Why is American book publishing so white?

If squabbles over format, pricing and Amazon have led the US publishing industry to neglect an ever more diverse audience, we have forgotten why people read books in the first placeThe true price of publishingAt the recent National Book Awards ceremony in New York City, presenter and bestselling author Daniel Handler, better known as Lemony Snicket, made comments intended as humorous – though widely heard as offensive and racist – after presenting an award in the young adult category to author Jacqueline Woodson. Apparently, not even a ripple of discomfort crossed the room as Handler made his comments, which centered on the African American author’s allergy to watermelon. I wasn’t present that night, but I’ve been at past NBAs and countless similar events, and can well imagine the sea of white faces turned up to the podium, the thousand white hands applauding. (Handler later apologized and contributed to a fund for diversity in children’s literature). The matter would never have become public at all if social media hadn’t erupted during the livestream of the event: people were tuning in and listening in a way that mainstream US publishing was not, and hasn’t for some time. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #publishing industry #diverse audience #lemony snicket

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Xbox One retail consoles double as debug units, Microsoft to allow indie self-publishing (update)

Microsoft's Xbox One is getting decidedly more indie-friendly with today's confirmation from Microsoft that its forthcoming game console will double as a developer debug unit. In so many words, each $500 unit purchased at retail this holiday will also run in-progress game code, enabling... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Microsoft Says Developers Can Self-Publish on Xbox One

Microsoft will allow game developers to self-publish their creations on Xbox One, promising more information at next month's Gamescom show.     Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2013-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookVibe Turns Twitter Data into Book Discovery Tool

BookVibe allows users to search their tweets and extract the books that are being discussed by the people they follow on Twitter. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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International Approaches to Children’s Publishing in China

A recent webinar examined the challenges and opportunities for international publishers looking enter the children's book publishing market in China. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Native Offerings Approaching 90% of Online Publishers

Nine out of 10 publishers will be offering at least some form of native advertising formats by the end of this year, according to hot-off-the-presses research being presented by Online Publishers Association chief Pam Horan at OMMA Premium Display in ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-07-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Country: Now Opening New Territory

Porter Anderson interviews Book Country's Molly Barton and Brandi Larsen as the Penguin Random House site relaunches with new features for author-members. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ether for Authors: Are Publishers on a Tightrope with Author Solutions?

In Ether for Authors, Porter Anderson looks at the ties many publishing companies have with Author Solutions, at Amazon debates, and at drinking on the job. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Royal baby spurs bounty of baby books, including 'The Royal Nappy'

The on-its-way Royal Baby has spurred a bounty of picture books, perfect for the little Royal Baby itself and other, non-royal babies of its generation.Picture this: The royal nappy. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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VIDEO: Music to read books by

The Bookshop Band write songs inspired by the books of visiting authors like The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry's Rachel Joyce. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Grumpy Cat to give 'pawtographs' in L.A.: Exclusive book preview

The cat with the perpetually frowny face will be appearing at Kitson in Los Angeles at 6 p.m. Tuesday for the launch of the book "Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book."What feline was Meme of the Year at the 2013 Webbys, beating out Korean pop star Psy? Who might just become a movie star? And who is coming... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Virgin Books signs Chris Tarrant title

Virgin Books has signed a book from TV presenter Chris Tarrant, exploring his father's... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Comic-Con's Rarest, Most Bizarre Comic Books

WIRED's special correspondent Cara Santa Maria hits the convention floor in search of the strangest comics ever published. Yep, DC actually put out a Superman vs. Muhammad Ali book in the late '70s. Super weird!     Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2013-07-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Comic-Con 2013: A look at past comic books and a glimpse of the genre's future (+video)

Gerard Jones, author of 'Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book,' explains the origins of comic books, the hardships they went through, and where they are apt to go next.  Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-07-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Global Publishing Leaders 2013: Gallimard

Gallimard has been home to many of the most prestigious writers in French literature throughout the 20th century, including Marcel Proust, Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, and 2008 Nobel laureate Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Global Publishing Leaders 2013: Média Participations

The Belgium-French group Média Participations is the largest publisher of comic books in Europe. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Global Publishing Leaders 2013: Harlequin

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Global Publishing Leaders 2013: Cornelsen

The German Franz Cornelsen Bildungsgruppe (Franz Cornelsen Education Group) creates and distributes learning services and educational materials for a market spanning from pre-school education to vocational training. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Global Publishing Leaders 2013: Haufe-Lexware

Haufe-Lexware is a German media group operating in business, law, and tax. The company was founded as Rudolf Haufe Verlag in 1934 in Berlin. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Global Publishing Leaders 2013: Kodansha

Kodansha was started by Seiji Noma in 1909 as a spin-off of the Dai-Nippon Yūbenkai (Greater Japan Oratorical Society). Its first publication was the literary magazine Yūben. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Global Publishing Leaders 2013: Bungei Shunjū Ltd.

Bungei Shunjū Ltd. was established in 1923 by the best selling writer Kan Kikuchi. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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