Book and Bottle Shop looking for authors as they launch literary magazine, “By the Glass”
whopam.com – Monday January 19, 2026
The Book and Bottle Shop in Hopkinsville is putting out the call—they’re looking for writers from across western Kentucky to feature in their first-ever literary magazine, “By the Glass”.
According to a news release, this new literary magazine is designed to showcase what western Kentucky has to offer in the way of writing prowess. Submissions are open now for the premier issue of “By the Glass”, which is founded by the Draft & Drink Writers Group of the bookstore/wine bar that calls downtown Hopkinsville home.
There are very few restrictions on submissions, though it is encouraged for the submitter to be connected to western Kentucky—authors can submit works of original and unpublished fiction, nonfiction, poetry and other literary prose. For this first magazine, there is not a theme or content recommendation.
How are publishers pushing Gen Z to read?
thred.com – Sunday January 18, 2026
Recent data suggests that traditional marketing for new books is steadily facing irrelevance with Gen Z. Is it the end times, or simply a shift away into less conventional formats of storytelling?
The book industry is facing a dilemma.
Recent studies suggest that teenagers and younger Gen Zers aren’t reading many books in full. College students are increasingly turning to AI tools like ChatGPT to research, curate and interpret information for them, rather than actually learning and applying knowledge independently.
That isn’t just a grouchy, older person take either; this ‘Voices of Gen Z’ study by the Walton Family Foundation reported that 35% of Gen Z students dislike reading, and 42% rarely or never read for fun. A survey by BestColleges in 2023 also found that 56% of students reported using AI tools to complete assignments and exams, with that number only likely to have risen since.
Schools are also less likely to assign full books for coursework reading today compared to decades prior, and some sources indicate that very few teenagers are reading in their down time. In fact, according to The National Centre for Education Statistics, only 14% of 13-year-olds are reading for fun, with 31% saying they never or hardly ever read.
In 2022, the National Council of Teachers of English argued that reading books in full should be less of a focus for children, with more emphasis given on ‘critically examining digital media and popular culture’ online and on screens. A UK study the same year by Renaissance Learning concluded that the total books read annually in schools declined by 4.2% for the first time over the previous twelve months, with reading difficulty flatlining or falling in secondary education.
Bournemouth Writing Festival to return for fourth edition
bournemouthecho.co.uk – Friday January 16, 2026
Writers and readers will come together for a packed weekend of talks, workshops and literary events.
The Bournemouth Writing Festival will return for its fourth edition from April 24 to 26, filling venues across the town with more than 100 events and activities.
Dominic Wong, festival director, said: “The Bournemouth Writing Festival is all about making writing feel welcoming and achievable, whether you’re just starting out or ready to take your work to the next level.
“We’re proud to offer a wide-ranging programme that mixes top industry expertise with inclusive and accessible events that bring writers together from across the community and the country.”
Events will take place at Pavilion Dance, Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Patch, Palace Court Theatre, Horseshoe Common and on the beach.
The festival offers a mix of free and ticketed options, with many activities made possible thanks to funding from the Arts Council and ticket sales.
Highlights include Writing on the Beach, children’s writing activities, a dementia-friendly chill-out zone, four book launches and free entry to the Writers’ Hive.
A new Poetry Marquee at Horseshoe Common will offer drop-in sessions and live performances.
Submissions open for BBC Short Story Awards 2026
cam.ac.uk – Thursday January 15, 2026
The prestigious awards, supported by Cambridge University, are celebrating their 21st anniversary with judges including Saba Sams, David Almond & Lily Fontaine announced.
The BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University (NSSA) and BBC Young Writers’ Award with Cambridge University (YWA) have opened for submissions.
Di Speirs, judge of the BBC National Short Story Award since its launch, is this year’s Chair of Judges. Joining her on the panel are 2022 NSSA winner Saba Sams, whose highly acclaimed debut novel Gunk was published last year, two former NSSA shortlistees, Tahmima Anam (2016) and Will Eaves (2017), and Costa Best First Novel Award winner, Andrew Micheal Hurley.
Since launching twenty-one years ago, the NSSA has enriched both the careers of writers and the wider literary landscape. Some of Britain’s most renowned writers have won or been shortlisted for the award including Hilary Mantel, Zadie Smith, William Trevor, Jon McGregor, Deborah Levy, Naomi Alderman, Kamila Shamsie, Tessa Hadley, Mark Haddon, Sarah Hall, Helen Oyeyemi, Lucy Caldwell and Rose Tremain.
