news

Trump sues Penguin Random House for $15 billion Former U.S. president Donald Trump filed a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, Penguin Random House and the authors of the book *Lucky Loser*, seeking $15 billion in damages. He claims the book and a series of Times articles disparage...

Self‑Publishers Rise Up at 2025 Ignatz Awards Independent creators made an impressive showing at the 28th annual Ignatz Awards at the Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland. Fantagraphics took two of the evening’s biggest prizes, but the article notes that many self‑published and small‑press...

Tariq Ashkanani and David Goodman triumph at Bloody Scotland At the Bloody Scotland festival, crime writers Tariq Ashkanani and David Goodman – both previously featured as support acts in the Crime in the Spotlight programme – won top honours. Their success highlights how the festival helps...

(I'm still fiddling with this, there may be some duplication with yesterday's list...) This Week’s Bestsellers: September 15, 2025 New picture books dominate the latest Publisher Weekly bestseller list. A Stephen King and Maurice Sendak retelling of *Hansel and Gretel* tops the picture‑book...

Sorry about yesterday, here is today's summary. I may try to automate the posting procedure here so that it still gets posted even if I'm not physically at my desk to do so... :) p. - Words Without Borders Receives $100,000 Grant – The Hawthornden Foundation gave Words Without Borders a...

I get a daily summary of the most important publishing news (UK and US) from the usual trade news sources… today’s bulletin is below. I’d be happy to share it in the Colony… Let me know if you might find this useful, or if it would be overkill. --- Author Sam Blake urges 'better protections'...

Delighted to share some award news from the southern hemisphere! I've had three works shortlisted in the Sir Julius Vogel Awards and another three shortlisted across four categories in the Aurealis Awards. Sir Julius Vogel (NZ, fan-voted – if you nominated me in these, massive thank you) The...

The Bridport Prize, famous for 'discovering' Kate Atkinson, and which includes categories for poetry, short story, novel and flash fiction, closes 31 May. This year it includes a Never Too Late Award for writers of 60+ which, it says, 'unlocks the hidden talent of older writers'. It applies...

Just watched the video on using prefixes so I've had to change my prefix from "NEWS" to "FANARE". I haven't blogged for a while now because I have been up to my eye-balls doing this:

You may have been wondering what in tarnation happened to the conclusion of last month’s OPS contest. Well, you have every right to wonder. But wonder no more! For behold! Here are the voting results… Followed by some extremely good news… Gold Winner: 100 LitBits go to @Rich. Silver...

OpenAI whistleblower found dead in San Francisco apartment

Are in the news today... https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/michelle-paver-among-13-authors-featured-in-ghost-story-collection-from-sphere Will discuss the issues surrounding anthologies in the Huddle if requested. :) p.

BBC on publishers trying to shrink the size of books, including thinner paper and better fonts #spoiler_alert No love for Garamond here... https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c24pqrvvll9o