Arts Journal - Words

American English Is Swallowing Up Britain, As The British Shrug And Say ‘Whatever’

WORDS Posted: August 1, 2017

 

“As we approach 2020, the American words the British invited into their homes are in danger of taking over. It has become possible to imagine a time – 2120 would seem a plausible and arithmetically neat guesstimate – when American English absorbs the British version completely. The child will have eaten its mother, but only because the mother insisted.” Peter Preston blames the telly TV and Netflix.

 

Read the story at The Guardian Published: 07.30.17

It Is A Truth Universally Acknowledged, That Jane Austen’s Most Famous Sentence Is Perfect For Riffing On

WORDS Posted: August 1, 2017

 

Geoff Nunberg: “If you’re looking to add a literary touch to your article on pension schemes or emergency contraceptives, you’re not going to get very far with ‘Call me Ishmael.’ But ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged’ is always available as an elegant replacement for ‘As everybody knows’ when you want to introduce some banal truism.”

 

Read the story at NPR Published: 07.25.17

68-Year-Old Writer Files Age Discrimination Complaint Against Iowa Writers’ Workshop

WORDS Posted: August 1, 2017

 

Workshop officials deny that age is used as a factor in the consideration of any application, according to the university’s emailed responses to Thomson. All applicants, instead, are evaluated based on their writing samples. Dan Thomson, however, maintains that application statistics collected by the university show that, over the past five years, none of the 105 applicants age 51 or older were accepted into the workshop’s fiction program. Nearly half of the 135 fiction students accepted from 2013 to 2017 were between the ages of 18 and 25.

 

 

Read the story at Iowa City Press-Citizen Published: 07.31.17

Off the Shelf

10 Pivotal Books on Feminism August 01, 2017 By Jesica Sweedler DeHart

 

It has now been several months since the historical women's marches circumnavigated the globe in solidarity that women's rights are human rights and that all issues are women's issues.  I have been traveling abroad since October and have turned to books to find a unifying dialogue and community. In my reading, I have discovered a surge in authentic voices of women telling their stories and paving the way for the next generation of feminists—male and female—to feel emboldened and accepted. I believe in the power of women's words and stories to change the direction of our domestic and global thinking. I invite you to dive into these pivotal books. READ MORE

 

Publishers Lunch

Today's Meal

Macmillan Finalizes Relocation to 120 Broadway for 2019

As first reported under consideration in April, Macmillan has now finalized a deal to relocate their offices to 120 Broadway in early 2019. Their lease in Flatiron Building was due to expire next year. The press release indicates Macmillan is taking four floors comprising 261,000 square feet of space for 20 years. They currently occupy about 176,00 square feet in the Flatiron for the trade division, but have offices elsewhere in city as well, primarily for the education group. The release says they will "relocate...from multiple locations" to the new space.

Chief operating officer Andrew Weber says in the announcement, "The move will be great for our people and our planned growth, and the architectural heritage of 120 Broadway means we will be moving from one of New York City's great iconic buildings to another." (That's about 4 blocks south of HarperCollins' office building, which was recently occupied by Harry Abrams as well.)

People, Etc.

Barbara Kline Pope will take over as director of the Johns Hopkins University Press this fall. She has been executive director of the National Academies Press since 1997, recently served as president of the Association of American University Presses, and has been on the management board at MIT Press. Previous director Kathleen Keane retired in April.

At Little, Brown, Ned Rust has been promoted to vice president and publisher for James Patterson, responsible for all aspects of the adult and children's publishing programs. Jenny Bak has been promoted to editorial director for the children's line, Jimmy Patterson Books.

Stephanie Buschardt has joined Houghton Mifflin Harcourt as publicist. Most recently, she was a contributor for Kirkus.

Mary Ellen Owens has been promoted to senior production manager for Random House Children's, while Shameiza Ally has been promoted to associate production manager.

Hachette Book Group national accounts manager Hector Martinez died of cancer on July 27 . He held his position for the last four years, and previously worked at Random House, Simon & Schuster, Follett Educational Services, and Santillana USA. Sophie Cottrell, svp of corporate communications for HBG, says: "Hector was a dear friend and valued colleague. His customers and colleagues adored him, and Hector cherished the people who made work so much more than a job. We will all miss Hector's kindness, good humor, and steadfast friendship."

Macmillan Learning CEO Ken Michaels will receive the Book Industry Study Group's Distinguished Service Award at their annual meeting in September. (He had been chair of BISG's board.)

At Fabled Films Press, Nicole Wheeler has been promoted to brand marketing and sales manager, while Gisselle Guillen joined as publicity and marketing manager. Previously, Guillen was public relations account manager for Rachel Litner Associates.

Distribution
IPG will distribute Quarto's new Spanish language imprint Quarto Iberoamericana, launching in October, in the US and Canada, and Editorial Gustavo Gili de Mexico will distribute in Mexico.

Funding
After rebrandifying themselves from Lost My Name to Wonderbly, the UK-based custom publisher announced the closing of a Series B funding round of $8.5 million, led by European puzzle and children's book publisher Ravensburger. Previous investors also participated, and the company has also lined up a venture debt facility from Silicon Valley Bank.

