As Disruption Sweeps Publishing, A Crowdfunding Platform For Books Finds A Niche: Connecting Authors with Publishers
forbes.com – Saturday September 13, 2025
Marijn Wiersma wants to challenge how women think about their careers.
"Don’t confuse grit with well-being," advised Wiersma, a corporate anthropologist based in the Netherlands and founder of Incredible Impact, a company focused on unlocking women’s potential as entrepreneurs and leaders, at the launch of SOS: A Navigation Guide for Women at Work, which she co-authored and published earlier this year. She pointed to an often-overlooked health disparity: women live longer than men, but often spend a greater proportion of their lives in ill health.
Wiersma and her multi-generational co-authors— banker Chantal Korteweg, veterinarian Lidewij Wiersma and management trainee Tessel van Willigen—had gathered for a stop on their book tour at Bibliothèque, a wine bar in SoHo in New York City.
The four authors, each at different stages of their careers, collectively published SOS through Publishizer, a platform to connect authors with publishers, working with Morgan James Publishing. They sold more than 600 copies through a preorder campaign.
Former Tattered Cover Co-Owners Launch Publishing Venture
publishersweekly.com – Saturday September 13, 2025
Industry veterans Kristen Gilligan and Len Vlahos, the former co-owners of Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver, have launched a new venture: Left Field Publishing. Left Field will publish both adult and children’s books and, Gilligan and Vlahos emphasize, are committed to acquiring only those books that the two are passionate about. Left Field will be distributed by IPG.
According to its mission statement, Left Field is committed to publishing “powerful, beautifully-told stories that fall outside the traditional lines.” It will focus on authors “whose work blends genres, expands minds, and invites conversation.” Gilligan added in an email to PW that “instead of asking authors to squeeze into a narrow lane, we meet the work where it lives and help it thrive in the marketplace.”
Vlahos added, “We’re drawn to books that zig when the market expects them to zag, stories that don’t fit neatly into one category, authors who color outside the lines.”
Vlahos should know: the two were inspired to launch Left Field after Vlahos’s agent had shopped his seventh novel, The Story of Oog—which, Gilligan said, is a crossover read that does not really fit into any one genre—to publishers to no avail.
Spooky Middle Grade Still Sells
publishersweekly.com – Saturday September 6, 2025
Publishers and agents are seeing an increase in spooky—not scary—tales for middle grade readers.
With editors looking for shorter, more plot-driven middle grade projects these days, agents have seen an uptick in the horror genre for younger readers.
In 2023, the Bram Stoker Awards, presented annually by the Horror Writers Association, added a middle grade novel category, which Regina Brooks, president of Serendipity Literary Agency, cites as “clear recognition from the industry that this space is thriving.” She adds, “We’re definitely seeing more horror submissions. The strongest projects deliver age-appropriate scares, often blending horror with mystery, humor, or fantasy. They feature relatable characters, fresh concepts, and offer thrills that still feel safe and satisfying for young readers.”
Brooks points to Tony Jones’s “Essential YA and Middle Grade Horror” online roundup from earlier this year as a source spotlighting fresh titles in the genre, including Alice Nuttall’s debut The Zombie Project and Larry Hayes’s The Nightmares of Finnegan Quick.
Australian writers shocked and ‘disgusted’ by closure of 85-year-old literary journal Meanjin
theconversation.com – Thursday September 4, 2025
After 85 years of continuous publication, Meanjin, Australia’s second-oldest literary journal, is closing. Editor Esther Anatolitis and deputy editor Eli McLean have been made redundant and the final issue will appear in December. Melbourne University Publishing (MUP), which has housed the magazine since 2007, has cited “purely financial grounds” for the decision.
The closure has been roundly condemned by writers across Australia, including Jennifer Mills, Anna Krien, Claire G. Coleman and Sian Prior, along with former editors including Sophie Cunningham, Jonathan Green and Sally Heath.
“The loss of Meanjin is devastating news for Australian writers and readers,” Mills, a Miles Franklin shortlisted author, wrote on Bluesky. “Always meant so much to see my work there. Some of my best experiences of being edited.”
I’m an Avid Reader, Writer and Bookshop Dweller – These Are the Literary Festivals Not To Miss This Autumn
marieclaire.co.uk – Wednesday September 3, 2025
I've always loved books. As a child I spent countless nights frantically page-turning when I was supposed to be sleeping, and over the last twenty years I've built a robust collection of paperbacks from cute bookstores, friends and endless charity shops. Admittedly, I was locked in a reading slump for a few years and my TBR pile neither expanded nor shrank, but after moving to Brighton and becoming a seasoned cafe-hopper I'm well and truly in my Book Era 2.0.
Since leaving London, I've also spent more time on creative writing - something which has largely taken a back seat since becoming a journalist nine years ago. But I've been desperate for some structure and inspiration; I've joined writing groups, attended local workshops and managed to start (and abandon) The Artist's Way approximately nine times in the last six months. I'm trying.
