Rizzoli International to Launch U.K. Publishing Arm
publishersweekly.com – Thursday March 7, 2024
Rizzoli International has announced plans to launch a London-based publishing arm, Rizzoli UK.
Helming the new business is Stephen King, who has been appointed managing director of Rizzoli UK. King was previously managing director of independent publisher Hardie Grant UK.
King will also join the Rizzoli International executive team headed by president and CEO Stefano Peccatori. Also on the executive team are Jennifer Pierson, v-p of global sales, marketing, and operations; Randy Barlow, v-p of finance and administration; and Charles Miers, publisher of all Rizzoli International imprints, who oversees Rizzoli New York, Rizzoli Universe, Rizzoli Electa, and now Rizzoli U.K.
The Nature Writing Prize for Working Class Writers returns for fifth year
thebookseller.com – Wednesday March 6, 2024
The Nature Writing Prize for Working Class Writers returns for its fifth year, offering one year’s free membership to Campaign for National Parks, a £300 paid commission to write a National Parks-inspired piece for Viewpoint Magazine and an Arvon course of choice.
The winner will also receive three one-hour mentoring sessions with a Gaia commissioner, a one-hour mentoring session with a literary agent and a book bundle from Octopus Publishing Group.
The prize, which aims to break down barriers, was set up in 2020 by the writer Natasha Carthew to create opportunity for working-class nature writers of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. It is supported by Arvon Foundation, the Campaign for National Parks and Gaia, an imprint of Octopus Publishing Group. The prize is free to enter and encourages self-identifying working-class writers from all over the UK, whether they live in the country or in towns, cities and other spaces.
A New Publisher Promises Authors ‘the Lion’s Share of the Profit’
nytimes.com – Wednesday March 6, 2024
Authors Equity is tiny but has big industry names behind it. Its founders hope their profit-sharing approach and experience will entice authors.
A new book publisher with an unusual business model, a small footprint and an outsize pedigree that includes some of the biggest names in publishing launched on Tuesday.
The executives behind the publisher, Authors Equity, have run some of the largest publishing companies in the United States: Madeline McIntosh, the former chief executive of Penguin Random House; Don Weisberg, the former chief executive of Macmillan; and Nina von Moltke, the former president of strategic development at Penguin Random House.
The new house is small, with just six employees, but its founders hope that their experience and approach to publishing will attract writers. Contrary to the usual practice, Authors Equity won’t offer authors money upfront or guarantee them a payment — but it will give them “the lion’s share” of any profit that is made, according to Ms. McIntosh.
“As a financially conservative person, I would be very nervous asking people to invest in a new company that was dependent on beating other companies with the size of its checkbook,” Ms. McIntosh said. “I feel very confident about competing based on the experience that we can offer.”
Literary agent claims ‘Half of British publishers will not take books that have any Jewish content’
thejc.com – Monday March 4, 2024
Writer also told a mention of her book was dropped over the 'hassle' involved in mentioning Jews or Judaism
An anonymous literary agent has said that half of publishing houses in the UK will not take books that have Jewish content or are by Jewish authors.
The agent was speaking to Stephen Games, founder of the independent publisher EnvelopeBooks, who revealed their conversation to The Telegraph.
Games said: “A very well-known literary agent of great repute and associated with books that one would immediately recognise said that he is having difficulty with his Jewish authors or writings on Jewish subjects because he just finds that much of literary London is now a no-go zone for Jews.
“He said there is no point putting proposals up to commissioning editors as they just are not interested,” Games went on.
According to Games, there is “a climate of growing hostility against Jews”.
Anjali Singh on Launching Her Own Literary Agency
publishersweekly.com – Monday March 4, 2024
In her nearly 30-year career in publishing, Anjali Singh has worn many hats. Before joining Ayesha Pande Literary as an agent in 2015, Singh was the editorial director at Other Press, and prior to that had worked as an editor at Simon & Schuster, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Vintage Books. And before all that, she got her start as a book scout. She's perhaps best known for her work in world of graphic novels, having acquired and championed Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis after stumbling across it during a trip to Paris. She later went on to help launch the careers of such authors as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Samantha Hunt.
Now Singh is making yet another exciting pivot: launching her own literary agency.