The company has now raised at least $21.5 million in venture capital, which sets a high bar of expectations. According to the most recent Companies House filing, in the year ending April 2016 they had sales of £19.4 million in the fiscal year ending April 2016, with an operating loss of £2.577 million. Wonderbly says they have sold over 2.7 million books worldwide so far. (Even before the latest round of funding, that's about $4.80 of venture capital per copy.)

Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day celebrates 20th anniversary with more than 100 events nationwide

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day offers its most ambitious and wide-ranging programme of events yet. On Friday August 25, the power of poetry will be unleashed and celebrated in communities all over New Zealand.

Announced today, this year’s packed programme features more than 100 dynamic and accessible events, workshops and competitions, featuring acclaimed poets, new voices, young writers, and poetry enthusiasts. From Slam Poetry to sonnets, from stages to pavements, poetry will be created and enjoyed in a myriad of venues around the country: cafes, bars, schools, university campuses, community centres, retirement villages, marae, libraries and theatres – as well as on buses, trains and ferries. 

In tandem with the many events taking place around New Zealand on August 25, is the publication of inaugural online poetry collection 20/20 – 40 poems by Kiwi poets. Featuring many of the nation’s most read and loved poets, including C. K. Stead and Tusiata Avia, 20/20 also showcases new voices that demand to be heard. Wanting to make poetry accessible to all New Zealanders, 20/20 will be free to download at website: http://www.nzbookawards.nz/national-poetry-day/20-20-collection/.

Among the many events taking place from Northland to Dunedin, are: Whangarei’s youth Wall of Words; Auckland’s The Divine Muses Poetry Reading, in the edifying company of 20/20 poets C. K. Stead, Simone Kaho and Paula Green, and Michael Giacon, Vana Manasiadis and Siobhan Harvey; live entertainment with comedy poetry troupe Theoradical Hobohemians, who perform at Shanghai Lil's on K Road; and Down South: Spoken Word and Rap Open Mic at MIT in Otara; Wellington’s ‘dropping words in to the sea’ at the National Library with Sea of Words – Your Words; Our Poets event; decorating a Poetry Fridge Door in Nelson; helping to build a Great Wall of Poetry in Christchurch; enjoying performance poetry with the multi-talented Ian Loughran in Wanaka; experiencing poetry live with illustrious Otago poets, including celebrated 20/20 poets Brian Turner and Jillian Sullivan at The Perfect 10: Poetry of the South in Dunedin. There will even be an international poetry event held at the Berlin Polish Club!

Can’t get to an event, but don’t want to miss out? Simply call or text The Poetry Phone hotline on 021.474.555 or 022.300.8164 (standard calling/txting rates apply) to have poems sent to you or a friend. Find out more here: https://ofa.carbonmade.com/projects/2346591.

For full information about all Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day events, including places, venues, times, tickets and more, go to: http://www.nzbookawards.nz/national-poetry-day/calendar-of-events/.

Established in 1997, National Poetry Day is about discovery, diversity, community and pushing boundaries. It is a one-day national poetry-event extravaganza held on the last Friday of August each year. This is the second year of National Poetry Day operating under the sponsorship of Phantom Billstickers.

Phantom Billstickers is a street poster company which has consistently helped New Zealanders express themselves since 1982. Phantom actively promotes New Zealand music, art, poetry and culture around the country and across the world. National Poetry Day is proudly administered by the New Zealand Book Awards Trust.

Invitation to the New Zealand Book Council Annual General Meeting

Just a reminder that the New Zealand Book Council Annual General Meeting will be held at the Book Council’s offices on Thursday 10th August 1.30-2pm.

We’d love you to join us! If you would like to attend the AGM please RSVP by email to reception@bookcouncil.org.nz or phone us on 04 909 7716 asap.

The Book Council offices are located on the Ground floor, 79 Boulcott Street, Wellington.

Our audited accounts and annual report for 2016 will be available to view on our website following the AGM.

Thanks to all the grandmothers…

   

 

The Women's Suffrage Petition, Te Petihana Whakamana Pōti Wahine 1893

1993 stands out in my memory for two reasons – the centenary of women’s suffrage in New Zealand, and discovering a fact about one of my grandmothers. The two are connected.
    I was in Wellington attending the centenary celebrations and took the opportunity to view the petition documents at National Archives. On the database I tapped in family names, and there she was. My paternal grandmother, Mary Aberhart, who had just turned 21 years old, had signed the 1893 petition. I spent the rest of the weekend in a state of elation – and the continuing glow has remained over the intervening years.
   Even though I didn’t have the pleasure of growing up knowing her, she has been my, and indeed the family’s, heroine since.
     It is entirely proper that such an important event as the granting of women’s right to vote continues to be celebrated. Now, just short of a century and a quarter on, comes this book.
    An introduction by Barbara Brookes, Professor of History at University of Otago, is informative and very readable – providing a handy summary of the history of voting in this country
      The petition itself is explained – how a group of stalwart women distributed hundreds of printed sheets throughout the country, collected 24,000 signatures, and put the sheets together to form a roll 274 metres long.
      The bulk of the book’s 102 pages give brief accounts of 162 women who signed the history-making document, with facsimiles of selected sheets bearing approximately 1300 signatures. Care has been taken to include each geographical area where the petition was circulated.
      Whether you’re as fortunate as our family is to have our heroine included (see page 56), or not, this is a great record of all those grandmothers, great grandmothers, great aunts and great-greats who had the foresight, the strength, and the opportunity to add their name. They are all, rightly, remembered in this nation’s history.

