Latest News from The Bookseller

Canongate 'confident' as profit rises 7.5% Canongate experienced another “solid” year in 2016 which saw its turnover rise marginally to £8.5m, including an “encouraging” 6% increase in backlist sales which "bodes well" for the long-term health of the business, its chief executive Jamie Byng said.

Usborne pulps puberty book following criticism Usborne Publishing has revealed it will pulp the remaining stock of Growing Up for Boys following criticism over the 2013 title’s claim that girls have breasts “to look grown-up and attractive”.

BA's Christmas catalogue print run up 13% The print run for the Booksellers Association and Nielsen Book’s 2017 Christmas Books catalogue is up 13% with over a quarter of a million copies printed overall.

Trapeze launches single parent writing competition Trapeze, Gingerbread and The Pool are launching a new writing competition to find an aspiring writer who will celebrate single parent families.

Unbound's Lewis longlisted for Glass Bell Award Unbound editor Beth Lewis is up against Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Colson Whitehead for the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award 2017 celebrating contemporary fiction published the previous year.

Jessie Greengrass' 'moving' first novel to John Murray John Murray is publishing Jessie Greengrass’s first novel, Sight, in February 2018.

All-female Lord of the Flies adaptation sparks backlash A new adaptation of Lord of the Flies has drawn widespread criticism on social media for reimagining William Golding’s 1954 novel with a major twist - looking at what would happen if all those shipwrecked on the island were girls.

Sitters becomes junior agent at David Godwin Associates Philippa Sitters, previously assistant editor at David Godwin Associates Ltd, has been promoted to junior agent at the agency, where she will now build her own list.

DHH Literary Agency to hold second pitching round DHH Literary Agency is holding its second round of pitching sessions for unrepresented writers in November.

Byrne and Chok join Jhalak Prize judges Authors Sunny Singh and Catherine Johnson are returning to the judging panel for the second Jhalak Prize for Book of the Year By a Writer of Colour, joined by fellow writers Noo Saro-Wiwa, Tanya Byrne and Vera Chok.

Folio celebrates history with V&A exhibition The Folio Society is to celebrate 70 years of history with an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Constable acquires Russell's 'Gothic masterpiece' Constable has acquired two standalone titles from award-winning crime writer Craig Russell, the first of which, Where the Devil Hides, is set in a castle-top asylum for the criminally insane in 1930s Czechoslovakia.

Arts Journal - Words

Can We Consider Some Speech Violence?

WORDS Posted: September 1, 2017 12:28 pm

“For people who occupy positions of power in society, there may not be a single word they would ever consider violence. But that doesn’t mean other people can’t legitimately experience some speech as violence. And when people say they do experience language as violence, it’s not because they’ve confused speech with physical assault; it’s because the language-game in which the speech-act takes place is different.”

 

Read the story at JSTOR Daily Published: 08.30.17

Mary Shelley Didn’t Just Invent The Science-Gone-Wrong Genre, She Also Pioneered Post-Apocalyptic Fiction In English

WORDS Posted: September 1, 2017 9:05 am

Frankenstein was not her only groundbreaking novel; in 1829, she published The Last Man, depicting England circa 2100 as a post-plague dystopia. “As with Frankenstein, Shelley was playing on some very real anxieties in Industrial Revolution-era society – anxieties that live on to the present day. And, just like with Frankenstein, she got flack for it.”

 

Read the story at Smithsonian Magazine Published: 08.30.17

Publishers Lunch

Today's Meal

September Bookseller Picks

Gabriel Tallent's My Absolute Darling is Amazon's spotlight pick for September (though it actually published Tuesday of this week), and Ali Land's Good Me Bad Me* is their featured debut. The rest of their top picks for the month, which include 4 titles you can sample now in our free Buzz Books*, are:

Sourdough*, by Robin Sloan
Little Fires Everywhere*, by Celeste Ng
The Golden House, by Salman Rushdie
Draft No. 4: On the Writing Process, by John McPhee
Sing, Unburied, Sing, by Jesmyn Ward
Ranger Games, by Ben Blum
The Burning Girl, by Claire Messud
A Legacy of Spies, by John le Carré
Coming to My Senses, by Alice Waters
The Twelve-Mile Straight*, by Eleanor Henderson

Barnes & Noble's top fiction list for the month also recommends the books by Ng, Rushdie, and Ward, along with:

A Column of Fire, by Ken Follett
The Girl Who Takes An Eye For An Eye, by David Lagercrantz
Sleeping Beauties, by Stephen King and Owen King
To Be Where You Are, by Jan Karon
Love and Other Consolation Prizes, by Jamie Ford
The Ninth Hour, by Alice McDermott
The Vengeance of Mothers, by Jim Fergus
The Best Kind of People, by Zoe Whittall
Dinner at the Center of the Earth, by Nathan Englander

Plus, use this link for our full list of notable titles releasing in September.

