty's novel set in South L.A. and J.M. Coetzee

The British-based Man Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious awards for literary fiction in the world, announced its longlist Wednesday, with five American authors on the list of 13. It’s only the third year that authors from outside the Commonwealth have been considered for the prize, which... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Letter: Peter Owen obituary

I first met Peter Owen in the late 1980s, when he published some short stories that I had written about Saudi Arabia. I was invited to interesting parties at his house in Holland Park, west London, and at various embassies where he would launch the many translations of literary fiction he... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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