New Imprints, Booker Prize Rescheduled, and Banned Book Week: This Week in Book News

Happy Friday everyone! Now that we’ve hit October it means spooky season has officially begun! While I am a self-admitted wimp when it comes to most horror (Insicidous will haunt me until my dying day), I still love Halloween and all of the spookiness leading up to it. If you’re also feeling spooky and want to try your hand at writing a scary story, I highly recommend checking out our monthly playlist.

The Word on the Street festival took place (virtually) in Toronto last weekend, and our very own Steph and Joni spoke about creating a writing community through podcasts. If you want to check it out, their talk starts at 2:01:40. And speaking of podcasts, it was International Podcast Day on Wednesday which is really the perfect time to make sure you’re subscribed to the KWL Podcast.

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The Alliance of Independent Authors gave Kobo some love this week, discussing how to use Kobo as part of your global release strategy.

International Insights: Kobo – Alliance of Independent Authors: Self-Publishing Advice Center

For the next edition of the Alliance of Independent Authors International Insights hosted by Mark Williams of The New Publishing Standard, we’re sticking with global book distributors this week. Today focuses on Kobo. We continue our look at indie global retailer reach today with a deep dive into Kobo.

There has been a massive increase in the popularity of digital libraries since the pandemic began, which has publishers a little worried about what this means for sales.

Publishers Worry as Ebooks Fly off Libraries’ Virtual Shelves

Before Sarah Adler moved to Maryland last week, she used library cards from her Washington, DC, home and neighboring counties in Virginia and Maryland to read books online. The Libby app, a slick and easy-to-use service from the company OverDrive, gave her access to millions of titles.

A Federal Judge has ruled that the DOJ’s case against Bolton and his tell-all can move forward.

Court Rules the DoJ’s Case Against Bolton Can Go Forward

A federal judge this week denied former national security adviser John Bolton’s motion to dismiss the government’s case against him, finding that the government has presented sufficient evidence to support its claim that Bolton breached his confidentiality agreements by publishing his memoir ‘The Room Where It Happened’ without proper clearance.

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Nicola and David Yoon have launched an imprint devoted to telling YA romance stories by and about people of colour.

Nicola and David Yoon Launch YA Romance Imprint Starring Heroes of Color

YA romance readers have a new reason to swoon: Random House Children’s Books has announced the launch of an imprint led by bestselling authors and married couple Nicola and David Yoon. Debuting in 2022, the imprint, called Joy Revolution, will be devoted to publishing teen love stories by and about people of color.

Phoebe Robinson has announced the first books being released by her new imprint.

Phoebe Robinson just announced the first books coming to her Tiny Reparations imprint

Comedian, author, podcaster, television host, and now publishing impresario – Phoebe Robinson’s résumé is getting longer. This summer, Robinson announced her intent to form her very own books imprint in partnership with Dutton/Plume, of powerhouse Penguin RandomHouse. On Monday, Tiny Reparations Books went public with its first acquisitions, part of Robinson’s vision to amplify diverse voices and push the national conversation forward.

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In response to another letter that has been making the rounds, hundreds of writers have come together to sign a letter supporting transgender and non-binary people.

More than 200 writers and publishers sign letter in support of trans and non-binary people

Days after a host of prominent literary names signed a letter defending JK Rowling “against hate”, more than 200 writers, publishers and journalists including Jeanette Winterson, Malorie Blackman and Joanne Harris have put their names to another stating their support for transgender and non-binary people.

Due to a publication error, Susie Dent’s new book Word Perfect was published with a bunch of typos which is a painful kind of ironic.

Susie Dent ‘gutted’ after new book Word Perfect printed with host of typos

Countdown’s resident lexicographer Susie Dent has testified to the effectiveness of lalochezia, or “the use of swearing to alleviate stress and frustration”, after discovering that her new book Word Perfect was printed with a host of typos.

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The Booker Prize has moved its award ceremony to avoid overlapping with the release of President Obama’s new book.

Booker Prize Is Rescheduled to Make Way for Obama’s Memoir

During one busy week in November, the former president’s new book is expected to come out, and top prizes from the Booker and the National Book Awards will be announced. The literary awards season kicks into high gear every fall, with the Nobel Prize in Literature, Booker Prize and National Book Awards often landing in quick succession.