People, Etc.

At Workman, Rebecca Carlisle has been promoted to director of publicity for the Workman imprint, with Moira Kerrigan moving up to director of marketing there. Danny Cooper, Evan Griffith, and Rachael Mt. Pleasant each move up to associate editor. Amy Kattan joins as marketing manager for Artisan Books. Previously she was digital marketing manager for Simon & Schuster.

Forthcoming
Another excerpt from Hillary Clinton's forthcoming What Happened was posted by Bustle. This excerpt focuses on the creation of Clinton's political action organization Onward Together and recommends ways to get involved.

Bookselling
Nashville's Parnassus Books, owned by Ann Patchett and Karen Hayes, opened a location in the Nashville airport. The 915-square-foot store offers "the latest fiction and nonfiction releases, a wide range of bestsellers and favorites, plus local and regional titles and staff recommendations."

Storm Relief
Chronicle Books held an "old-fashioned bake sale" to benefit the victims of Hurricane Harvey. They'll match the $2,600 raised for a $5,200 donation split between the Red Cross and the Hurricane Harvey relief fund.

Allen Curnow Biography Launch Invitation

Auckland University Press warmly invites you to celebrate the publication of two books chronicling the life and work of Allen Curnow – Simply by Sailing in a New Direction. Allen Curnow: A Biography by Terry Sturm, edited by Linda Cassells, and Allen Curnow: Collected Poems, edited by Elizabeth Caffin and Terry Sturm.

Please RSVP to press@auckland.ac.nz by 15 September

Event Details:
5.30 – 7.30pm, 29 September
The University of Auckland
Gus Fisher Gallery, 74 Shortland St, Auckland

Both books and the limited slipcase edition will be available on the night for purchase.

A symposium on the life and work of Allen Curnow will be held on the following day, Saturday 30 September.

WRITERS ON MONDAYS

Victor Rodger and friends

We are thrilled to have acclaimed playwright Victor Rodger as the Victoria University / Creative New Zealand Writer in Residence for 2017.

Victor has assembled a panel of writers to explore how the work of others can inspire and challenge. Join Mitch Tawhi Thomas, Moana Ete, Jamie McCaskill and Faith Wilson in conversation about creative communities.

DATE:   Monday 4 September
TIME:    12.15-1.15pm
VENUE:  Te Papa Marae

The Writers on Mondays events are open to the public and free of charge.

Storylines National Festival Story Tour directly to schools and libraries throughout New Zealand.

1 September 2017               The STORYLINES NATIONAL FESTIVAL STORY TOUR has reached 15,000 kids so far this year!    and from 11-15 September Juliette MacIver, Apirana Taylor, Gareth Ward and Melinda Szymanik bring the magic to Nelson and Blenheim

 

After 23 years of hosting Festival Family Days throughout New Zealand, the Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand is this year bringing its Storylines National Festival Story Tour directly to schools and libraries throughout New Zealand. The Storylines National Festival Story Tour will visit community venues and facilities in metropolitan and regional centres, smaller cities and towns, extending Storylines’ regional reach to communities that have not previously had access to their central city-based Family Days. And from September 11-15, this inaugural, dynamic tour of presentations and storytelling, which has already entertained 15,000+ children in Northland, South Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty, is coming to Nelson and Blenheim. Taking part in this leg are well known children’s authors Juliette MacIver, Apirana Taylor, Gareth Ward and Melinda Szymanik. These four storytellers will be entertaining school children at 22+ schools, five libraries  and one pre-school. There will also be two evening events for adults, sponsored by the NZ Book Council. The first will feature Apirana Taylor at Takaka Library for Maori Language Week on Tuesday 12th, followed by Storylines’ Rosemary Tisdall at Springlands School Hall on Thursday 14th.  After Blenheim and Nelson the tour moves onto schools and libraries in the Queenstown/Invercargill regions Dr. Libby Limbrick, Chair of the Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand says “The Storylines National Festival Story Tour which started in May this year in Northland is proving very effective.  It’s been a joy to see how taking activities that promote young people’s active engagement with children’s literature directly into schools and community centres has been so well received, and we are looking forward to bringing this experience to many more children across New Zealand this year.” The aim of the Storylines Festival Story Tour is to connect children's writers, illustrators, poets and storytellers with their readers and audiences, to enjoy books and reading, and to encourage literacy. The tour and programme is completely free to enable access to all to high quality New Zealand children's literature.

