This Week on Books Direct - 13 January 2018

This Week on Books Direct -

13 January 2018

Here's a list of some great articles you may have missed this week. Enjoy!

2018 In Books: A Literary Calendar by The Guardian

Essays from Zadie Smith, Arnhem from Antony Beevor and novels from Julian Barnes, Sarah Perry, Pat Barker, Rachel Cusk … and Bill Clinton. Place your book orders now.

New York Makes It Harder for Inmates To Get Books by Daniel A. Gross for The New Yorker

Under a new policy, prisoners in New York will lose access to new and used book shipments from unapproved mail catalogues, online retailers, and family members.

Followed by this update later in the week:

Cuomo Scraps Program That Kept Books From Inmates by Joe Marino for New York Post

Gov. Andrew Cuomo scrapped a controversial pilot program at state correctional facilities that restricted inmate access to books and other items sent through the mail.

Irish Publishers Eligible To Submit Novels For The Man Booker Prize From 2018 Onwards by Alice for The Man Booker Prize

The Man Booker Prize for Fiction announces a change in its rules of entry as the 2018 submission forms are sent to publishers today. As of 2018, a new rule has been added specifying that any novel written originally in English and published in Ireland by an imprint formally established in Ireland is now eligible for the prize.

Finding Silver Linings In Goodreads Giveaway Changes, And 3 Alternatives by David Wogahn for Elizabeth Spann Craig

It seems like indie authors are under siege. First Pronoun, the free eBook distribution service, closed. Then Goodreads announced their free paperback giveaway promotion tool will no longer be free (as of tomorrow, January 9).

The Midwest Writers Workshop Is Under Fire After Roxane Gay Called Them Out For Fatphobic Behavior by Sadie Trombetta for Bustle

Even in the book world, where female characters can be whoever or whatever they like, women authors still struggle with the issues that face their gender across industries - namely, sexism, gender bias, and weight discrimination, among others. That fact was made crystal clear this week when Roxane Gay called out the Midwest Writers Workshop for fatphobia in a series of tweets.

NBF, NYC Partner On Raising Readers Initiative by John Maher for Publishers Weekly

The National Book Foundation will launch an adult-focused reading initiative, Raising Readers, after receiving one of seven 2018 Mayor's Grants for Cultural Impact from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

How Reading Increases Your Emotional Intelligence & Brain Function: The Findings Of Recent Scientific Studies by Open Culture

Much recent research strongly suggests that reading improves emotional and cognitive intelligence, by changing and activating areas of the brain responsible for these qualities.

Fragments Of Book Recovered From Wreck Of Blackbeard's Ship by Alison Flood for The Guardian

Remains of notorious pirate’s ship in North Carolina yield evidence that it was carrying a copy of Edward Cooke’s Voyage to the South Sea.

The Facebook News Feed Is Changing To Favor Person To Person Engagement by Jon Loomer

Facebook dropped a potential bombshell of an announcement today - at least on brands and publishers. A major change is being made to the news feed that will favor people and negatively impact the visibility of page content.

If you enjoyed this blog post, please visit the other This Week posts for links to more great articles.