'Wilful misreading': Lionel Shriver replies to critics in diversity row

Novelist responds to the reaction against her comments on diversity in publishing, accusing her critics of ‘malicious misinterpretation’Lionel Shriver has responded to the vituperative row that followed her recent comments about Penguin Random House’s diversity scheme, saying that it was not diversity but quotas that she was objecting to and calling out what she described as the “malicious misinterpretation” of her original essay.In a piece for the Spectator this month, Shriver objected to the publisher’s goal for its staff and authors to represent UK society by 2025. “Drunk on virtue, Penguin Random House no longer regards the company’s raison d’etre as the acquisition and dissemination of good books,” she wrote. “Rather, the organisation aims to mirror the percentages of minorities in the UK population with statistical precision.” Related: Diversity in publishing is under attack. I hear the sound of knuckles dragging | Hanif Kureishi Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #lionel shriver #original essay #good books

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HC, S&S Name Company-Wide Diversity Executives

As part of an industry-wide effort to reckon with issues of diversity in trade book publishing, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster have each named new high-ranking staffers to address issues of diversity at their companies. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-09-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #address issues #simon schuster #harpercollins #trade book


Douglas Stuart | 'Representation of the working-class is essential for diversity in literature'

Scottish author Douglas Stuart talks to us about his Booker Prize 2020-shortlisted début novel, Shuggie Bain.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-15 13:46:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #douglas stuart #shuggie bain


Most diverse Booker prize shortlist ever is also almost all American

With no room for Hilary Mantel’s conclusion to her Wolf Hall trilogy, the six finalists also include four debutsHilary Mantel will not win a third Booker prize with the final novel in her Thomas Cromwell trilogy, after American writers made a near clean sweep of this year’s shortlist.With four... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-09-15 12:21:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #booker prize #hilary mantel #clean sweep #debut novelists #diane cook #avni doshi #douglas stuart #brandon taylor #novelists


HBG Releases Diversity and Inclusion Progress Report

A new diversity and inclusion progress report from Hachette Book Group details internal and external commitments, including goals to increase the number of people of color employed by the company as well as make “measurable improvements” to company culture and community service. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-09-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
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BookMachine reveals editorial board changes to enhance diversity

BookMachine has announced a new editorial board, with some former members stepping down to make way for change, to better reflect the diversity it hopes to see in the industry. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-14 05:55:52 UTC ]
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Discovery + Diversity: 8 Moms on Building Personal Libraries for Kids

Eight moms on how they're building personal libraries for their children and building their interest in reading. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-09-11 10:37:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #libraries


PRH Releases Workforce Report on Diversity

An internal report on workforce demographics at Penguin Random House shows that 78% of PRH non-warehouse employees are white. In addressing the report, PRH U.S. CEO Madeline McIntosh said the company is determined to make its workforce "reflect the demographics of American society.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-09-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #workforce demographics #american society #penguin random house


Ethan Hawke is now a book critic, thereby completing his Literary World Bingo Card.

Congratulations to Ethan Hawke, star of my favorite film (Gattaca) and arguably the most bookish man in Hollywood, who has, with today’s inclusion in the (web) pages of the New York Times Book Review, completed his Literary World Bingo Card! What is the Literary World Bingo Card you ask? Well,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-09-01 18:45:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #times book #literary world


J.K. Rowling returns human rights award amid criticism from organization

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling says she is returning an award from a human rights group linked to the Kennedy family after the president of the organization criticized her comments about transgender issues. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2020-08-28 20:34:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harry potter


Del Rey will publish behind the scenes look at web series 'Critical Role'

Del Rey UK, Cornerstone's science fiction and fantasy imprint, will publish The World of Critical Role, a "definitive guide" to the history of the online web series "Critical Role", written by cast of the series and author Liz Marsham. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-08-27 08:30:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #del rey #critical role #fantasy imprint #definitive guide


Hilary Mantel and Historical Fiction Are On a Break: Critical Linking, August 23, 2020

An awesome daily roundup of the most interesting bookish links from around the web. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-08-23 10:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hilary mantel #critical linking #historical fiction


Aspen Institute Looks at a Publishing Industry Challenged to Embrace Diversity

Aspen asks, 'Why is the world of publishing so reluctant to offer Black writers the same major book deals typically offered to white writers?' The post Aspen Institute Looks at a Publishing Industry Challenged to Embrace Diversity appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-08-21 18:41:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #aspen institute #embrace diversity #white writers #major book #publishing industry


HarperCollins’ Ecco and Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney Create a Publishing Diversity Fellowship

Led by author Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney, the publishing imprint sets up a five-year program with the Columbia Publishing Course. The post HarperCollins’ Ecco and Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney Create a Publishing Diversity Fellowship appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-08-19 13:46:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post harpercollins #aprix sweeney #publishing imprint


Diversity in the Age of Black Lives Matter

Since the killing of George Floyd in late May, the book publishing industry, overwhelmingly white at every level, seems to have reached a period of reckoning about its own history of exclusionary hiring practices. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-08-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #george floyd #overwhelmingly white #book publishing


Diversity in Publishing in the Age of Black Lives Matter

While recent efforts are encouraging, publishing needs to establish permanent methods to give people of color more opportunities. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-08-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #recent efforts #give people


On Rethinking Online Book Events: Critical Linking, July 31, 2020

An awesome daily roundup of the most interesting bookish links from around the web! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-07-31 10:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #critical linking #online book


Children's news website apologises to JK Rowling over trans tweet row

The Day faced legal action from author after implying that her comments on gender harmed trans peopleA news website aimed at British schoolchildren has agreed to pay an unsubstantiated amount after it implied that JK Rowling’s comments on gender caused harm to trans people.The Day, which is... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-07-23 16:33:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jk rowling #trans people #harry potter


The BLM movement is inspiring a boom in diverse children’s literature.

When a friend of mine, a former teacher, told me the subject of a children’s book he wants to write—an allegory about how the criminal justice system tries to entrap people of color from a young age—my first thought was Dark, man. And then: I wish I’d had access to a book like that when I was a […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-07-21 19:17:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #children’s book


JK Rowling book sales unaffected by transgender views row

Bloomsbury says books were a lockdown hit, with children’s division revenue up 27%The backlash against JK Rowling’s views on transgender law reform has failed to dent the popularity of the Harry Potter author’s books, with publisher Bloomsbury saying they have proved a lockdown hit, pushing... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-07-21 12:29:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing arm #harry potter #bloomsbury