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 ]

Other news stories related to: "Whither the Midlist Publisher?"


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 ]
More news stories like this


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 ]
More news stories like this


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 ]
More news stories like this


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 ]
More news stories like this


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 ]
More news stories like this


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 ]
More news stories like this


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 ]
More news stories like this


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 ]
More news stories like this


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 ]
More news stories like this


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 ]
More news stories like this


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 ]
More news stories like this


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 ]
More news stories like this


CI4: Big Presence for Small Presses at Show

Support from presses of all sizes has been key to CI's success, but this year even more small presses than usual will be at the conference. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


BEA 2016: Big Books from Small Presses Create a Buzz

While the five books presented at the BEA Selects: Children's panel session were from small presses, they all made a big impression on the audience. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-05-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


BEA 2016: Justin Cronin: A Red-Headed Inspiration

Ten years and 800,000 words ago, Justin Cronin, at the time a well-regarded, if largely unknown, author of literary fiction and a recipient of the PEN/Hemingway Award, started telling a story—one that he didn’t think would be published. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Radical lists primed for fair play

Independent publishers, small presses and zine-makers are primed to come together at the London Radical Book Fair, an event created to support the radical book trade and provide an organisational structure for the “reviving movement”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Portugal’s Book Market: A Few Words With Patricia Seibel

While taking stock of lagging literacy rates and persistent economic challenges, literary agent Patricia Seibel still sees quality and a loyalty to literary fiction as hallmarks of Portugal's resilient market. The post Portugal’s Book Market: A Few Words With Patricia Seibel appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-03-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Harry Potter's female readers now driving the boom in 'grip lit'

Millennial women who grew up reading JK Rowling’s wizard series are driving sales in other genres as they reach their 20s and 30s, according to recent researchThe women switched on to books by Harry Potter are shaping the literary world, according to new research, boosting the market in... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


'We need small presses': author launches new award to support fiction from small publishers

The Republic of Consciousness prize has been launched by novelist Neil Griffiths, who intends to ‘guilt trip’ bestselling authors into contributingThe award-winning novelist Neil Griffiths is launching a new literary prize celebrating the “small presses producing brilliant and brave literary... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Winter Institute 11: Small Presses Take the Spotlight on Day Three

On the final day of the show, small and university presses promoted their offerings to booksellers at a luncheon and closing reception. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this