Publishing: Around the World
London Book Fair started with 500+ International Exhibitors
The London Book Fair 2022 (5-7 April), this year started with figures that may surprise some world publishing professionals. Andy Ventris, the director of London Book Fair, informed on the opening day that this time more than 500 non-UK international exhibitors are participating. With 75 first-time exhibitors and 400 speakers in the show’s programming, London Book Fair is going great.
Seeing overwhelming industry response, this year Andy Ventris, shared his closing remarks and said, It’s been three whirlwind days filled with some magical moments. We want to thank every person – from the exhibitors and speakers to the sponsors and visitors – for helping us make it such an unforgettable experience. Bring on next year!
Pratilipi all set to Create Westland 2.0
Earlier this year Amazon announced that it would be shutting down Indian publisher Westland Books, the company’s existence under Amazon formally came to an end on March 31st. But now there is some great news coming from online platform Pratilipi – a digital platform where writers post their work in 12 Indian languages and readers of their work are afforded a space to read and discuss their work. The company will be starting a new publishing venture using the same board publishing, editorial, marketing and sales teams as were working at Westland at the time of its closure.
AutHer Awards 2022 winners announced
The Times of India and JK Paper joined hands to celebrate women authors who have added value and creativity to the literary space for the third edition of AutHer Awards. The AutHer Awards 2022 was attended by the who’s who of the town.
In the Fiction category, the award was bagged by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni for ‘The Last Queen’ (2021), published by HarperCollins. The Best Author Non-Fiction went to Shrayana Bhattacharya for her book ‘Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh’ (2021), published by HarperCollins. Farah Bashir won the Best Author Debut Award for her book ‘Rumours of Spring’ (2021), published by HarperCollins. Finally, Shabnam Minwalla won the Best Author Children’s Award for her book ‘Murder at Daisy Apartments’ (2021), published by Speaking Tiger Books.
Neenv Raju Akunuri won the Popular Choice Award for her book ‘Silent Screams’ for garnering the maximum number of votes online. Renowned Indian actress Divya Dutta won the Special Recognition award for her book ‘The Stars in My Sky: Those who Brightened My Film Journey (Penguin Random House India). Legendary novelist Anita Desai, shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times, was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
Oxford Bookstore announces the first Oxford Bookstore Art Book Prize
Ishan Khosla was felicitated with the award by Jurors Dr Shashi Tharoor, Dr Kunal Basu, Dr Alka Pande, Priti Paul and Emmanuel Lebrun- Damiens at this beautiful gathering of designers, publishers, artists and book lovers. Khosla won the award for the book jacket of ‘Kintsugi’ authored by Anukrti Upadhyay, published by Fourth Estate.
Roli Books releases ‘1946 Royal Indian Navy Mutiny: Last War of Independence’ by Pramod Kapoor
The much-awaited launch of the book ‘1946 Royal Indian Navy Mutiny: Last War of Independence’ was held recently in New Delhi. It was a jam-packed evening. The descendants of the heroes who started the Uprising were also present. which included Anurag Dhillon, daughter of Madan Singh, Vice President of the Central Strike Committee. The evening also witnessed some emotional moments when Irene Puri (daughter) and Aroon Purie (nephew), Chairman India Today Group, of Rishi Dev Puri who started the mutiny with BC Dutt, shared cherished memories.
Rare Copy of First Marvel Comic Sells for $2.4 Million
A rare piece of Marvel history, a publisher’s annotated copy of the first Marvel comic book, sold at auction recently for $2.4 million. The book, Marvel Comics No. 1, published in 1939, is so valuable because it is known as the pay copy, in which the Publisher recorded the payments he owed to the illustrators, said Stephen Fishler, the chief executive of ComicConnect, an online comic auction house.
Sri Lanka is not able to print textbooks & newspapers due to shortage of paper
There is a delay in printing school textbooks due to the shortage of paper and other related accessories, recently informed Sri Lanka’s Educational Publications Department Commissioner General P.N. Ilaperuma. He shared that there is also a delay in distributing printed textbooks to schools due to the current fuel crisis in the country.
Sri Lanka’s two major newspapers recently suspended their publication over newsprint shortage and price escalation caused by its all-time worst foreign exchange crisis. The Island, English daily, along with its sister Sinhala paper Divayina, ceased to print as the newsprint scarcities and price escalations hit the media organisation.
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