Michael Ondaatje opens archive to reveal his writing methods
theguardian.com – Monday September 25, 2017
An image of a drunken Oxford party that Michael Ondaatje clipped from a magazine and stuck into a notebook would, years later, inspire a scene in The English Patient, according to the novelist’s archives, which have just been acquired by the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
Ondaatje, in an interview with the Center’s director Stephen Ennis, said he writes around four drafts of a book by hand before moving it on to a typewriter or computer and then “reworking it, printing it out, rewriting it by hand”.
Inkitt, a ‘reader powered’ book publisher, raises $3.9M to discover the next best-selling author
techcrunch.com – Monday September 25, 2017
Inkitt, which bills itself as “the world’s first reader-powered book publisher,” has raised $3.9 million in pre-series A funding, in a round led by Redalpine, with Frontline Ventures, Speedinvest and a number of private investors also participating. The Berlin-based startup is part writing and reading community, and part publishing house, with one aspect feeding the other.
New Literary Agency Listing
firstwriter.com – Monday September 25, 2017
Handles: Fiction; Nonfiction
Areas: Adventure; Anthropology; Antiques; Archaeology; Architecture; Arts; Autobiography; Biography; Crime; Culture; Current Affairs; Design; Entertainment; Film; Gothic; Historical; Hobbies; Literature; Men's Interests; Military; Music; Mystery; Nature; Philosophy; Politics; Science; Short Stories; Sociology; Sport; Thrillers; Translations; Travel; TV; Women's Interests
Markets: Adult
Treatments: Commercial; Contemporary; Experimental; In-depth; Literary; Mainstream; Niche; Popular; Progressive; Serious
Literary agency set up by a former bookseller, offering writers a new perspective on finding the right publisher for their work. Keen to find writers with something to say about society today and particularly looking for storylines that showcase voices and communities that have tended to be overlooked by the publishing world, although that should deter no-one from sending their writing.
New Magazine Listing
firstwriter.com – Monday September 25, 2017
Publishes: Fiction; Poetry;
Areas include: Horror;
Markets: Academic; Adult; Youth;
Preferred styles: Dark; Literary
A not-for-profit online supernatural horror (global) literary magazine. We feature: poetry, prose, fiction, flash fiction, art and photography. We accept submissions from writers and artists of all ages from all across the globe. They must be at least 13 years old.
New Publisher Listing
firstwriter.com – Monday September 25, 2017
Publishes: Fiction; Nonfiction; Poetry;
Areas include: Arts; Cookery; Crime; Fantasy; Health; Historical; Humour; Nature; Photography; Politics; Science; Short Stories; Sport; Thrillers; Translations; Travel;
Markets: Adult; Youth;
Preferred styles: Literary
Particularly interested in literary novels and narrative nonfiction. Accepts approaches from agents and directly from authors. Send query with one-page proposal or synopsis, writing CV, and ten sample pages, up to 5,000 words. No children's fiction or unsolicited poetry manuscripts.
Want to write a bestselling novel? Use an algorithm
theguardian.com – Sunday September 24, 2017
It’s the multimillion pound question that publishers and writers have been pondering for decades: what makes a bestseller? Attempting to write one could certainly pay off – the highest-paid author in the world, JK Rowling, has made $95m (£70m) in the past year, and the 10 highest-paid authors in the world earned more than $310m between them, according to Forbes.
Interactive fiction and mainstream publishers (Part 2)
thebookseller.com – Friday September 22, 2017
In the first part of my look at interactive fiction, I outlined IF’s roots in early computer gaming, and its revival through engaged communities and innovative producers. In this follow-up, I’m going to look at the future of the form - technological advances in voice, language processing and AI that could give interactive fiction greater commercial and creative traction within mainstream publishing.
Kingsford and Shukla crowd-fund BAME journal and literary agency
thebookseller.com – Friday September 22, 2017
The creators of The Good Immigrant, Nikesh Shukla and Julia Kingsford, are launching a crowd-funding campaign forThe Good Journal - a quarterly literary journal that will showcase UK BAME writers and lay the foundations for a new literary agency to champion under-represented voices.
According to Kingsford, the idea for the journal came about following the response to The Good Immigrant, which published exactly a year ago today (22nd September), and has now sold almost 50,000 copies across all editions to date.
New Literary Agency Listing
firstwriter.com – Thursday September 21, 2017
Handles: Fiction; Nonfiction
Areas: Autobiography; Culture; Health; Lifestyle; Women's Interests
Markets: Adult; Children's; Youth
Treatments: Literary; Popular
See website for specific agent guidelines and contact details, and query one agent at a time. Response not guaranteed unless interested.
Lantana Publishing Breaks into U.S. Market
publishersweekly.com – Wednesday September 20, 2017
Founded by Alice Curry in 2014 to publish children’s books by authors and illustrators from diverse cultural backgrounds, London-based Lantana Publishing has garnered impressive accolades during its first three years. The publisher was shortlisted for the Bologna Prize for Best Children’s Publisher of the Year (Europe Category) at the 2017 Bologna Children’s Book Fair, and earlier this year Curry received Britain’s Kim Scott Walwyn Prize, celebrating exceptional women in publishing.
Now Lantana is entering the American market with the release of four picture books this fall, which clearly reflect its core mission. Distributed by Lerner Publisher Services, Lantana’s debut U.S. list features the work of authors and illustrators whose backgrounds are rooted in an array of countries.
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