
Nosy Crow, the ONLY book publisher ever to win TWO Queen's Awards for Enterprise for International Trade
prnewswire.co.uk – Thursday April 29, 2021

Nosy Crow, the UK's fastest-growing independent children's publisher, today celebrates a second consecutive Queen's Award for Enterprise for International Trade, the most prestigious business award in the UK.
It is the only book publisher ever to win a second award and the only publisher to have won one in the last 10 years.
Nosy Crow is one of 205 organisations nationally to be recognised with a prestigious Queen's Award this year and, within that, one of 122 recognised for its excellence in International Trade.
Employing 56 people, Nosy Crow is a multi-award-winning publisher of child-focused, parent-friendly children's books and eBooks for ages 0–12. It began publishing in 2011 and celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

The 21 top tips for becoming a bestselling author
theage.com.au – Thursday April 29, 2021

Gone are the days when international fiction and non-fiction dominated our bestseller lists. As Australian authors such as Jane Harper, Liane Moriarty, Trent Dalton, Craig Silvey, Kate Grenville, Richard Flanagan, Tara June Winch and many more clock up sales, international recognition and screen deals, it’s no surprise that thousands of would-be writers are tapping away on their laptops.
There is no one-size-fits-all route to publication. Publishers choose authors based on a whole range of practical and subjective criteria, although the quality of the work is understandably crucial.
But aspiring authors can increase their chances of finding a publisher. Here are some insider tips; some dos and don’ts that can help smooth the way.
Being prepared is as important as being creative. There can be a lot to do even before you start writing. Above all, take your time so you produce your best work possible before you look for an agent or publisher. Paraphrasing Alexander Hamilton, don’t throw away your shot.

Felicity Bryan Publishing Mentorship Scheme launched
thebookseller.com – Tuesday April 27, 2021

The Felicity Bryan Publishing Mentorship Scheme has been launched, created in honour of the renowned literary agent who died in June 2020.
An annual paid three-month mentorship programme, the scheme is aimed at anyone from an underrepresented background who is interested in pursuing a career in the publishing industry.
The mentee will be paid the Oxford Living Wage for the duration of the mentorship and there will be a stipend available to cover the cost of accommodation. The scheme is supported by Bryan's family, and “reflects her own energetic nurturing of talent and potential in young people starting out on their careers”.

UK book sales soared in 2020 despite pandemic
theguardian.com – Tuesday April 27, 2021

Fiction sales in 2020 soared by more than £100m for UK publishers, as readers locked down at home made their escape into books, with audiobook sales also climbing by more than a third.
New figures from the Publishers Association show that fiction sales for UK publishers rose by 16% from £571m to £688m in 2020, with key titles cited for the rise including Maggie O’Farrell’s Women’s prize-winner Hamnet, Douglas Stuart’s Booker-winner Shuggie Bain, Richard Osman’s cosy crime novel The Thursday Murder Club, Bernardine Evaristo’s Girl, Woman, Other, and Delia Owens’ Where the Crawdads Sing. The bestselling title of last year was Charlie Mackesy’s philosophical picture book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.

Four Authors On How Working In Publishing Impacted Their Writing And Path To Publication
forbes.com – Sunday April 25, 2021

For those who work in book publishing who are also authors, their dual roles can be helpful when it comes to the editing and publishing process—but it doesn’t guarantee them an easy path to publication. I interviewed four authors with 2021 releases, Sean Desmond, author of literary fiction novel Sophomores (G.P. Putnam’s Sons), Loan Le, author of young adult novel A Pho Love Story (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers), Stephanie Hansen, author of young adult science fiction novel Replaced Parts (Fire & Ice Young Adult Books), and Anne Tibbets, author of science fiction novel Screams from the Void (Flame Tree Press). Each shared how their roles as publisher (Desmond), editor (Le) and agent (Hansen and Tibbets), respectively, play a part in their writing, as well as how being an author helps them in their roles in the publishing world.

Fast-Growing Independent Publishers, 2021
publishersweekly.com – Sunday April 25, 2021

Launched in 2013 to publish digital editions of out-of-print genre fiction from the 1960s and ’70s, Las Vegas’s Wolfpack Publishing reports that while revenue growth was steady in its first five years, its strongest growth was between 2018 and 2020. In this period, 90% of Wolfpack’s sales were books in digital formats. The company does things its own way, releasing titles weekly, president and CEO Mike Bray says, rather than seasonally. “We publish four to eight titles a week, both fresh stuff and reissues.”
Though Wolfpack’s list focuses on westerns, it has been supplementing its offerings with adventure, mystery, and historical fiction releases. And series are an essential component in its business model, publisher Rachel Del Grosso says, explaining, “When we are approached by any author or agent, the first thing we’re looking at is how many titles the author is bringing to the table. We invest in an author, not a single book.”

Women at Work: Writing Fiction for Young Readers Finding Their Way
verilymag.com – Wednesday April 21, 2021

For as long as she can remember, Verily contributor Claire Swinarski knew the answer to the question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” A fiction writer. Specifically, a children’s fiction writer. The path to becoming one, however, was anything but straight. Swinarski’s first novel for middle-grade readers, What Happens Next, was published last May, and her second novel, The Kate In Between, comes out next month. I spoke with Swinarski about her new novel, her writing process, and the fiction that inspires her.

New Literary Agent Listing: Stefanie Rossitto
firstwriter.com – Wednesday April 21, 2021

Currently looking for historical fiction, and funny, witty, modern romances. She also enjoys anything and everything medieval as well as exciting historical romances and/or fiction based on real characters.

Revolutionary New Writing School May Signal the Death of the Traditional MFA Writing Program
prnewswire.com – Tuesday April 20, 2021

SAN FRANCISCO, April 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bay Area Writer and former Marin County Poet Laureate Albert Flynn DeSilver, Founder of Brilliant Writer, LLC, today announced the opening of his innovative new writing program. The Mindful Authors Accelerator goes beyond conventional MFA writing programs to offer practical tools for project completion, a supportive community, and lifetime access to the community and course materials.
"Many writers have told me how frustrated they were by academic classes or one-off writing seminars that inspired them but didn't help them finish that novel or memoir they've been burning to write," DeSilver said. "And most didn't have $40,000 or more to spend on an educational offering."

Literary Scammers are the Weirdest Scammers
insidehook.com – Tuesday April 20, 2021

Late last year, The New York Times recounted the tale of an odd case of impersonation. The article, written by Elizabeth A. Harris and Nicole Perlroth, recounted “a mysterious international phishing scam that has been tricking writers, editors, agents and anyone in their orbit into sharing unpublished book manuscripts.” Weird, right? Well, an even stranger scam has come to light in the literary world — though this one looks to be a bit more financially lucrative for whomever pulled it off.
Someone has been impersonating prize-winning writers in an effort to claim their winnings for themselves. And in a few cases, it’s worked.
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