Jonathan Poh has won the 2020 CBC Nonfiction prize.

B.C. writer Jonathan Poh wins 2020 CBC Nonfiction Prize | CBC Books

Jonathan Poh of Burnaby, B.C., has won the 2020 CBC Nonfiction Prize for his story Value Village . Poh will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and will also receive a writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity . His winning story has been published on CBC Books.

The shortlist for the 2020 Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction has been announced.

Lorna Crozier & Tessa McWatt among finalists for $60K Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction | CBC Books

Lorna Crozier and Tessa McWatt are among the five writers shortlisted for the 2020 Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction. The $60,000 prize is awarded annually to the best in Canadian nonfiction. It is the largest prize for nonfiction in Canada.

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J.J. Abrams has signed on to produce an adaptation of Dr. Seuss classic Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

J.J. Abrams’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Movie Better Have Seussical Lens Flares

Oh no, they’re making a Cinematic Seussiverse. Vanity Fair reports that Warner Animation Group has made an “expansive filmmaking deal” to turn three of Dr. Seuss’s books into theatrical animated films. These will be the “first-ever adaptation” of Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, a redo of The Cat in the Hat, and a spinoff called Thing One and Thing Two.

The Warner Bros. adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches, which had cancelled it’s theatrical release due to Covid-19 concerns, has announced it will premier on HBO Max later this month.

‘The Witches’ with Anne Hathaway flies to HBO Max for surprise October debut

Warner Bros. announced Friday that its adaptation of the beloved 1973 children’s book will premiere Oct. 22 exclusively on HBO Max. The film, which stars Anne Hathaway and Octavia Spencer, was originally scheduled to hit theaters this month but later postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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If you’re looking for something to read this weekend we’ve got you covered with a couple of book lists! First, in celebration of Banned Books Week, the American Library Association has released a list of the 100 most banned and challenged books of the last decade. How many have you read?

ALA Releases List of Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books

As part of the American Library Association’s annual Banned Books Week (which this year runs from September 27 to October 3), the organization has released a list of the 100 most banned and challenged books of the last decade, 2010-2019.

The world can be a little overwhelming at times (understatement of the century?) – so here’s a list of books to help restore your hope in humanity.

When comfort reading won’t cut it: books to restore hope in humanity

he most hopeful thing about books is that they exist. Is it not a miracle to look at a shelf and see the vast range of human experience laid out before us? How remarkable that someone picked up a quill or a typewriter or a laptop and set about distilling their thoughts and ideas into such a perfect delivery mechanism.

As I’ve already mentioned, it’s spooky season! Here are some spooky books about spooky books.

Reading is bad for you: Evil books in horror

Let’s face it, we’ve all read at least one book that felt like it took on a life of its own. Because art imitates life imitates art, books within books have become a timeless storytelling tool that audiences have been tuning into for years.

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I really enjoyed this great interview on racial diversity in romance with author Alyssa Cole.

The Writer Who Helped Spark an Explosive Debate Over the Future of Romance Novels

In August of last year, a romance novelist named Courtney Milan tweeted a series of screenshots from a 1999 romance novel called Somewhere Lies the Moon. In those passages, Kathryn Lynn Davis, the book’s white author, describes her Chinese characters’ “slanted almond eyes” and “bronze faces, turned slightly yellow by the London climate.”

And finally, our favourite piece of the week: This article on Shondaland wondering why we aren’t hearing more about indie romance publishing.

Indie Romance Books Are Big Business, But Why Aren’t We Hearing About It?

In 2020, it’s easy to feel like we’re living in a dystopian tale, and many of us are in survival mode. We naturally look to food, water, safety, clean air, masks, jobs, and healthcare for sustenance. But we also look to stories to keep us going.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Staff Pick
Rachel, Author Engagement Intern

“A normal, suburban married couple who keep the spark alive by committing murder together… The concept was enough to get me pick up this book, the writing and characters kept me reading, and the twist kept me up until one o’clock this morning because I needed to finish it. It’s the perfect read to kick off the Halloween season.”

My Lovely Wife ebook by Samantha Downing – Rakuten Kobo

Read “My Lovely Wife” by Samantha Downing available from Rakuten Kobo. INSTANT #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER USA Today bestseller Edgar + ITW Thriller Award nominee for Best First Novel “Think:…