But it wasn't until recently that I realised just how many incredible literary festivals take place in the UK during my favourite season: autumn. From author panels to inspiring practical workshops, industry insider talks to open mic nights for new voices, had I taken this into account during my book dry spell I might have read more than one book a year, or written my first novel by now. Or, finished The Artist's Way.
Acorn Publishing launches search for next breakout author with San Diego Writers Festival
timesofsandiego.com – Wednesday September 3, 2025
Could your novel or memoir be the next breakout hit? Acorn Publishing is searching nationwide for an unpublished author to take center stage at the 2026 San Diego Writers Festival, which has previously featured writers such as Anne Lamott, James Patterson, and Piper Kerman.
One exceptional unpublished author will receive a full-service publishing package valued at over $11,000, awarded completely free, according to a news release.
The winner will be announced live on stage at the festival in Coronado, which draws roughly 2,000 visitors each year. Past festivals have featured keynote speakers including Anne Lamott, James Patterson, and Piper Kerman, author of Orange Is the New Black.
Women’s Prize Trust announces Hachette UK partnership to support writer development
womensprize.com – Monday September 1, 2025
We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Hachette UK to support writer development, including a mentoring scheme for aspiring non-fiction writers and the first ever ‘Discoveries Day’.
Narrative Non-Fiction Mentoring
The narrative non-fiction mentoring programme will form part of ‘Horizons’, the free writing toolkit by the Women’s Prize Trust, designed to inspire and support new voices in the world of non-fiction writing. The mentoring programme will expand the existing resources offered by Horizons, including practical writing resources, features, prompts, free online events, and contributions from publishing industry experts and leading non-fiction writers, and compliment the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, launched in 2024 to celebrate excellent, original and accessible narrative non-fiction, supported by Findmypast.
Free to enter, the mentorship scheme seeks applications from unpublished and unagented women writing non-fiction. Entries are particularly encouraged from experts in science (such as health, psychology and technology) and culture (such as politics and current affairs).
Layoffs Hit Bloomsbury US Children’s Division
publishersweekly.com – Wednesday August 27, 2025
Bloomsbury US has eliminated five positions in its children’s division, a Bloomsbury representative has confirmed. According to multiple literary agents, who spoke with PW on condition of anonymity, the positions cut included an editor, creative director, associate publicist, designer, and an employee in the production department; in addition, at least one planned title was cut.
In a statement, the company called the cuts “part of a strategic shift toward publishing a more curated list,” adding: “Bloomsbury US is a strong and thriving business, and these changes were limited solely to the children’s division. These decisions were not taken lightly for the affected individuals and the broader organization. We are committed to supporting impacted employees and ensuring they receive the help and resources needed.”
Prominent Kids’ Authors Build a Low-Residency MFA Program
publishersweekly.com – Friday August 22, 2025
Three high-profile authors have put their heads and their networks together to dream up a university program tailor-made for children’s and YA creators. Martha Brockenbrough, A.S. King, and David Macinnis Gill are launching a low-residency Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Young Readers, headquartered at the University of San Francisco. The first cohort will begin their studies in June 2026, and the application portal is open.
In addition to the three co-founders, inaugural faculty include Tracey Baptiste, Ann Dávila Cardinal, Erin Entrada Kelly, An Na, and Dashka Slater, with additional faculty coming on board in the future. Students and faculty will meet in person each June and January on the University of San Francisco campus. The rest of the time, students will work from home to complete coursework in craft and criticism. Once their two years of courses are complete, they’ll finish their degrees with a fifth residency where they present their work and co-lead a workshop with a faculty member.
“Our agenda will be to make room for all sorts and shapes of stories,” program director Brockenbrough told PW. “I have had so many exciting conversations with people about building something truly epic, and we’re raising scholarship funds to ensure students have every possibility to attend.” The program will actively recruit students from marginalized communities and will nurture inclusive stories, and the co-founders will fundraise with industry partners to reduce students’ financial burdens and defray the $48,000 program cost. Literary agent Barry Goldblatt was the first to step up as a sponsor, pledging $10,000.
18th Annual WriterCon at The Skirvin – Labor Day Weekend
freepressokc.com – Wednesday August 20, 2025
The 18th Annual WriterCon is set to inspire and empower writers of all genres from August 29th to September 1st, 2025, at the newly renovated, historic Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City. Keynote addresses will be given by New York Times best-selling author, Laurie L. Dove, and Nova McBee, whose book, Calculated, is being made into a major motion picture.
Hosted by renowned Oklahoma author, William Bernhardt, with over 60 books to his name, including next year’s release, The Superman Wars. This year’s conference will be the largest yet with a lineup of over 60 speakers, including bestselling authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers, leading a variety of keynotes, breakout sessions, and workshops.
WriterCon has become a hallmark event for Oklahoma and the writing community, bringing together seasoned professionals and aspiring writers alike. This year, over 200 attendees from around the country and even New Zealand are expected to gather for four days of education, inspiration, and networking.
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