Diversion Publishing Buys U.K. Indie Press
publishersweekly.com – Monday March 9, 2026
Scott Waxman’s Diversion Publishing Corp. has acquired the U.K. independent publisher Influx Press Ltd. The purchase involves about 75 titles in the categories of upmarket horror, literary short fiction, satirical fiction, “and others meant to provoke and unsettle the reader,” according to the announcement.
Notable Influx authors include Percival Everett, Eliza Clark, Eva Wyles, Lauren DuPlessis, Joel Lane, Eley Williams, Nour Abi-Nakhoul, Ben Tufnell, and Darran Anderson. Influx’s titles have been shortlisted and longlisted for the Booker Prize, Dylan Thomas Prize, the Edge Hill Prize, the Jhalak Prize, and the Gordon Burn Prize.
Diversion’s titles are distributed in the U.K. by Simon & Schuster, but, at least for the time being, Influx books will continue to be distributed by Turnaround.
New Literary Agent Listing: Catriona Paget
firstwriter.com – Monday March 9, 2026
Handles character‑led contemporary fiction in the book club, upmarket, and crossover literary spaces, including love stories, coming‑of‑age novels, and contemporary fiction elevated through close character study. Seeks energetic and life‑affirming upmarket fiction that balances joy with emotional depth, as well as novels with humour, sharp dialogue, and distinctive character dynamics. Interested in contemporary literary work that reimagines familiar narratives and explores relationships, personal principles, and societal expectations. Not seeking science fiction, fantasy, horror, or work for young readers.
Manga Publisher Seven Seas Entertainment Bought By Media Do
bleedingcool.com – Saturday March 7, 2026
Manga Publisher Seven Seas Entertainment has been bought by Japanese eBook publisher Media Do
The company Media Do International has agreed to buy manga publisher Seven Seas Entertainment, the largest independently owned manga publisher in the English-language market. Founded in 2004 by Jason DeAngelis, Seven Seas published over 1,300 series and thousands of titles from Japan, China, South Korea, and beyond into the English-language market, including the likes of Monster Musume, Lost in the Cloud and Dear. Door. While Tokyo-based Media Do is Japan's largest eBook distribution company, it is also known as a proponent of A.I. translation services. The company's purchasing wing, Media Do International, is headquartered in San Diego, California. Media Do also bought Quality Solutions/Firebrand Technologies and NetGalley in 2021, and Supadü in 2022.
The PR states that "Seven Seas will continue to operate under its existing leadership team and editorial direction. There are no changes to distribution, publishing schedules, or core operations as a result of this transaction. All Seven Seas print imprints will continue to be distributed worldwide by Penguin Random House Publisher Services."
"For more than twenty years, our focus has been simple: publishing exceptional stories and treating them with care, respect, and the passion of fans who never forget what drew us to these stories in the first place," says Jason DeAngelis. "This partnership strengthens our long-term position while preserving the creative independence and publishing mission that define Seven Seas. We remain deeply committed to our creators, partners, and readers."
Navigator Books Launches as Independent Philadelphia-based Publisher
24-7pressrelease.com – Saturday March 7, 2026
Publisher Will Focus on History, Biography, Memoir, and Historical Fiction
Navigator Books today announced its launch as an independent book publisher dedicated to publishing compelling books in the categories of History, Biography, Memoir, and Historical Fiction. Navigator will publish 3 books in 2026 beginning in July, with 6 titles scheduled for 2027 and plans for an expanding list in the years ahead. Founded with a mission of producing books that will endure by developing authors creatively and commercially through multi-book commitments, Navigator's list will be curated, edited, and published by its founder Brendan Cahill, a 30-year veteran of trade book publishing.
"Our goal is to publish books that matter, and to reach a broad readership," said Cahill, the CEO and Publisher of Navigator Books. "Our society and culture are hungry for new, in-depth perspectives on history in our fast-evolving mobile/social digital era, which AI is accelerating even further. We need a scalable, human-creativity-forward approach for publishers and authors to create meaningful books that are meant to be experienced at the speed humans can absorb them.
"There are many talented established and emergent authors who are frustrated by today's publishing landscape. Navigator Books is excited to join the new generation of innovative and dynamic author-centric independent book publishers seeking to transform the industry by addressing its legacy limitations. Navigator sees this moment as an opportunity to chart a new course, and will add unique value to the title creation process through early-stage collaborative ideation with our authors to kick off the writing and editing process strongly, both creatively and commercially. We'll be pairing our category focus on history writ large with a business model grounded in multi-book commitments to our authors, with established royalty and rights split standards that align with veteran agents. And we'll incorporate modern technologies—including the responsible usage of AI in operational execution—for the benefit of the ecosystem."