New Literary Agent Listing: Shanika Hyslop
firstwriter.com – Thursday January 15, 2026
Literary agent specialising in commercial and book club fiction, including women’s fiction, romance, family sagas, thrillers, mysteries, speculative work, magical realism and historical fiction. Also handles lifestyle and self‑help, including health, wellness, method and diet cookbooks, spirituality, parenting, careers, high‑performance and personal finance. Seeking strong hooks, voice‑led narratives, inventive suspense, atmospheric mysteries, hopeful magical realism, genre‑bending historical fiction and platform‑led lifestyle and personal development projects.
Sam Eades and Sophie Wilson join S&S as publishers of new imprint in job share
thebookseller.com – Tuesday January 13, 2026
Sam Eades and Sophie Wilson have joined Simon & Schuster (S&S) UK as publishers in a job share, heading up new commercial fiction imprint Skylight. The imprint will sit under executive publisher Phoebe Morgan as part of the Fiction division, with more details to be revealed later in the year.
Wilson began her career at Transworld and has since worked at Headline on crime and thriller, literary and book club fiction. She has worked with authors such as Rachel Joyce, Soraya Lane, Nick Spalding, Lorraine Kelly, Celia Imrie and Julian Clary and rising talent including Candice Carty-Willams, Emma Jane Unsworth and Kate Weston, as well as devising IP for publishers and ghostwriting projects during her years as a freelancer.
Publishers are “stepping back” from LGBTQ+ books amid bans & the current GOP president
lgbtqnation.com – Tuesday January 13, 2026
"In the face of so many book bans and so much concern about decreasing school library sales of queer content" publishers are "passing" on LGBTQ+ books.
2025 and the return to a GOP president, as well as ongoing efforts to ban books by and about LGBTQ+ people across the country, have created a chilling effect in the publishing industry, according to a new report from The Hill.
Several industry professionals told the outlet that over the past year, more publishers have rejected queer book proposals and manuscripts, while authors have seen a drop in royalties for their queer books. The anti-LGBTQ+ right’s fixation on children’s books has made things particularly difficult in children’s book publishing.
As The Hill notes, PEN America tracked over 10,000 book bans across the country at the height of the book-banning craze — which has targeted books by Black authors along with LGBTQ+ titles — during the 2023–2024 school year. During the 2024–2025 school year, the group identified nearly 7,000 bans across 87 school districts in the U.S.
Some authors of banned books have reported spikes in sales in recent years, and at least one bookseller told The Hill that sales of queer novels remain steady.
New Publisher Listing: 3dtotal Publishing
firstwriter.com – Tuesday January 13, 2026
Publishes high‑quality art books featuring inspirational and practical tutorials for artists working in film, games, animation, and publishing. Produces beautifully designed, durable volumes aimed at hobbyists, students, and professionals seeking to develop artistic skills. Commissions instructional material from a diverse range of artists worldwide and invests heavily in production to create collectible, long‑lasting books.
New Online Session for Scriptwriters: Rewrite Techniques for TV and Film
northernirelandscreen.co.uk – Monday January 12, 2026
Refresh your script in just two hours with Pilar Alessandra
A short, practical online session for screenwriters and television writers who want to revisit and rework an existing script.
Screenwriters and television writers are invited to apply to this online workshop designed to help you unlock new energy in your script. Rewrite Techniques for TV and Film is a focused two-hour session led by renowned writing coach Pilar Alessandra, offering hands-on tools you can apply immediately to elevate your work.
Date: Monday 2nd February
Time: 12pm–2pm
Location: Via Zoom
Whether you’re stuck in a rewrite or looking to sharpen a draft, this session is built to help you rethink, refresh, and re-engage with your story.
The case for changing genres
thebookseller.com – Saturday January 10, 2026
I often say The Odds of You, my debut contemporary romance, is a book that snuck up on me. But for you to really get it, I need to set the scene.
It’s 2023. My debut book, The Curse of Saints, has just released in the UK and become an instant Sunday Times Bestseller. I’ve just turned in book two of the trilogy, The Curse of Sins. My career has got off to a stellar start in the romantasy genre.
Enter The Odds of You. A book that’s not only in a different genre, but has an incredibly different voice and style from my romantasy trilogy.
If you’re in the industry, you’re likely scratching your head and wondering why, with a romantasy trilogy that’s "doing well", would I ever decide to change genres so early on in my career.
Here’s the truth, in all its unflashy glory: it just happened.
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