The Horror of a Border: Laura Elliott On Writing the Abject
crimereads.com – Saturday June 14, 2025
It’s perhaps the question every horror writer dreads being asked the most, yet it happens with alarming frequency. Recently, this question was asked by my mum, a woman who, by her own admission, “doesn’t like anything that couldn’t be real”. Nevertheless, a couple of months ago she gamely read an advance copy of my debut horror novel, Awakened, and then called to ask me: why?
It was a question I’d expected, and on that afternoon, phone in hand as I reorganized my kitchen cupboards, my first impulse was to reassure her that my fascination with horror came from a desire to understand the darker impulses of humanity, rather than because I harbored any disturbing proclivities towards violence myself.
However, after I hung up the call, I began to think a little more deeply about why horror has always drawn me in. What is it about this particular genre that keeps on pulling me back?
Certainly, as a disabled woman, on the face of it horror isn’t the easiest genre to find a comfortable home in. It’s a place where disability is often used as a lazy “narrative prosthesis”—or visual shorthand—for moral or social decay. Where women suffer gratuitously, and sometimes sexually, at the hands of monstrous men.
The Rise of Indie Authors: Why Self-Publishing is Booming in 2025
rollingstone.co.uk – Friday June 13, 2025
For decades, the overarching umbrella genre of fiction has continued to dominate the bookish community. While it remains considered the most popular form of literature, how authors produce and publish their work has significantly shifted.
As reader behavior fluctuates and accessibility to technological advancements increases, these systemic changes power a surge in independent fiction publishing.
Out with Gatekeeping, In with Algorithms: A Modern Publishing Economy
The need for traditional fiction publishers and the print market has declined since 2018. Fortunately, this drop did not indicate that consumers were no longer interested in reading books. Instead, seasoned authors ascribe the decline to a rise in self-publishing practices. Self-publishing empowers indie authors to surpass conventional publishers and spread their written works more directly. Although many might assume e-books would hold their ground, the comprehensive electronic book market for legacy publishers has also endured a downturn. That said, the growing prominence of digital audiobooks somewhat counterbalances this slump.
Publishing platforms like Wattpad, Vella, Ream, and Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) have removed most of the friction associated with regular fiction distribution. KDP, in particular, continues to impact book circulation by leveling publishing. This Amazon-bound platform provides authors with direct reader access, allowing them to expand the exposure of their pieces.
Allow the writing inspiration to flow
fortmyers.floridaweekly.com – Friday June 13, 2025
Round 4 of Florida Weekly Writing Challenge begins
The 15th annual Florida Weekly Writing Challenge launches its fourth round this week, offering photo prompts to inspire readers to write short stories. For Round 4, you have until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, to email us your original story. You may submit only one story per each two-week round.
Writing Challenge rules for this year
1. For each round, you have until 11:59 p.m. of the listed deadline date to email us your original story using only one of the two photographs shown for the round as your starting point.
2. Type your first and last name, email address, phone number and city/state of residence above your story.
3. Next, type a title at the top of your masterpiece.
4. Keep your entry to a maximum of 750 words, which includes your contact information and title (no minimum word count). No poetry, please.
Bloody Scotland crime-writing festival line-up announced
bbc.co.uk – Friday June 13, 2025
Authors Kate Atkinson, Kathy Reichs and Jo Nesbo will be among those appearing at this year's Bloody Scotland crime-writing festival in Stirling.
Rebus creator Sir Ian Rankin is the first guest programmer for the festival, which runs in the city from 12 to 14 September.
The festival also includes Horrible Histories author Terry Deary and broadcasters Steph McGovern, Jeremy Vine and Rev Richard Coles.
Sir Ian described the event as "the world's friendliest and most-inclusive crime fiction festival."
Last call for entries to Wells Festival of Literature writing competitions
glastonbury.nub.news – Thursday June 12, 2025
Writers of all stripes have until 30 June 2025 to submit their work for this year's Wells Festival of Literature competitions.
With entries already pouring in from across the globe, the contest is drawing everyone from creative writing students to young rappers and poets.
There are four categories this year, each judged by a respected figure in the literary world: Open Poetry (Camille Ralphs), Short Story (Judith Heneghan), Book for Children (Fleur Hitchcock), and Young Poets (Sanah Ahsan).
Popcorn Writing Award opens submissions for 2025
westendtheatre.com – Thursday June 12, 2025
Submissions for the Popcorn Writing Award, run by film and theatre production company Popcorn Group, are now open for 2025.
The award celebrates bold, imaginative new writing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, offering a £6,000 prize fund that goes directly to writers recognised for their notable, groundbreaking scripts.
In addition to the prize fund, winners are also granted valuable support from the Popcorn Group and BBC writers, offering mentorship meetings and consideration for the BBC Writers Voices 2026 programme.