---

Flaxflower Review by Bronwyn Elsmorewhose grandmother is also honoured at https://vimeo.com/28974581
​

Title: The Women's Suffrage Petition, Te Petihana Whakamana Pōti Wahine 1893
Editors: Jane Parkin, Nancy Swarbrick, Caren Wilton
Publisher: Bridget Williams Books in conjunction with National Library and Archives New Zealand.
ISBN: 9781988533087
RRP: $29.99
Available: Bookshops

The most read stories of the past week on The Bookseller

The most read stories of the week View this email online

 

 

Our round-up of the most read stories of the past week on The Bookseller: 1. Is the e-book a dead format? 2. Bookseller's debut longlisted for Man Booker Prize 3. O'Neill to release 'dazzling' feminist retelling of The Little Mermaid 4. Saqi Books joins calls for airline to apologise to detained woman 5. BBC unveils UK's biggest poetry festival 6. The Lido makes waves with film deal 7. Fourth Estate wins teacher's debut novel at auction 8. Pascoe to explore male physiology in second Faber book 9. Wicks dominates print in Amazon Summer Trends report 10. Tom Hanks to appear in UK-exclusive Southbank event

 

Off the Shelf

Read These Books Before You Watch The Dark Tower Movie July 31, 2017 By Chris Gaudio

 

It was a simple concept: a single man must confront evil and destroy it for the sake of his own life and all life around him. But few, perhaps not even the writer himself, thought that such a tale would resonate in the literary world for decades to come. That magical tale is Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, a breathtaking epic of immense proportions, centered around one of the most memorable protagonists in modern literature. READ MORE

 

Publishers Lunch

Today's Meal

People, Etc.

Mondadori has appointed Maria B. Campbell Associates UK as their UK scout, starting August 1.

Tina Brown and Harold Evans hosted a memorial party honoring the late Ed Victor, in accordance with his wishes, covered by the NYT.

Pulitzer winner for "Buried Child" and author of forty-four plays, plus many books of short stories, essays, and memoirs Sam Shepard, 73, has died.

PBS announced a new eight-part TV series, The Great American Read, to launch in Spring 2018. The series will featured 100 of America's best-loved books, selected by the public and an advisory panel of literary professionals. Six episodes of the series will be structured around themes including Being American, Heroes, Growing Up, What We Do for Love, and more. The show will debut in May with a two hour episode and run through the summer.

Bookselling
A new book store, Bibliobar will open in the North Dallas area in Spring 2018, a brick-and-mortar expansion of online book subscription service MyBookBox. Owners Jessica Tresp, Chelsea Green, and Colin Green plan to have an inventory of 5,000 adult and children's books and host events. Chelsea Green previously worked at Harper Collins, and was a bookseller for seven years prior to that.

          

The Bookseller

Pullman calls for reintroduction of fixed book prices Philip Pullman has called for a reintroduction of a minimum price for books to protect independent bookshops, calling them “the lantern bearers of civilisation”.

Agents' trade strong but publishers demand more Advances for psychological thrillers 'plateau' as agents fear market is becoming more crowded.

Chain bookshops see upward curve across the globe Anja Sieg looks at how booksellers across the world are upping their game.

Curtis Brown leads the way in dealmaking as new lists thrive The UK’s biggest literary agency, Curtis Brown, tops our rights league table for the first half of 2017, doubling the reported deals of the next biggest firm.

Octopus wins Official Love Island Guide after auction Hamlyn, part of Octopus Publishing Group, has acquired the official book of ITV2’s "Love Island" following a "hotly contested" auction.

MJ signs Swedish bestseller in six-figure deal Michael Joseph has welcomed Swedish bestseller Fredrik Backman to its list in a six-figure deal.

S&S argues Yiannopoulos 'accepted' end of contract by failing to return advance Simon & Schuster US has claimed that by failing to return its advance or respond with “protest or reservation”, Milo Yiannopoulos accepted the cancellation of his book contract, according to reports.

Indie duo introduce new children's offering Independent houses Thames & Hudson and Darf Publishers are introducing new strands of children’s publishing to their lists.

Harari's Sapiens hits one million mark The English-language edition of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari (Vintage) has sold one million copies worldwide, the publisher has revealed.

Lost My Name becomes 'Wonderbly' Publishing start-up Lost My Name has changed its name to Wonderbly.

Handmaids hit London ahead of series finale Handmaids descended on London to mark the finale of Channel 4's popular television series adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale (Vintage).

Twenty years of Buffy celebrated in new Boxtree book Pan Macmillan imprint Boxtree is publishing a new unauthorised oral history of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and its spin-off "Angel", called Slayers and Vampires, to mark the 20th anniversary of the original cult '90s TV show.