University Presses: A Viable Path for Literary Fiction Careers

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University Presses: A Viable Path for Literary Fiction Careers

Although some writers may assume that a large New York publisher is preferable to a university press, such thinking is “misguided,” says Jones. “University press publication is the first choice for certain kinds of books, depending on the press. These are experienced editors, highly educated and knowledgeable in the fields they publish in.” She suggests that writers intrigued by university presses go onto their websites, enter contests that seem applicable to their work, and “always read books published by these presses.”

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The Women’s Fiction Dilemma: A Contested Label Continues to Sell Books

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The Women’s Fiction Dilemma: A Contested Label Continues to Sell Books

Image: Painting by Berthe Morisot, “La Lecture” (“Reading”), 1888

When Publishers Marketplace retired women’s fiction from its deal and dealmaker categories, it was an “overdue change,” according to founder Michael Cader. But as Publishers Marketplace acknowledged, the term women’s fiction remains a BISAC subject code, and it continues to be used widely (though not overtly) by retailers and publishers. This article explores how women’s fiction differs from romance and book club fiction. It also delves into publishers’ current attitudes toward the term and how writers of women’s fiction should pitch their work.

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Middle Grade, Young Adult, and the Space in Between

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Middle Grade, Young Adult, and the Space in Between

While the MG category has its own gray areas, the YA category is especially tricky to define. It was only a decade ago, following the publication of series such as Twilight and Hunger Games, that YA became a publishing phenomenon and was given a stand-alone bestseller list by the New York Times. It was just two decades ago that the Harry Potter books, widely considered middle grade, began dominating the book market. What makes a book middle grade or young adult today? The answer depends on several factors, as agents and publishers explain.

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