At Anjali Singh Literary, launching this month, Singh will continue to represent literary fiction, nonfiction, children's literature, and graphic novels. She will bring her entire list over to the new boutique agency, comprising roughly 55 authors and illustrators. Her literary authors include Susan Abulhawa, Nawaaz Ahmed, Zara Chowdhary, and Bridgett Davis, and her graphic novel clients include Joel Christian Gill, Tessa Hulls, John Jennings, Deena Mohamed, Steenz, Salman Toor, and Ivy Noelle Weir. She will also offer consulting services through the agency.
Peters, Fraser + Dunlop launches mentorship scheme for new writers
thebookseller.com – Monday March 4, 2024
The Peters, Fraser + Dunlop (PFD) Literary Agency is launching a mentorship scheme for new writers, offering at least three places on the programme. The scheme is launching as the agency celebrates its 100th anniversary, and is open to non-agented applicants from a range of backgrounds.
Writers will be paired with an agent who specialises in their genre of fiction. Following an initial meeting to discuss the vision for the book — where mentees will be provided with an introduction to the industry — the agent and writer will set deadlines, with a view of completing or editing the manuscript in a year.
Stewart Talent Hires Two Former A3 Lit Agents To Head Launch Of New York Literary Division
uk.finance.yahoo.com – Saturday March 2, 2024
Stewart Talent is expanding its literary footprint with the hires of A3 veterans Ron Gwiazda and Amy Wagner, who will launch the agency’s New York literary division.
“We at Stewart Talent are thrilled to welcome Ron Gwiazda and Amy Wagner to our organization,” the Agency said in a statement. “Their extensive knowledge of the industry, coupled with their passion for cultivating literary talent, makes them the perfect duo to spearhead the launch of our New York literary division. We are confident that under their leadership, Stewart Talent will continue to thrive and solidify its position as a leading force in the entertainment industry.”
Gwiazda brings over 36 years of experience in literary representation, having played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of numerous artists. Wagner boasts an impressive background in talent management and development, having garnered widespread recognition for her ability to connect talented artists with meaningful opportunities, according to the Agency.
Pérez Literary & Entertainment promotes Isabel Lineberry to junior agent
thebookseller.com – Saturday March 2, 2024
Isabel Lineberry has been promoted to junior agent and rights assistant after a year at Pérez Literary & Entertainment (PLE).
Lineberry joined the company at its launch in February 2023 and has worked directly under managing director, Kristina Pérez ever since. As a junior agent, she will be focusing on broadening the agency’s New Adult, YA and Children’s client lists. She will also oversee the day-to-day co-ordination of audio and translation rights for the agency. She holds a master’s degree in fantasy literature from the University of Glasgow.
With the Novel Prize, Three Anglophone Publishers Team to Champion Innovative Fiction
publishersweekly.com – Thursday February 29, 2024
Barbara Epler, president and publisher of New Directions, couldn’t help but pun when describing the biennial Novel Prize, awarded jointly by the New York City–based New Directions, London-based Fitzcarraldo, and Sydney-based Giramondo to a book-length work of literary nonfiction: “Global publication by three anglophone publishers—I think that’s sort of novel.”
Indeed, the Novel Prize, launched in March 2020, is the first—and only—of its kind.
While other literary prizes may offer publishing contracts—including Spanish publisher Anagrama’s Herralde Prize, Graywolf Press’s Nonfiction Prize, and a number offered by university presses—none offer the same international reach as the Novel Prize. Presented by a triumvirate of international indie publishers, the award offers a $10,000 purse and simultaneous publication in North America, courtesy of New Directions; the U.K. and Ireland, courtesy of Fitzcarraldo; and Australia and New Zealand, courtesy of Giramondo.
Rachel Yeoh and Maddy Belton step up at Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency
thebookseller.com – Thursday February 29, 2024
The Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency has promoted Rachel Yeoh and Maddy Belton to literary agents.
Yeoh joined MMA in 2019 as an intern, before becoming Madeleine Milburn’s assistant, and then – in 2021 – an associate agent. She is building a list of literary, upmarket and book club fiction.
Madeleine Milburn said: “Rachel is phenomenal member of the MMA team. She gives her all to everything that she does – and she does so much! As well as helping with my list, she has excelled in her approach to building her own by bringing exciting new talent into the agency and striking deals with major publishers, dynamic in her leadership of our mentorship programme, and infinitely generous in collaborating with colleagues. I’m so excited to see her continue all of these qualities now that she is a literary agent.”
Yeoh said: “I have learned so much from working closely with Madeleine over the past four and a half years, and feel incredibly privileged. I’m so excited to see what the future holds, and cannot wait to continue championing my remarkable authors and finding promising new talent."
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