Established in 2019 by the Popcorn Group, the Popcorn Award champions fearless writing that “playfully and artistically tackles current affairs, questions societal norms, and contributes positively to public debate.”
To be eligible, plays must be new writing with fewer than seven preview performances prior to this year’s Edinburgh Fringe and must be staged at one of the award’s partner venues.
As part of the award, all shortlisted writers are offered valuable mentorship meetings with the Popcorn Group. In addition, those based in the UK and Ireland will be eligible for a one-to-one meeting with the BBC Writers team. Eligible longlisted writers from the UK and Ireland will also be invited to submit their scripts for consideration as part of BBC Writers Voices 2026.
The broken midlist: why it’s harder than ever to be a ‘moderately successful’ author
artshub.co.uk – Tuesday June 10, 2025
Once the heart of the publishing industry, midlist authors now face dwindling advances, fading support, and a market obsessed with viral hits.
In 2025, the publishing industry is increasingly dominated by bestsellers and viral sensations, leaving midlist authors – those who produce consistently solid but not blockbuster titles – struggling to maintain their careers. The traditional model, where publishers nurtured midlist authors with the hope of building them into future stars, is eroding.
The impact on the broader publishing landscape is clear, with countries like Australia experiencing some of the most significant consolidation it has ever seen.
The case of the vanishing midlist author
Historically, midlist authors have formed the backbone of the publishing industry, providing a steady stream of reliable titles that, although not topping bestseller lists, contribute to a publisher’s financial stability. However, recent trends indicate a decline in support for these authors. Publishers are increasingly focusing resources on potential bestsellers, often at the expense of midlist titles. This shift is partly due to the high costs associated with marketing and distribution, which are now being allocated more selectively
The Penguin Random House antitrust trial revealed that only 35% of its books are profitable, with just 4% accounting for the majority of profits, highlighting the industry’s reliance on a few high-performing titles.
New Newspaper Listing: Irish Examiner
firstwriter.com – Tuesday June 10, 2025
National daily newspaper based in Cork, Ireland. Strong regional focus on Munster, while also covering national and international news.
Introducing Nation Books, a New Progressive Publishing Imprint
thenation.com – Monday June 9, 2025
The partnership with OR Books brings the magazine’s indispensable voice and rich roster of talent to a longform format.
New York, NY—The Nation, America’s leading source of progressive politics and culture, together with OR Books, today announced that they are joining forces in a new book publishing imprint: Nation Books. Launching this fall, the imprint, which will be distributed by OR, will release four to six titles a year with new, younger Nation writers complementing more established voices from the magazine’s rich roster.
Katrina vanden Heuvel, publisher and editorial director of The Nation, welcomed the initiative: “At this perilous moment, The Nation’s indispensable voice and legacy has never been more essential. Our partnership with OR is a great opportunity to deepen the reach and impact of The Nation’s most exciting writers and thinkers, past and present—and inspire a new generation.”
Colin Robinson, publisher at OR, adds: “The first book we published when we started OR was a searing anthology by Nation editors and writers about Sarah Palin, which went on to the New York Times bestseller list. With plentiful new targets, we are very much looking forward to repeating that experience, drawing on the terrific journalists at a superb progressive magazine.”
On Tuesday, June 17, they will celebrate the launch of the new collaboration with a conversation between vanden Heuvel and Ross Barkan, a frequent contributor to The Nation and the author of CUOMO, published by OR Books, at The Francis Kite Club in New York City.
U.K. Publishing in 2025: The U.K.’s Graphic Novel Boom Comes Stateside
publishersweekly.com – Sunday June 8, 2025
British graphic novel publishers are making their presence felt in the U.S., racking up critical acclaim and commercial success with titles for all ages.
Since the late 1980s, creators from the U.K. have played a major role in shaping the American comics industry. And today, British publishers of comics and graphic novels are making a bigger splash than ever in the U.S. market, racking up levels of critical acclaim and commercial success that allow their titles to sit comfortably beside those of established stateside rivals on shelves in American bookstores and comics shops.
London’s Titan Publishing Group is one major player on the scene. A key Titan strategy has been to publish licensed TV, film, and video game tie-in comics, including Blade Runner, Bloodborne, Doctor Who, and—since a 2022 partnership with Heroic Signatures—Conan the Barbarian titles. Its Titan Manga and Statix imprints have also introduced work from Asia and Europe to the English-language market, and the company has actively sought creators worldwide to flesh out its line of original graphic novels. One recent star pickup has been Canadian animator Norm Konyu, best known for the graphic novels Downlands and The Junction. Titan is distributed to the U.S. book trade by Penguin Random House, with Diamond covering the direct market.
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