In a tightening market for fiction and especially for debut authors looking for that big break, editors can be choosier—and many are more dependent than ever on literary agents to find their next debuts.
PEN’s Jennifer Clement on ‘Gun Love’ and Women’s Rights
PEN International president Jennifer Clement’s fourth novel, ‘Gun Love,’ is focused on the United States’ firearm culture and is set in Florida. At London Book Fair, she focused on that and on challenges in women’s equality.
Industry Notes: Clinton and Patterson at BookCon; ‘One Book, One New York’ Returns
In New York-related notes, James Patterson and his first president-collaborator Bill Clinton are to speak at BookCon in June, while the city has begun voting which book it will ‘read togtether’ from a list of five.
From Dandelion Children’s Book House: Chinese Authors Gerelchimeg Blackcrane and Jiu Er on Creating Children’s Books
At the 2018 Bologna Book Fair, Chinese publisher Dandelion Children’s Book House organized a discussion between Gerelchimeg Blackcrane and illustrator Jiu Er on the creation of a new title called ‘Twelve Puppies’.
Hans Christian Andersen Award Winners Announced at Bologna
Russian illustrator Igor Oleynikov and Japanese author Eiko Kadono have won the 2018 Hans Christian Andersen Award, given by IBBY during the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
Four Festival Neue Literatur Writers on Belonging and Displacement
The 2018 Festival Neue Literatur just opened in New York City with German- and English-language writers and readers are coming together to debate this year’s theme of outsiders and insiders.
At Copenhagen’s Literary Festival Kbh Reads, Consumers See and Hear Editors at Work
Taking audiences behind the scenes of the editorial process, publishing house editors at the recent Kbh Reads festival showed how they handle their work—and an author’s.
Republic of Consciousness Prize Goes to Influx Press and Author Eley Williams
The Republic of Consciousness Prize–unique for dividing the award between publishers and authors—goes to Influx Press, a six-year-old house, and to author Eley Williams.
The ‘Profits From Publishing’ Debate: Is Author Pay Enough?
How profits from publishing are sliced up has become an industry debate in London, where agent Andrew Lownie and the Association of Authors’ Agents have joined the Society of Authors in asking for more transparency.
Three Ways PEN’s New Report Says China Is Compromising Free Expression
An extensively researched new report from PEN America examines China’s policy of ‘Internet sovereignty’ and its dangers to freedoms of expression, and it provides guidance to companies doing business in China.