Writers House Founder Al Zuckerman Dies at 94
publishersweekly.com – Friday March 6, 2026
Al Zuckerman, founder of Writers House, one of publishing’s first modern literary agencies, died on March 5 from natural causes. He was 94.
Zuckerman began his agenting career “as a one-man shop, taking business meetings in a bank lobby,” Writers House wrote in announcing Zuckerman’s retirement as chairman emeritus in 2020. His working approach was that a literary agent should be a creative and business partner for writers—a relatively novel idea at the time that he launched the agency, in 1973.
Writers House now as over 20 agents and 50 employees and represents hundreds of authors. Zuckerman personally served as the agent for such mega-bestsellers as Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth, Michael Lewis’s Moneyball and Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time.
The Writers House list features such esteemed authors as Isabel Allende, Octavia Butler, James Clear, Jonathan Franzen, Amanda Gorman, John Green, Sarah J. Maas, Ann Martin, Stephenie Meyer, Christopher Paolini, Dav Pilkey, Nora Roberts, and Tui Sutherland.
New Publisher Listing: Wild Things Publishing Ltd
firstwriter.com – Friday March 6, 2026
Publishes guidebooks celebrating outdoor exploration, featuring walks, swims, cycles, runs, climbs and heritage routes, with a strong emphasis on nature, landscape discovery and lesser‑known places. Produces visually rich titles created by authors who research, write, photograph and map their subjects. Seeks strong ideas for beautiful new books connected to outdoor adventure, natural environments and experiential travel.
Now Open: The Queen's Commonwealth Writing Competition 2026
royalcwsociety.org – Thursday March 5, 2026
Theme: Common Ground: Better Together
The Commonwealth is one of the most diverse communities on earth. It stretches across continents and oceans, linking bustling cities, remote villages, small island states and vast nations. It encompasses countless languages, cultures, climates and lived experiences.
And yet, despite these differences, there is common ground.
The 2026 theme, Common Ground: Better Together, invites young writers to explore what unites us across the Commonwealth and how collaboration, understanding and shared purpose help us move forward together.
It’s about the connections that surprise us. The values that anchor us. The shared challenges that call us to act. And the hopes for the future.
Expert advice on how to a write a children's book
greatbritishlife.co.uk – Thursday March 5, 2026
Cheshire has produced generations of award-winning children’s authors, from Lewis Carroll to contemporary luminaries such as Alan Garner. Now, in World Book Day month, we discover what it takes to pen a hit for young readers.
For me, it’s Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree. My daughters opt for Dame Lynley Dodd’s unlikely canine hero, Hairy Maclary. Friends and family suggest other titles – Shirley Hughes’ We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Lauren Child’s Charlie and Lola, Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo, Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid, JK Rowling’s
Harry Potter. They’re all stories that endure – enthralling and inspiring young readers and making indelible marks on fresh imaginations in a way fiction rarely does as we mature.
In Warrington, international best-selling author Curtis Jobling traces his success back to childhood inspirations.
New Literary Agent Listing: Ariele Fredman
firstwriter.com – Wednesday March 4, 2026
Handles character‑driven commercial and upmarket fiction with a strong sense of place, including family drama, coming‑of‑age stories, mystery, thriller, suspense, romance, and novels exploring women’s inner lives that balance commercial appeal with literary depth. Seeks emotionally resonant narratives with tension among characters and plots that deliver a powerful final twist.
CASH PRIZE Of £5,000: Apply for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2027
globalsouthopportunities.com – Saturday February 28, 2026
Writers across the Commonwealth are invited to prepare for the 2027 edition of the prestigious Commonwealth Foundation Commonwealth Short Story Prize, an annual literary award that celebrates outstanding unpublished short fiction. Recognised globally, the prize offers a powerful platform for both emerging and established writers to showcase their storytelling talent on an international stage.
With a top cash award of £5,000, publication opportunities, and worldwide recognition, the 2027 Commonwealth Short Story Prize presents a valuable opportunity for writers seeking to expand their literary careers.
About the Commonwealth Short Story Prize
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is designed to spotlight exceptional storytelling from across the Commonwealth’s diverse member states. The competition is structured around five regional categories:
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