Walker Books acquires Jennifer Bell MG in six-figure deal
thebookseller.com – Tuesday July 2, 2019
Walker Books has acquired two novels by middle-grade author Jennifer Bell in a six-figure, pre-emptive deal.
Executive editorial director Denise Johnstone-Burt acquired UK, Commonwealth and translation rights to two books, including Wonderscape, which is set in a futuristic gaming world, from Polly Nolan at the Greenhouse Literary Agency.
New Publisher Listing
firstwriter.com – Tuesday July 2, 2019
Publishes: Poetry;
Markets: Adult;
Preferred styles: Literary
Publishes trade paperback books as well as handmade chapbooks and broadsides in limited edition printings. Free open reading period in April, but submissions can be made at other times of the year with a $5 discounted sample chapbook purchase.
Death of the novel is greatly exaggerated, say UK booksellers
theguardian.com – Saturday June 29, 2019
The death of the novel has been pronounced for more than a century, in a series that stretches back from Will Self through VS Naipaul as far as Jules Verne. But the latest rumblings of its demise, which come courtesy of a drop in fiction sales in 2018, have been comprehensively dismissed by the books world, with new books from Margaret Atwood and Philip Pullman expected to drive a return to growth this year.
The Publishers Association’s yearbook suggested this week that sales of fiction dropped in physical formats last year, down 7% to £359m. The fall was not offset by a 4% rise in digital fiction sales, to £229m, with overall fiction sales down 3% in 2018 to £588m.
By contrast, sales for non-fiction rose 1%, to £954m, with digital revenues up 10% and physical sales remaining level. The Publishers Association noted a “standout” performance from non-fiction, which it said had grown by almost 30% in the last five years, as well as the “phenomenal” growth of audiobooks, up 43% between 2017 and 2018.
New chapter? UK print book sales fall while audiobooks surge 43%
theguardian.com – Thursday June 27, 2019
UK book sales fell for the first time in five years in 2018, despite the success of bestsellers such as Michelle Obama’s autobiography, Becoming.
The UK publishing industry was hit by a surprise fall of £168m (5.4%) in sales of physical books last year, ending a period of growth stretching back to at least 2014.
Sales fell from £3.11bn in 2017 to £2.95bn last year, according to the latest figures from the Publishers Association, which published its annual yearbook on Wednesday.
PFD's Agora Books launches writing community and prize
thebookseller.com – Thursday June 27, 2019
Peters Fraser + Dunlop e-book imprint Agora Books has launched a prize to celebrate its new writers’ group, Lost the Plot, which offers "no-nonsense advice, industry insight, and community connection".
PFD and Agora Books are introducing the community aimed at aspiring commercial fiction authors across all genres. Lost the Plot will provide "no-nonsense advice, industry insight, and community connection" including how to access support on writing, finding representation, and navigating the publishing process as well as connecting with other authors.
The Lost the Plot Work in Progress Prize is for unfinished manuscripts with "the aim is to get books out of a drawer and into the world, to encourage writers to stop procrastinating in pursuit of perfection and get feedback sooner," PFD said.
Fall in Love with Criticism
By G. Miki Hayden
Instructor at Writer's Digest University online and private writing coach
firstwriter.com – Wednesday June 26, 2019
Let’s raise our glasses to our true friends who can tell us that our participles are dangling and that our story is too soft. And let’s try to be the type of writers who are brave enough to accept and utilize criticism!–Nancy French
Judith Krantz shared her formula for writing millions-selling ‘sex and shopping’ novels
thenewdaily.com.au – Monday June 24, 2019
When Princess Daisy author Judith Krantz was writing her steamy million-selling 1970s and ‘80s blockbusters, one of her iron-clad rules was that at least one character had to lose their virginity.
Another was that nothing was to be held back.
“If you’re going to write a good erotic scene, you have to go into details,” Krantz, who died of natural causes on June 22 at her Bel Air home at the age of 91, told the Los Angeles Times in 1990.
“I don’t believe in thunder and lightning and fireworks exploding. I think people want to know what’s happening.”
4 Must-Read Dark Fiction Magazines
bookriot.com – Thursday June 20, 2019
Literary magazines need love too. Which is why we like to celebrate them here on Book Riot! We’ve had a Literary Magazines 101 to get you started, discussed general short fiction magazines, science fiction/fantasy magazines, and we’ve even had a how-to post on reading (and writing for) science fiction magazines in particular. But today I want to give a little love to my current obsession: dark fiction. Though you can find dark fiction stories in a lot of different literary magazines, including most of the SFF magazines above, this post is a tribute to those literary magazines that specialize in the macabre, whether it’s horror, dark fantasy, or positively grim science fiction.
New Publisher Listing
firstwriter.com – Wednesday June 19, 2019
Publishes: Fiction; Nonfiction;
Areas include: Erotic; Fantasy; Mystery; Romance; Sci-Fi; Self-Help; Short Stories;
Markets: Adult
We write and publish primarily epic fantasy, science fiction, mystery fiction, urban fantasy and fairy retellings, but we're working on expanding our publications as we become more established.
PRH to acquire F+W book publishing assets
thebookseller.com – Wednesday June 19, 2019
Penguin Random House is set to acquire the book publishing assets of F+W Media following the media company’s bankruptcy, with the effects on F+W's UK division unclear.
The deal, which includes F+W's new titles and 2,000-strong backlist of illustrated non-fiction books, according to Publishers Weekly, is expected to close by the end of the month. PRH declined to comment on the sale when contacted by The Bookseller.
PRH posted the winning bid in an auction held on Thursday 6th June by the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The list of successful bidders for the “communities” assets of F+W - separate to its book publishing assets - was submitted for approval to the court yesterday (Monday 17th June).
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