Publishing
People & Publishing Roundup, July 2024
EUGEN BACON is the 2024 Hedberg Writer-In-Residence at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia, and will spend three months writing, teaching, and “taking part in community conversations.”
TED CHIANG is the winner of the 2024 PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story, which “recognizes writers who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in the short story form.” Chiang will be honored at the annual PEN/Malamud Award Ceremony on ...Read More
Read moreChanges at Augur
Kerry C. Byrne, CEO of Canadian magazine Augur and the more recently established Tales & Feathers, has announced a restructuring of the Augur Society organization, including magazine pay rates. Toria Liao has been named chief operating officer while longtime Augur co-editor-in-chief Terese Mason Pierre has been named chief program officer.
Augur Magazine and Tales & Feathers Magazine will combine teams and move away from an Editor-in-Chief model, delegating workload. Augur ...Read More
Read moreSLF Diversity Grants Submissions Open
Submissions for the Speculative Literature Foundation’s (SLF) Diverse Writers Grant and Diverse Worlds Grant are open through July 31, 2024.
Each grant awards a recipient $500. Diverse Writers “is intended to support speculative fiction writers from underrepresented and underprivileged groups” while Diverse Worlds “is intended for work that best presents a diverse world, regardless of the writer’s background.” Winners will be announced September 15, 2024.
The Speculative Literature Foundation is ...Read More
Read moreNew Apex Imprint: Violet Lichen
Apex Book Company has announced a new imprint, Violet Lichen Books, headed by editor-in-chief Marissa van Uden.
The imprint will publish horror and dark fiction novellas, with an emphasis on “New Weird, Weird, folk horror, eco-horror, and eco-science-fiction. It fully embraces the strange and uncanny, and its books aim to leave readers feeling a little changed and disquieted, as if they have just emerged from under a strange spell. Violet ...Read More
Read morePeople & Publishing Roundup, June 2024
SARAH GAILEY will be toastmaster at the 59th Annual Nebula Awards, to be presented June 8, 2024 in Pasadena CA.
ALI TROTTA is now represented by Eric Smith of P.S. Literary.
YIYUN LI’s Wednesday’s Child (Farrar, Straus, Giroux) and ED PARK’s Same Bed, Different Dreams (Random House) were finalists for the 2024 Pulitzer Prize in the Fiction category, given for “distinguished fiction published in book ...Read More
Read morePublishing News
Arnaud Lagardère, CEO of Lagardère SA (parent company of Hachette Book Group), was required to step down from his position after being charged with ‘‘vote buying, abuse of power and breach of trust, disseminating false or misleading information and failure to publish accounts.’’ He is under judicial supervision and was ordered to produce a bond of €200,000. The charges stem from an investigation into the battle for control of the ...Read More
Read moreLucas and Arthur Out at PRH
Penguin Random House has announced the removal of two of its most prominent publishers: Reagan Arthur, head of Alfred A. Knopf, and Lisa Lucas, who ran Pantheon and Schocken, are both out in a surprise restructuring.
Lucas, at least, didn’t see it coming, posting on social media that she learned of the dismissal on Monday morning, and adding, “I have some regrets about spending the weekend working.”
Knopf Doubleday president ...Read More
Read morePeople & Publishing Roundup, May 2024
MAGGIE SEKELLA is now represented by the John Jarrold Literary Agency.
DAVID LANGFORD won the Doc Weir Award, given to ‘‘someone in fandom who helps make things happen, contributing time, effort, ideas and support – often behind the scenes,’’ at Eastercon, held March 24 – April 1, 2024 in Telford, UK.
ZAIN KHALID, author of Brother Alive, is one of the National Book Foundation’s ‘‘5 ...Read More
Read moreApparition Lit to Close
Literary speculative fiction magazine Apparition Lit will close at the end of 2024.
The magazine was founded in 2017 by Rebecca Bennett, Clark Doty, Amy Robinson, and Tacoma Tomilson, who all served as senior editors.
In a post on Patreon, the editors thanked their staff and contributors, and explained, “It comes down to this: we’re tired and most of all, we miss writing for ourselves.”
