Self-Publishing Preview: 2016
publishersweekly.com – Saturday January 16, 2016
In 2015, self-publishing saw a number of high-profile success stories. Jamie McGuire’s Beautiful Redemption became the first novel by an indie author to find shelf space at Walmart, and Andy Weir’s The Martian, originally self-published, was released as a major motion picture starring Matt Damon. Paul Kingsnorth’s The Wake received major traditional media coverage and was reviewed in the New York Times (albeit after it was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2014 and picked up by Graywolf Press), and such writers as Vi Keeland, Penelope Ward, Deborah Bladon, and Tijan saw their indie books reach the New York Times digital bestseller list. Crowdfunding also continued to be a popular platform, with dozens of publishing projects successfully funded on Kickstarter, covering everything from teaching programming to kids to a Lil Bub picture book.
Fiction and poetry submissions invited for new issue of magazine
firstwriter.com – Thursday January 14, 2016
firstwriter.com has just announced the launch of the latest issue of its long-running literary journal, firstwriter.magazine.
firstwriter.magazine has been published twice a year since 2002, making it probably one of the longest-running online journals on the internet. This 28th issue features the usual mix of quality fiction and poetry from around the world, plus the first chance to see not just the winning story from the Eleventh International Short Story Contest, but also all ten Special Commendations. You can view the magazine by clicking here. If you'd like to enter your work in the Twelfth International Short Story Contest, click here.
Writing a bestseller ‘on the verge of a stroke’
spectator.co.uk – Thursday January 14, 2016
Every four seconds, somewhere in the world, a Lee Child book is sold. This phenomenal statistic places Child alongside Stephen King, James Patterson and J.K. Rowling as one of the world’s bestselling novelists. But what makes the Jack Reacher books so successful? This is one of the questions Andy Martin, a lecturer in French and Philosophy at Cambridge, sets out to answer in this intriguing and uniquely unclassifiable book. Reacher Said Nothing, however, isn’t a work of literary criticism or a how-to guide. Martin contacted Child and asked whether he could observe the entire writing process for the 20th Reacher novel, Make Me. Amazingly, Child said yes.
Norwich to become literary capital with a National Centre for Writing
itv.com – Wednesday January 13, 2016
Novelists, including recently published, Benjamin Johncock have welcomed the news that Norwich is to open a National Centre for Writers in the city's Dragon Hall.
Norwich has long provided literary inspiration for writers such as Rose Tremain, Kazuo Ishiguro, Ian McEwan, Anna Sewell and Tracy Chevalier. And the University of East Anglia's Creative Writing MA course has an alumni of dozens of award-winning authors.
National Centre for Writing project in Norwich granted £900,000
theguardian.com – Friday January 8, 2016
Backed by major writers including JM Coetzee, Margaret Atwood and Anthony Horowitz, plans to open the National Centre for Writing, in Norwich – a first in the UK – have moved closer to fruition after the project was awarded a grant of almost £1m. The project is being organised by the Writers’ Centre Norwich, a literature development agency.
Philip Pullman: professional writers set to become 'an endangered species'
theguardian.com – Thursday January 7, 2016
His Dark Materials author Philip Pullman is heading a new charge from writers demanding to be rewarded fairly for their work, as the Society of Authors warns that unless “serious” changes are made by publishers, the professional author “will become an endangered species”.
Michael Hamilburg, Hollywood Literary Agent, Dies at 82
hollywoodreporter.com – Thursday January 7, 2016
Michael Hamilburg, a veteran literary agent and producer, died Jan. 1 of complications from Parkinson’s disease at his home in Los Angeles, his wife, Susan, said. He was 82.
His father founded the Mitchell J. Hamilburg Agency with clients that including Gene Autry, Deanna Durbin and Bob Keeshan (Captain Kangaroo).
Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison on writing for teens
thebookseller.com – Wednesday January 6, 2016
Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison, authors of Never Evers (Chicken House) discuss writing about sex and love for teens.
Tom Ellen: I think we mainly write about sex and love for teens because we're trying to write funny books, and there's a lot of scope for comedy in both those areas...
Lucy Ivison: Well yes Tom, but actually no Tom. I mean, this is a classic time where I realise that you and me are different people. That is not why I write about sex and love. I am just into sex and love! I live for a good romance. And everyone is interested in what goes on with people in the bedroom. That’s just facts. Awkward, cringeworthy stuff is part of the journey…which I do love too.
Struggling as an author? Stop writing only what you want to write
theguardian.com – Wednesday January 6, 2016
Earning a living as a writer is as likely as winning the lottery. Instead of writing books and persuading others to buy them, find out what people want to write, then do it for them.
New Publisher Listing
firstwriter.com – Wednesday January 6, 2016
Publishes: Fiction;
Markets: Children's; Youth
Publishes middle grade and young adult fiction. Submit query by post only, with first 10 pages and details of any relevant publishing history. Do not include SASE - all submissions are recycled. Response only if interested.
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