New York academic to open London's 'first co-working space for writers'
thebookseller.com – Thursday September 19, 2019
American academic Sharon Fulton will launch Clean Prose, "London’s first co-working space designed specifically for writers", next month.
The newly revedeveloped three-floor property will open its doors to founding members on 1st October, before its official launch on 24th October in artistic collaboration with the cultural anthology Postscript to create a unique photoshoot and literary panel.
“Located in the heart of Shoreditch and Old Street at 2 Charlotte Road, the three-storey building offers a different atmosphere on each floor,” according to academic-turned-entrepreneur Fulton.
Fulton, who studied and taught at Columbia University in New York for her PhD and Post-Doc, said: “I finished teaching there in 2016 and tutoring and teaching all over New York, in libraries as well, I wanted to keep teaching literature. I am looking for something but found writing by myself quite isolating. I would write ‘out’ in the Southbank Centre or a library but it’s frustrating because you don’t meet other writers in this way. I love London but there was nothing like this in London. I had this idea of opening a co-working space for writers and wanted it to be more than co-working so I developed this idea of it having more than one storey.”
David A Goodman Re-Elected WGA President, Agency Standoff Likely to Continue
thewrap.com – Tuesday September 17, 2019
The Writers Guild of America will stay the course on its ongoing fight against top Hollywood agencies and packaging fees, as its membership has reelected President David A. Goodman to another term after a heavily contested campaign against challenger Phyllis Nagy.
It was a landslide victory for Goodman, receiving 77% of 5,677 votes counted with 4,395 votes to Nagy’s 1,292. He will continue to serve alongside Executive Director David Young, Vice President Marjorie David, and new Secretary-Treasurer Michele Mulroney, who has previously served as a board and negotiating committee member.
Book publisher Gomer Press to 'wind down' publishing arm
uk-wales-49652287 – Wednesday September 11, 2019
One of Wales' largest publishing houses is to "wind down" publishing new works to focus on printing, its bosses say.
Gomer Press, set up in 1892 and based in Ceredigion, has about 3,500 titles in print in English and Welsh.
It said the decision followed a strategic review, "thus ensuring the future" of its 55 employees, but authors called it a "sad" move.
Gomer said it would continue working with authors and the Books Council of Wales to publish scheduled titles.
CAA Hires Cindy Uh As Agent In Books Department
deadline.com – Tuesday September 10, 2019
Cindy Uh has joined CAA as an Agent in the Books department.
Uh moves to CAA following a four-and-a-half-year stint at Thompson Literary Agency, where she represented a range of nonfiction authors in the categories of memoir, politics, food, business, health and wellness, and lifestyle.
She has also consistently been ranked one of the top agents for illustrated/art projects.
How (and Why) We're Celebrating 'World Kid Lit Month' in 2019
bookriot.com – Sunday September 8, 2019
Translations have always been a part of children’s literature. Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales were translations. Pippi Longstocking, Asterix, and The Little Prince are among the world’s most popular children’s titles—in their originals and in translation. But while English language children’s literature boomed at the beginning of this century, the space for new and genre-shaking translations shrank. Translated titles for young readers do continue to appear, of course. But they often adhere to English language publishing conventions, and most come from Western Europe.
Yet in the last few years, publishers have turned with renewed interest to diverse children’s literature in translation. Many new kidlit imprints have launched with a focus on international literature. The publishers are as diverse as Pushkin Press, Archipelago, Seven Stories, and Amazon Crossing. To encourage this process, in September 2016, book activists launched the first “World Kid Literature Month.”
All through the month, we celebrate and promote literature for young readers in translation—particularly from beyond Europe.
Indies dominate CWA shortlist for best crime and mystery publisher
thebookseller.com – Monday September 2, 2019
Indie presses dominate the six-strong shortlist for the inaugural Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Dagger for the Best Crime and Mystery Publisher of the Year.
Faber will go head to head with fellow indies Oldcastle Books imprint No Exit Press, Orenda Books, Pushkin Vertigo and Bloomsbury imprint Raven.
HarperCollins scores two nominations with Harper Fiction and HQ both in the running for the award that is first new Dagger category created in over a decade.
Publisher E-Book Revenue Decreased In First Half Of 2019
ellenduffer – Thursday August 29, 2019
A familiar story is told by recent statistics released by the Association of American Publishers: e-book revenues continue to decrease for many in the industry.
According to AAP's publisher revenue report, based on 1,360 participating publishers' figures, e-book revenues decreased in the first six months of calendar 2019 by 3.8% over the same period in 2018. E-books were one of only two format categories that saw revenue decreases in this period (the other category being physical audio).
How the UK production boom is changing the way London’s literary agents are doing business
screendaily.com – Friday August 23, 2019
UK literary agents are navigating an unprecedented boom in UK production, with demand for their writing and directing clients at fever pitch.
“My clients are so busy at the moment,” said one literary agent at a major London agency. “Everyone is scrambling around to hire [the best talent], it’s very difficult for producers to get to them.”
The majority of the growth is in the high-end TV sector, the production of which tends to tie up clients for much longer than film. (The inward investment feature boom is doing a good job on its own of employing UK actors and crew). Netflix alone said it has has shot some 40 productions in the UK this year, while the major broadcasters are responding to the competition from the US streamers by making increasingly larger-scope series.
Capital Crime launches New Voices Award
thebookseller.com – Friday August 16, 2019
Capital Crime festival will host the inaugural New Voices Awards to champion the next generation of talent in the crime and thriller community next month.
In association with D H H Literary Agency, the awards will give entrants the chance to have three opening chapters of their debut novel read by agents, publishers and readers, who will then vote for their favourites.
Capital Crime co-founder and D H H founder David Headley, said: "At D H H we’re always on the lookout for talented new authors. The New Voices Award is an exciting competition that gives readers the power to help identify new talent. It promises to be a brilliant platform for aspiring writers."
DHH agents to hit Liverpool for author pitch event
thebookseller.com – Saturday August 10, 2019
DHH Literary Agency will host an event in Liverpool allowing aspiring authors to pitch their work direct to its team.
From 10am on 26th August, until 6pm on 4th October, writers are invited to apply by email for a chance to pitch to one of the agents on 7th December in Liverpool.
Get the free newsletter | Submit a news item or article | Get Writers' News for your website