 

NELSON AND BLENHEIM REGION TOUR ITINERARY For full details of venues and times in your area, please contact: Lorraine@lighthousepr.co.nz or Vicki Cunningham, events@storylines.org.nz  Monday 11 September Nelson schools and Tasman District Library Tuesday 12 September   Motueka and Takaka schools and libraries + Evening Adult Event - Takaka Library Apirana Taylor Maori Language Week 5.30 - 6.30pm Wednesday 13 September Riwaka, Brooklyn, Ngatimoti, Dovedale and Upper Moutere schools Thursday 14 September Blenheim schools + Evening Adult Event - Springlands School Hall There’s a Story in All of Us, with Rosemary Tisdall 7.00 - 8.30pm Friday 15 September Blenheim and Nelson schools and libraries AUTHOR WEBSITES Juliette MacIver: Link Apirana Taylor: Link Gareth Ward: Link Melinda Szymanik: Link  Storylines is delighted that the Storylines National Festival Story Tour will expand its work into new regions, celebrate and promote writers and illustrators of New Zealand children’s literature, and continue Storylines’ aims of: •    nurturing a love of reading and writing by young people of all ages in a range of genres: fiction, non-fiction, graphic, oral and digital; •    supporting the work and professional development of New Zealand’s writers and illustrators of books for children and young people; •    developing an appreciation of the power of children's literature in supporting the development of cultural identity and literacy in children and young adults throughout New Zealand.  http://www.storylines.org.nz

Issue 119 - New Zealand Books

Issue 119 of New Zealand Books Pukapuka Aotearoa is brought to you in living colour and a brand new format, but still with its familiar bonanza of smart people writing about important local books: Christopher Pugsley and Jon Johansson review Hit and Run, Simon Upton looks over prime ministers past, Anne Kennedy considers Damien Wilkins's latest, Phillip Mann ponders James McNaughton's futuristic dystopia, and Elizabeth Crayford surveys innovative writing by Pasifika women.

 

The Roundup with PW

Profits at PRH Rise, on Small Sales Gain, in First Half of 2017
Strong print and audio sales at Penguin Random House countered soft e-book sales to increase revenue 1.1% in the first half of the year. Earnings at the publisher rose 11.4%. more »

Texas Teacher Launches Hurricane Harvey Book Club to Help Children
A second-grade teacher living in a Houston suburb has launched a virtual book club, asking children to post videos of themselves reading aloud, to distract other children affected by Hurricane Harvey. more »

Chicken Soup for the Resistance
A new collection from Chicken Soup for the Soul, 'My Kind (of) America,' which published earlier this week, tells stories of kindnesses shared between many diverse people in America. more »

Thurber Prize for American Humor 2017 Finalists Announced
Books by Trevor Noah, Ken Pisani, and Aaron Thier are shortlisted for the award, which will be presented in New York City on October 2. more » »

Cartoonist Stops Racist Kids' Book: The creator of Pepe the Frog, a cartoon repurposed as a hate symbol, has stopped the distribution of a children’s book featuring the frog.

Young Quebec Publishers Take Risks: The francophone side of Quebec publishing is undergoing a renaissance—and finding new readers.

A Book for Botany-Loving Hobbits: The botanist Walter Judd has created a book that examines the many plants and trees that J.R.R. Tolkien used in his novels.

Being a Writer on Social Media: What can authors do when news of their book's impending publication garners way more attention than the writing itself?

Kōbō Abe’s Sand Dunes Are Our Own: For Electric Literature's "Late to the Party" series, 'PW' associate editor John Maher reads 'The Woman in the Dunes' for the first time.

VIEW ALL »
 

Remembering the People's Princess

August 31, 2017
By ELIZABETH BREEDEN

Few exist in the world’s collective memory with as much grace, class, and humanity as the late Princess of Wales. Diana was the people’s princess even before the world watched with horror as news broke of her tragic death. She was beloved by millions and adored around the world—but truly known by only a select few. She kept her private life a closely guarded secret, her crumbling marriage and medical disorders hidden away from the British public for as long as she could. Then, in 1991, she agreed to work with biographer Andrew Morton to tell her story, and everything changed.
READ MORE

Publishers Lunch

Today's Meal
People, Etc.

At Random House Children's, Stephanie McKinley has been promoted to senior digital developer; Kelly Mcgauley is now senior marketing manager, trade marketing; Mallory Matney moves up to associate manager, marketing operations and consumer show; and Alissa Nigro has been promoted to marketing associate, trade marketing.

At Chronicle Books, Taylor Norman has been promoted to editor for children's. Jamie Real has joined as assistant managing editor for children's (she was managing director for Litquake); Sandy Frank has joined as junior designer.

Daniel O'Brien has joined the American Booksellers Association staff as a member relationship manager, serving the SIBA, SCIBA, NCIBA, PNBA, and MPIBA regions. He takes over from Nathan Halter, who left the organization in July.