Apparition Lit is no longer ...Read More
Read moreSF Caledonia Launched
Shoreline of Infinity has announced a spin-off publication, SF Caledonia, edited by founding publisher and editor Noel Chidwick. SF Caledonia will showcase “the often overlooked contributions by Scottish writers to the popular worlds of science fiction, speculative fiction and fantasy.” The new publica tion will initially re-publish public domain stories, and is also open to “all Scottish writers wishing to submit already published work.” Chidwick says,
From the start, we ...Read More
Read moreLee & Low Diversity Report
Lee & Low publishers have released their latest diversity survey, documenting ‘‘incremental’’ changes in the demographics of the publishing industry in North America. ‘‘We know institutional change takes time to bear fruit, which is why revisiting the survey every few years is so vital.’’ The survey reached out to executives and staff at 200 companies, including trade and academic presses, literary agencies, and review publications, and received over 8,600 responses. ...Read More
Read morePublishers Join Iowa Book Ban Lawsuit
Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, and Sourcebooks have joined a previously reported lawsuit opposing Iowa’s SF 496, a law that seeks to ban books depicting sex or involving gender identity or sexual orientation. They join existing plaintiffs Penguin Random House; the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA); authors Laurie Halse Anderson, John Green, Malinda Lo, and Jodi Picoult; three teachers; and a high school student.
“We as publishers are uniting ...Read More
Read morePeople & Publishing Roundup, April 2024
F.J. BERGMANN has been named Grand Master by the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association. The award is given to “an individual living at the time of selection whose body of work reflects the highest artistic goals of the SFPA, who has been actively publishing within the target genres of Science Fiction and Fantasy for a period of no fewer than 20 years, and whose poetry has been noted ...Read More
Read moreForbes 30 Greatest Book Series of All Time
Forbes contributors have released their list of the 30 greatest book series of all time, including the Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown (Del Rey), the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher (Penguin Random House), the Expanse series by James S.A. Corey (Orbit), The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin (Simon & Schuster), the Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson (Tor), and the Witcher Saga by Andrzej Sapkowski (Hachette).
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ALA Most Challenged Books of 2023
The American Library Association (ALA) has released their Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023, including some works and authors of genre interest:
- Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Jesse Andrews (Amulet Books)
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky (MTV Books)
- This Book Is Gay, Juno Dawson (Sourcebooks Fire)
- The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison (Vintage)
The ALA listed the top 10 most challenged ...Read More
Read moreSmall Press Distribution Shuts Down
Venerable book distributor Small Press Distribution has abruptly closed after 55 years in business, leaving scores of independent publishers without distribution — and without expected payments. The company posted an announcement about the closure on March 28, 2024:
It is with great sadness and a profound gratitude for the amazing literary community we have served that we must today announce that Small Press Distribution (SPD) is closing its doors effective ...Read More
Read morePeople & Publishing Roundup, March 2024
DAVID-CHRISTOPHER GALHEA is now represented via Ginger Clark Literary.
DANI RAANAN is now represented by the John Jarrold Literary Agency.
J. FEDERLE is now a client of Ginger Clark Literary.
SUSAN COOPER is the 40th recipient of the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award, presented via the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association. She will be honored June 6-9, 2024, at the 59th Nebula Awards Ceremony in ...Read More
Read morePatrick Nielsen Hayden Becomes Editor-at-Large
Patrick Nielsen Hayden is transitioning from VP, associate publisher, and editor-in-chief of Tor to editor-at-large for the Tor Publishing Group.
Publisher and president Devi Pillai says,
I’m thrilled to announce that Patrick Nielsen Hayden has assumed the title of Editor-at-Large for the Tor Publishing Group. With 35 years at the company, Patrick has long been a central part of TPG. He is responsible for publishing the debut novels of many ...Read More
Read moreBards and Sages to Close
Effective March 6, 2024, Bards and Sages Publishing has begun “the process of winding down.” This includes both Bards and Sages Quarterly and The Society of Misfit Stories and the book publishing program. Back issues of the magazines will remain on sale until the end of 2024, and then all back issues will be removed from sale, and all rights will revert to their respective authors and artists. Editor Julie ...Read More
Read moreYear’s Best African Speculative Fiction Call
The Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction Volume Three anthology is open to submissions until March 31, 2024, covering works originally published in 2023. The book will be published in late 2024 by Caezik SF & Fantasy. Editors for this volume are Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki & Chinaza Eziaghighala.
We welcome submissions of all reprint works of speculative fiction, from any genres and sub genres, including fantasy, dark fantasy, science fiction, horror ...Read More
Read moreBalzer + Bray Moves to Macmillan
Young Adult imprint Balzer + Bray is moving from HarperChildren’s to Macmillan Children’s, effective April 15, 2024. Founding editors Alessandra Balzer and Donna Bray will be senior vice-presidents and co-publishers at the new company.
