News
Adlard: artists need equal credit T
WORDS Tom Tivnan
HE UK COMICS laureate and London Book Fair CrossMedia creator Charlie Adlard has called for “equal billing” for comics artists with their writing counterparts, while arguing the UK comics industry needs to shed its “hang-ups about age” if it is to move the medium forward. Adlard, best known as the penciller for The
Walking Dead series, told The Bookseller Daily that “comics is a completely novel form of reading, as it has a 50/50 balance between words and sequen- tial art. Art is perhaps even more important than in some children’s illustrated books, because you can’t have a story without the artist. If we’re talk- ing about pure comics—leaving aside TV, games, film and other cross-media stuff, as the rights get trickier—the artist has to be on an equal footing.” Adlard noted that writers geting more credit is “a cyclical thing... Back in the 1990s, the artist sold the comics, not the writer. It’s probably gone the other way now, as the writer can be more a part of the cross-media propert... an artist might be able to do conceptual art, but the author can write a screenplay, and be in the writers’ room.” As laureate, Adlard has been pushing for comics
to be recognised as a tool to be used more widely to improve literacy and facilitate learning. He said that smashing UK (and US) perceptions about the age groups comics are geared towards would help
The Bookseller calls for the Rising Stars Class of 2018
build a culture that reveres the medium as much as any literature—as is the case in France or Japan. He said: “For a long time there was this percep- tion that comics were just for kids. Then there was the whole ‘comics are growing up’ phase and it strangely went the other way. Now you have genres—like superhero—that exclude kids. Even the term ‘graphic novel’, which I hate, is part of this; it was made up in the ’80s to make comics seem more respectable. We should smash these precon- ceptions and just think about subject mater... comics should be for anyone, from five to 95.”
Long Bright is right for Hutchinson
Hutchinson has splashed out a six-figure sum for UK & Commonwealth rights to 2014 Rome Prize in Literature recipient Liz Moore’s “gritty, compel- ling, cleverly constructed novel” Long Bright River. Publishing director Jocasta Hamilton struck the deal through Abner Stein agent Caspian Dennis, acting on behalf of Seth Fishman at The Gernert Company. Riverhead won US rights after a 10-way auction. Set in Philadelphia, the novel follows two women: one is a police officer
who patrols a high-crime district populated by drug-dealers and sex work- ers; the other, her sister, is suffering from addiction. Hamilton said: “Long Bright River combines police procedural with a riveting portrait of tough yet vulnerable people and a beleaguered neighbourhood. Even when [Moore’s] characters are incapable of caring for themselves, we are rooting for them absolutely. She captures what it is to suffer from addiction, and the impact that has on friends and family, with truth and empathy.”
No time to Idle as Bloomsbury grabs Hands
Bloomsbury publisher Alexis Kirschbaum has snapped up Idle Hands by James Suzman for a “strong” five-figure sum, with Penguin Press securing US rights in a six-figure pre-empt. The deals were brokered by Chris Wellbelove of Aitken Alexander, who has sold the title—a history of civilisation, told through the prism of our relationship with work—in Holland, Spain, Portu- gal, Korea and Greece, with fur- ther activity expected.
04
New Moran trio led by More Than a Woman
Ebury has signed a “major” three-book deal with journalist Caitlin Moran, starting with More Than a Woman—the title Moran feels she was “destined to write”, the list said—in 2020. Jake Lingwood bought UK and Com- monwealth rights from Georgia Garrett at RCW, with North Amer- ican rights sold to Jennifer Barth at Harper US. The other books in the deal will be a novel and a collection of Moran’s award- winning journalism.
Sphere bags Millers’ thriller from Dickson
Sphere Fiction has bagged UK and Commonwealth rights to a début psychological thriller after a “hotly contested” auction. Anna Carmichael at Abner Stein struck the deal with commission- ing editor Viola Hayden for Alli- son M Dickson’s Mrs Miller and the Other Mrs Miller, which fol- lows a lonely suburban house- wife who finds her life entangled with that of a family that moves in across the street. Publication is planned for summer 2019.
The Bookseller today is announc- ing its call for entries for its 2018 Rising Stars list, the annual cele- bration of the industry’s up-and- comers. The initative, backed by the Frankfurt Book Fair (FBF), will be published on 22nd June. Rising Stars, launched in 2011, salutes around 40 book professionals for innovative work, many of whom have been tabbed as future leaders of the trade. Past honourees include Waterstones head of public- it Sandra Taylor, The Bent Agency’s Molly Ker Hawn, Transworld publishing director for commercial fiction Frankie Gray, and Dialogue Books publisher Sharmaine Lovegrove. The “Shooting Star”, a nomi- nee the judges believe deserves slightly greater recognition, will be invited to the Frankfurt Book Fair to appear at events. Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller’s features and insight editor and founder of Rising Stars, said: “We’ve been flatered by the many Rising Stars-esque imita- tors that have popped up in recent years, showing that the industry is in rude health and is blessed with oodles of talent. We look forward to the always diffi- cult task of winnowing the many deserving entries down.” To nominate a colleague, or yourself, send a testimonial outlining their/your accom- plishments to tom.tivnan@
thebookseller.com. Entries must be received by 18th May.
Serpent’s Tail hatches deal for October
Serpent’s Tail has signed a domestic suspense novel enti- tled October by début author Andrew Hatch. Senior commis- sioning editor Cecily Gayford bought UK and Commonwealth and translation rights to Octo- ber from Eve White at the Eve White Literary Agency. Daniel becomes pen pals with an inmate named Ruby when his relationship starts to crumble. Then, on 1st October, Ruby turns up at his door.
12th April 2018
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32