R. Todd Smith has joined VitalSource as manager of campus store partnerships. A longtime bookseller, he was director of campus store services at Clayton State University, and served on the board of the National Association of College Stores.

Cecile B Literary Agency will handle the translation rights for the recently-formed Bankoff Collaborative.

Obituaries
Founder of Hay House, Louise Hay, 90, died on Wednesday of natural causes. The company says, "Louise was an incredible visionary and advocate. Everyone who had the privilege to meet her, either in person or through her words, felt her passion for serving others." They report that over 50 million copies of her book You Can Heal Your Life have been sold worldwide. Her estate, including future royalties, will be donated to The Hay Foundation, which supports diverse organizations supplying food, shelter, counseling, hospice care, and funds to those in need.

Susan Vreeland, 71, author of novels including Girl in Hyacinth Blue, died on Monday.

"Bestsellers"
USA Today is standing on listing Lani Sarem's Handbook for Mortals as a "bestseller," though the title drops to No. 113 on their list this week, after debuting at No. 34 there a week ago.

Finance
Barnes & Noble Education closed Wednesday's trading down 18 percent for the day, dropping $1.23 a share, following a larger than expected loss. The stock continued its slide, declining another 5 percent, in early Thursday trading

Arts Journal - Words

The Onion And Satire In The Age Of Fake News


The Onion And Satire In The Age Of Fake News
“If someone doesn’t recognise the joke we’re making, then that’s a whole lot of labour lost. We aim never to trick people but rather to train them to see the world as we see it. In a world infested by ‘fake news’, the intention [and subsequent execution] is everything.”


Email this to someoneShare on FacebookTweet about this on Twitter
Read the story at The Guardian Published: 08.30.17


NYT Bestseller For A Day – The Rise And Fall Of A Book Few Had Heard Of


NYT Bestseller For A Day – The Rise And Fall Of A Book Few Had Heard Of
Lani Sarem’s “Handbook for Mortals” improbably topped the NYT Bestseller list last week. Then booksellers called foul, and the book was removed from the list. When Sarem saw the tweets circulating about her book, “my first thought was to just ignore it. It was just a couple of — you know, in my mind — silly tweets.” But as the day stretched on, and as she says neither Stamper nor West reached out to her personally, she reached a different conclusion: “I’m being cyberbullied, basically.”


Read the story at NPR Published: 08.26.17

Latest from The Bookseller

A famous 5: Jamie roars back to number one
The starting pistol for the race to Christmas number one has sounded and Jamie Oliver is out of the blocks early, with his 5 Ingredients: Quick and Easy Food (Michael Joseph) shifting just under 37,000 units through Nielsen BookScan's Total Consumer Market in its first two days on sale.





Usborne apologises after puberty book sparks social media backlash
Usborne Publishing has apologised and will revise the content of one of its books after it suggested that girls have breasts “to look grown-up and attractive”.


S&S pledges help for libraries and retailers struck by Hurricane Harvey
Simon & Schuster US has pledged to help libraries and retailers hit by the flooding from 'catastrophic' Hurricane Harvey.


Thames & Hudson scoops Campbell's first children's book
Thames & Hudson will publish author, poet and vlogger Jen Campbell’s first children’s title, a “bookshop-themed picture book”, about a friendship between a young bibliophile and a dragon.


Prue Leith cooks up new publishing with Quercus
New "Great British Bake Off" judge, restaurateur Prue Leith, is publishing a revised and updated version of her memoirs Relish with Quercus.


Quadrille founder Cathie steps down
Alison Cathie, founder and former m.d. of Quadrille, has stepped down completely from the company to focus on her charitable interests.

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Senior role at Springer Nature for Vrancken Peeters
Wolters Kluwer regional m.d. Frank Vrancken Peeters is to join Springer Nature next week in the newly created role of chief commercial officer.


Hoxton and PRH in first-time partnership for photography series
Penguin Random House imprint Particular Books and Hoxton Mini Press are partnering on a new series of "Really Good Photography" books.


Sweet Cherry doubles staff and moves office
Leicester-based children’s publisher Sweet Cherry has expanded its team and moved into a new, larger office to support its growing list.


Examination of Boris Johnson's 'built legacy' to Repeater
Repeater is to publish Nincompoopolis: The Follies of Boris Johnson, a new book by writer and architect Douglas Murphy examining the built legacy of Boris Johnson's tenure as Mayor of London.



Two-book deal for R&J competition winner Frear
Bonnier Zaffre, part of Bonnier Publishing, has acquired two more novels from debut author Caz Frear, winner of its 'Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller' competition.


Memorial to celebrate Siewcharran scheduled for September
A memorial to celebrate the life of Mo Siewcharran will be held on 29th September in Twickenham, London.