The imprint was founded in 2009 at HarperCollins. Previously published titles, and new books currently under contract, will remain with HarperCollins, to be published under various imprints. No titles for the new incarnation have been announced ...Read More
Read morePeople & Publishing Roundup, February 2024
LESLYE PENELOPE is now represented by Arley Sorg of kt literary.
MEG ELISON is now represented by Arley Sorg of kt literary.
R.L. STINE and KATHERINE HALL PAGE have been named the 2024 Mystery Writers of America Grand Masters. MICHAELA HAMILTON of Kensington Publishing will receive the Ellery Queen Award. The recipients will be honored at the annual Edgar Awards ceremony on May 1, 2024 in New York ...Read More
Read moreOrbit Works Launch
Orbit’s new digital imprint, Orbit Works, has announced its first four titles, with the first to launch in Fall 2024.
The first Orbit Works title will be Sophia Slade’s Nightstrider, a dark fantasy about creatures with the ability to cross the boundary between the dream realm and the real world. Slade has previously independently published seven books, ranging from dark fantasy to poetry.
Nightstrider will be followed by Laura ...Read More
Read moreSoho Press Launches Horror Imprint
Independent publisher Soho Press has launched a new horror imprint, Hell’s Hundred:
Named after the once bleak, now chic New York City neighborhood of SoHo—formerly known as “hell’s hundred acres” for its grim industrial facades and deadly fires—Hell’s Hundred provides fertile ground for new nightmares to take root. From grisly and macabre to darkly humorous, Hell’s Hundred publishes bold visions of horror from voices new and established.
The line will ...Read More
Read morePublishing News
In early January, audiobook publisher Audible announced plans to lay off five percent of its workforce, likely around 100 staffers. CEO Bob Carrigan said in a memo that 2023 was a “strong year,” but that “to position us for continued success in the coming year and into the future, given the increasingly challenging landscape we face, we have to take this difficult decision now.”
While you are here, please take ...Read More
Read moreTor.com Rebranding as Reactor
Tor Publishing Group announced via press release that the Tor.com site will be rebranded as Reactor on January 23, 2024. The launch includes a redesigned website. According to the announcement,
The site has been publisher agnostic since its founding, and the new name will reflect its independence from Tor Publishing Group. The short fiction program will continue under the Reactor name, and in addition to the daily commentary on science ...Read More
Read morePRH Diversity Report
Penguin Random House has released their latest report on workforce demographics, with only small changes from last year. For nonwarehouse employees, 70.05% are white, 10.5% Asian, 9.45% Hispanic, 6.04% Black, and 2.92% bi- or multi-racial.
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color) employees account for 36.9% of entry-level employees, and 19.1% of executives. Overall, 73.75% of PRH employees are women, 24.94% men, and 1.32% nonbinary. In editorial, 36.8% of ...Read More
Read morePublishing News
Arnaud Lagardère is now chair and CEO of Hachette Livre, while remaining CEO of parent company Lagardere (which also owns Hachette Book Group and Hachette UK). He replaces Pierre Leroy, who will remain deputy CEO of Lagardere. Arnaud Lagardère says,
In light of the impending merger of the Lagardère group and Vivendi, I wanted to demonstrate my historical and deep-rooted attachment to the book trade, which the Lagardère family has ...Read More
Read moreSmall Beer Press Hiatus
Small Beer Press has announced that it will not open to submissions or publish any new books for the foreseeable future. Publisher Gavin Grant cited health complications from COVID-19 as the reason for the hiatus. He said, “In 2022 we only managed to publish two books. This year we published four and here at the end of the year I see how much these books missed the old me.”
Small ...Read More
Read morePeople & Publishing Roundup, December and January 2023
MILESTONES
JESMYN WARD’s Let Us Descend (Scribner) has been chosen by Oprah Winfrey as the next title for her Book Club. Winfrey said, “I have read all of Jesmyn Ward’s books and have been a fan of her writing for years. Let Us Descend is a vital work for our culture and I’m so excited to have her newest offering as part of our Book Club.”
NNEDI ...Read More
Read moreCait Corrain Controversy
This story was updated 12/13/23.
Author Cait Corrain’s 2024 debut novel Crown of Starlight was removed from Del Rey’s schedule today after Corrain was accused of creating numerous fake Goodreads accounts for the purpose of leaving negative reviews for other authors on the popular site. Corrain’s agent, Rebecca Podos of Rees Literary Agency, has also cut ties with the writer.
The “review bombing” was publicized last week by author Xiran ...Read More
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