Is the ebook a dead format?
thebookseller.com – Monday July 24, 2017
Nowadays, the ebook has a reputation for technological conservatism - so it is easy to forget that there was significant anticipation for the Kindle’s arrival ten years ago.
In a 2009 editorial, The Bookseller declared the device was “a giant leap for all”. The Kindle was frequently compared to the iPod’s transformative effect on the music industry. No wonder - the ebook format promised several advantages. Users could adjust typographic settings for improved accessibility; there was an increased level of portability; and the move to digital distribution promised the ability to purchase publishers’ extensive back catalogues.
But despite the early promise of the ebook, many are questioning whether it has lived up to these expectations. In recent years, the ebook has faced significant backlash amid reports of declining sales in trade publishing. The Publishing Association Yearbook 2016 noted a 17% slump in the sale of consumer ebooks while physical book revenue increased by 8%. Over the last couple of years, audiobooks have replaced ebooks as digital publishing’s critical darling on the back of a rapid increase in revenue. In this climate, several commentators have asked “how ebooks lost their shine.”
Yen Press to Launch JY, a Kids’ Graphic Novel Imprint in Fall 2017
publishersweekly.com – Sunday July 23, 2017
Looking to expand its efforts in a fast growing children’s graphic novel market, Yen Press LLC, a joint venture between Hachette and Japanese publisher Kadokawa, is launching JY, a new imprint focused on middle grade graphic novels. Named for JuYoun Lee, the deputy publisher of Yen Press, the new imprint will launch in Fall 2017 with the first of three series.
New Literary Agency Listing
firstwriter.com – Thursday July 20, 2017
Handles: Fiction; Nonfiction
Areas: Arts; Culture; Historical; Politics; Sport
Markets: Academic; Adult
Treatments: Literary
Send query by email with cover letter, brief synopsis, and (if submitting an academic manuscript) an author CV. Responds to queries within 72 hours. Unsolicited mss will not be read or replied to, whether sent by post or email.
New Magazine Listing
firstwriter.com – Wednesday July 19, 2017
Publishes: Fiction; Poetry;
Areas include: Short Stories;
Markets: Adult;
Preferred styles: Literary
Publishes poetry and fiction - often by people who have been marginalised, oppressed, or abused. Submit up to 6 poems and/or 1-3 short stories or one long story. Submit by post with SASE. Email submissions from overseas authors only.
Seat 14C: Science Fiction short story competition launched
firstwriter.com – Friday July 14, 2017
On June 28, XPRIZE launched Seat 14C, an online science fiction anthology that offers a glimpse into a techno-optimistic future. Many of the world’s leading sci-fi authors have contributed an original short story told from the perspective of one of the passengers on a flight that mysteriously lands in San Francisco, 20 years in the future, and they need your help.
New Magazine Listing
firstwriter.com – Thursday July 13, 2017
Publishes: Fiction; Interviews; Nonfiction; Poetry; Reviews;
Markets: Adult;
Preferred styles: Literary
A print magazine until 2008, now publishes two online issues a year. Publishes fiction up to 5,000 words; nonfiction; poetry; artwork; and graphic narratives. Submit via online submission system only - no submissions by post or email. Reading periods run from September 1 to November 1, and January 15 to May 1. No work by current or former students of the university.
Vermont author says writing what you know isn’t always the best practice
mvtimes.com – Wednesday July 12, 2017
Jeffrey Lent takes a hammer to the popular advice for young writers, “Write what you know,” and shatters it. In his new book, “Before We Sleep,” 17-year-old Katey Snow goes on a journey of self-discovery. The story follows Katey, her mother Ruth, and her father Oliver in a tiny Vermont town in the 1960s as they grapple with the aftereffects of World War II.
Lent, who, to maintain transparency, is my uncle, has written numerous historical fiction books including “In the Fall” and “A Slant of Light.” He will be on a panel at “Islanders Write” on August 14, talking about how to write believable characters from a different gender. I sat down with him recently to talk about gender in literature, and why it’s important to go beyond what you know.
Got a great book idea but not a clue what to do? Here's a brilliant scheme to apply for
chroniclelive.co.uk – Wednesday July 12, 2017
The country’s biggest book publisher, Penguin Random House, is focusing on the North East as part of a nationwide search for untapped writing talent.
Newcastle is one of the three cities – along with Bristol and London – chosen for the second year of its WriteNow initiative.
This will result in 10 writers being chosen for a year of professional mentoring with the aim of getting their book published.
New Literary Agency Listing
firstwriter.com – Tuesday July 11, 2017
Handles: Fiction; Nonfiction
Areas: Business; Crime; Fantasy; Historical; Horror; Mystery; Science; Sci-Fi; Thrillers
Markets: Adult; Youth
Treatments: Commercial; Literary
Agency based in Colorado, representing fiction and nonfiction for adults and young adults. No romance, poetry, children's picture books or screenplays. Send query by email with first five pages of your novel (if sending fiction) in the body of the email. For nonfiction, a proposal must be available before querying. No attachments. See website for full guidelines.
Want to know the secret to writing a great crime novel?
irishtimes.com – Saturday July 8, 2017
Can You Keep a Secret? is the name of Karen Perry’s forthcoming novel. It is applicable to the content and action of the narrative of the novel but not to how it was written, or any other novel for that matter. Because there is no secret. No formula, no magic potion, and no short cut to what goes into the writing of a novel. And it doesn’t matter what genre we are talking about. It doesn’t matter whether the novel is a thriller, a mystery or a literary novel. Yes, that’s right, the literary novel is a genre, too. Each genre comes with its own codes and conventions, but that does not mean there is a formula.
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