News & Updates - May 2022
Check out the Policy Advisory Committee's May monthly column, "News & Updates," rounding up news and articles of importance to writers.
Spotlight
Our biggest spotlight of the day is AAP’s annual meeting on Monday, May 9th. They reminded their audience of the organization’s current core values and the challenges facing the publishing industry.
This is a very informative read on the pitfalls writers and publishers encounter in our “cancel culture” environment.
Please read further by going to: https://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2022/05/aap-meeting-highlights-challenges-to-books-and-copyright/
From the Ravages of War Comes Ukranian Poetry
From the ravages of war, comes a beautiful symphony of poetry. Director of an independent nonprofit poetry press, Lost Horse Press, based out of Washington State, honors Ukrainian ancestry by publishing Ukrainian poets. Christine Lysnewycz Holbert, the daughter of a Ukrainian refugee, established the Lost Horse Press Contemporary Ukrainian Poetry Series several years ago and has published 10 books in this series.
To read more, go to: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/international-book-news/article/89247-war-sparks-interest-in-ukrainian-poetry.htmlhttps://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/international-book-news/article/89247-war-sparks-interest-in-ukrainian-poetry.html
Previews & Debut Fiction
Buzz Books has launched their 2022: Fall/Winter sampler, with excerpts from an array of great forthcoming literary and debut fiction. Download a copy from NetGalley or Edelweiss, or find the consumer editions at their main Buzz Books website.
Plagiarism
Jumi Bello’s essay, “I Plagarized Parts of My Debut Novel” has been pulled and all metadata removed from online booksellers. Her debut novel The Leaving was also cancelled by Riverhead over plagiarized passages.
This is unfortunate. Plagiarism is a serious infraction.
Sales and Acquisitions
University of Georgia Press
This Georgia press announced acquisition of NewSouth Books, which was founded in 2000 and based in Montgomery, Alabama. It catalogs over 400 titles. Publisher Suzanne La Rosa plans to join UGA Press on July 1 and will continue to publish 8-12 new titles annually under the NewSouth imprint. Editor-in-chief Randall Williams continues to edit selected titles and recommend works for acquisition.
Storytel and Swedish Audiobook Streaming Service
Storytel’s streaming organization is in the middle of restructuring. About 100 people were laid off due to their strategic shift to focus on more mature markets.
To read more, go to: https://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2022/05/storytel-grows-in-q1-with-audiobooks-com-acquisition-confirms-restructuring/
Imprints
UK ebook and paperback publisher Canelo plan to partner with Readerlink to launch an imprint in the US. Readerlink’s Printers Row Publishing Group will serve as the exclusive North American publisher of Canelo titles, under the Canelo US imprint.
To continue reading: https://teleread.com/new-digital-publishing-imprint-canelo-launches-uk/index.html
Small Presses
GenZ Publishing
Beware! Complaints against GenZ Publishing are increasing.
Read additional information
Always be leery about paying to get your book published. Use extreme caution.
Fastest Growing Indie Publishers
For a list of the fastest growing independent publishers whose sales soared in 2021, go to:
https://www.digitalpw.com/digitalpw-refurl/20220425/MobilePagedArticle.action?articleId=1785791&app=false#articleId1785791
Bookstore Workers Form Unions
We love this candid piece about hardworking and underpaid bookstore/publishing workers who struggle with low wages, racial and gender inequities, and unsafe working conditions. Written by Kim Kelly, it is an in-your-face challenge to remain mindful of those who work behind the scenes to deliver pallets of books into our hands.
For additional reading, go to:
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/84318-how-bookstore-unions-are-stepping-up.html
Are You Interested?
Amazon’s Kindle Supports Everyone Else’s Ebooks
After 15 years, has Amazon actually bowed to competition in support of ePub ebook formats used by a majority of online bookstores, publishers, and competing services?
Hmm. Maybe.
Read on: https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/2/23053408/amazon-epub-kindle-ereader-file-format-kf8
Writers Critique Groups
Each month we will provide at least two new writing/critique groups so you can choose which one best suits your needs.
Critique Circle - https://www.critiquecircle.com/landing - Free membership; Premium $59; Premium Gold $95.
Absolute Write - https://absolutewrite.com/forums/index.php - Free membership.
Fun Facts
Shakespeare was not an Elizabethan playwriter. Actually, the majority of his plays were written after Queen Elizabeth I’s death, making him a Jacobean writer.
Maya Angelou’s real name is Marguerite Annie Johnson, born April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. Surprisingly, this famous poet loved country music, especially Toby Keith.
Did You Know?
Mass Book Production Process – Click here to see how books are massively produced: https://youtu.be/YmC2HcGiwFQ
Tips
Self-Care
Tips for promoting good sleep habits
Fun Gadgets
Freewrite – Smart Typewriter (Gen3)
Need a laptop of sorts that doesn’t bombard or distract you with advertisements and leaves you worry-free from being tracked? This little gadget is appealing to some. Be aware! It comes with a hefty price tag of $649. Advice – read the reviews before you purchase.
https://getfreewrite.com/products/freewrite-smart-typewriter-3rd-gen
Famous Quotes / Advice
“If you want to write fiction, the best thing you can do is take two aspirins, lie down in a dark room, and wait for the feeling to pass.” Lawrence Block, Writing the Novel – From Plot to Print (Writer’s Digest Books, Cincinnati, OH, 1983) Chapter 1, page 8.
“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” — Anaïs Nin
If you would like to volunteer to be part of the Policy & Advisory Committee (PAC), please contact
[email protected].