S&S UK to Launch Summit Books U.K. with Ravi Mirchandani at the Helm
publishersweekly.com – Thursday April 18, 2024
On the heels of Simon & Schuster's recent revival of Summit Books, headed up by former Little, Brown editor-in-chief Judy Clain, Simon & Schuster UK has announced it will relaunch the imprint in the U.K., tapping Picador editor-in-chief Ravi Mirchandani as publisher.
Mirchandani has helmed Picador in the U.K. since 2019, and has spent the past decade at the Pan Macmillan imprint. There, his authors include Patrick Radden Keefe, Douglas Stuart, and Hanya Yanagihara. His publishing career has spanned nearly 40 years, and prior to Picador, he served as editor-in-chief of Atlantic Books, publishing director of William Heinemann, and editorial director at Penguin Books. At Summit Books UK, Mirchandani will report to Suzanne Baboneau, managing director of Simon & Schuster UK’s adult publishing division, effective September 2.
Trade debates shift towards shorter books for children
thebookseller.com – Thursday April 18, 2024
A notable shift towards shorter children’s books is being reported by publishers, agents and librarians, with many welcoming what they see as a challenge to the idea of length as “a marker of merit”, particularly in relation to middle-grade titles. The development is also seen as a way of getting reluctant readers “back into reading” following the pandemic and its impact on comprehension and enjoyment levels.
Discussions at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair around declining reading levels, exacerbated by the pandemic, were accompanied by discussions about book length, difficulty level, and what some see as “unrealistic expectations” around middle-grade titles. One attendee told the Bookseller that “there is a real feeling that books are too long and need to be shortened as attention spans and comprehension decline".
Dead Ink launches open call for northern crime fiction
thebookseller.com – Wednesday April 17, 2024
Dead Ink Books is launching an open call for short literary crime stories from northern authors ahead of a new list focused entirely on northern crime fiction.
The scheme is a collaboration between the indie publisher and literary agencies Curtis Brown and Conville & Walsh. Agents from Curtis Brown and Conville & Walsh will be reading initial submissions. The winners’ stories will be published in an anthology, Motives Unknown, in addition to a "small fee" and a consultation with a literary agent.
Dead Ink director Nathan Connolly said: “We’re looking for works in the genre that have that Dead Ink touch – compellingly written, transgressive, bold and daring. We’re on the hunt for new talent as we prepare for a new venture and we want to foreground writers from our home region.
Peter James announced as special guest for Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival
thebookseller.com – Monday April 8, 2024
Peter James has been announced as the final “special guest” for the 2024 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, taking place from 18th to 21st July in Harrogate.
James is the author of the Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series (Pan Macmillan), which has been adapted into an ITV drama starring John Simm. He will mark his 20th Roy Grace book at the festival with an exclusive preview of One of Us is Dead, which will be published by Pan Macmillan in September 2024. The author is scheduled to be in conversation with TV presenter Louise Minchin, and will also talk about his new standalone novel, They Thought I Was Dead (Macmillan), revealing the fate of Roy Grace’s missing wife Sandy.
What’s On: Bournemouth Writing Festival, various venues
advertiserandtimes.co.uk – Monday April 8, 2024
AUTHORS, poets and amateur and professional writers are invited to join more than 100 workshops and events organised as part of the Second Bournemouth Writing Festival.
Writers appearing this year include award-winning author Kathleen Whyman, editor and writer Gary Dalkin, self-publishing success Matt Shaw and bestselling author Alex Stone. The writers will be discussing a range of topics from plotting a novel to choosing the best publishing options.
Following the success of its inaugural event, the Bournemouth Writing Festival returns from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th April, bringing together a diverse community of local and UK-wide writers, authors and professionals for a weekend of learning and collaboration.
Beginnings: A Seminar for Fiction and Creative Nonfiction
lareviewofbooks.org – Thursday April 4, 2024
Beginnings: A Seminar for Fiction and Creative Nonfiction is a 6-week-long workshop with award-winning novelist, Hannah Assadi. The class will take place on Zoom on Saturdays from May 4 until June 8 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. PST. Each participant will be able to submit one (1) piece of writing for workshop and receive written feedback by the instructor.
Beginnings—Readers are either won or lost within the first few pages of a book. Most literary agents and editors won’t read past the beginning of a manuscript if they are not seduced by its early movements. In this workshop, we will focus our attention on polishing the beginnings of our manuscripts, whether the first short story in a collection or the first chapter in a novel or memoir. In addition to reading and discussing peer work in this workshop setting, we will also collectively examine great openings in literature.
Japan publisher threatened over publication of trans-skeptical book
english.kyodonews.net – Sunday March 31, 2024
A Japanese publisher has received threats over its plan to publish a translated version of a controversial U.S. book questioning an increase in young women seeking gender transitions, its parent company said Saturday.
Sankei Shimbun Publications Inc. received an email threatening arson against bookstores that carried the book unless its publication was canceled, noting the work could promote discrimination against transgender people.
The conservative Sankei Shimbun newspaper's book-publishing imprint, owned by Sankei Shimbun Co., filed a police report alleging forcible obstruction of business.
"To threaten bookstores, where many people gather, is an unforgivable act. We will publish the book and not bow to this malicious pressure," Sankei Shimbun Publications said.
A3 Alums Andy Patman, Martin Spencer & Martin To Join Innovative Artists Literary Department
uk.movies.yahoo.com – Friday March 22, 2024
Innovative Artists is beefing up its literary division with the addition of veteran agents Andy Patman, Martin Spencer and Martin To. The trio recently got on the market following the shutdown of A3 where they helped reestablish a literary division, with Patman serving as head of Television Content.
This is the third consecutive agency where Patman, Spencer and To will be working together following stints at Paradigm and A3, which they all joined in 2020. Bringing their roster of clients, they will be based at Innovative’ Los Angeles office. They join agents Jim Stein, Michael Pio, Joe Arciniega, Susan Sussman, Emily Cameron, and Ethan More in Innovative’s literary department.
Lit Agents Alysia Thomas, Kelsey Roberts Exit Paradigm
uk.finance.yahoo.com – Friday March 22, 2024
Paradigm and a pair of literary agents, Alysia Thomas and Kelsey Roberts, have parted ways, sources tell Deadline.
Paradigm declined comment.
Thomas has already made her exit, and we’re told this was entirely amicable. What prompted Roberts’ exit is unclear, but she’s still finishing up her time at the agency.
Sports Illustrated to continue operations with new publisher
espn.co.uk – Wednesday March 20, 2024
Sports Illustrated will continue operations after the company that owns the brand agreed with a new publisher for its print and digital products.
Minute Media took over on Monday after reaching a licensing agreement with Authentic Brands Group. On Jan. 19, Authentic announced that it was revoking The Arena Group's publishing license after Arena failed to make a quarterly payment.
Authentic had been in negotiations with Arena, Minute Media and other publishing entities over the past two months.
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