Man Booker Prize: Paul Beatty becomes first US winner for The Sellout – I am of two minds about this: while I am thrilled that Paul Beatty’s book is being rewarded for its brilliance, it’s yet another big prize for a U.S. writer. Still, watching Beatty accept the award was very moving, ... more >
The Man Booker Prize 2016 Shortlist – If you want to catch up on the Man Booker nominees, check out Rosario and Liz’s blogs, as both are working their way through the longlist. The list is disappointingly narrow in its geographical scope, but overall, what do you think? Paul Beatty (US) The ... more >
Man Booker Prize 2015: Marlon James wins for A Brief History of Seven Killings – An almost 700-page book that, according to the judging committee’s chair, Michael Wood, is “full of swearing” (!), James’s novel was apparently an easy choice for the judges. James will receive £50,000 for his winning novel. Set ... more >
Go Fund My Lazy Ass -It’s no secret that crowdsourcing has become popular for all sorts of creative projects. Although I haven’t seen it, I saw some folks talking about a crowdfunding campaign for someone who wanted to go to RT. Anyway, an author named Payne Hawthorne put together a ... more >
“Promotion is expensive”: Elena Ferrante on anonymity – Last year I posted a news link to an interview with Elena Ferrante, in which she talked about her refusal to do promotional work for her own books. This 1991 letter, published in the London Review of Books expounds on that position, as ... more >
Ground-breaking Print Venture With Ingram! – So successful self-published author Barbara Freethy has announced a publishing endeavor, in which her books will be distributed in print through Hyde Street Press, which is Freethy’s own “independent publishing company.” Rather than partner with a traditional publisher, Freethy apparently developed a collaborative agreement ... more >