Your book is written, re-written, checked and double checked and you're ready to find it a home. But in this ultra-competitive publishing climate how do you ensure your novel escapes from the slush pile? On Litopia After Dark this week our very special guest is Simon Flynn, Publishing Director of Icon Books and we ask him how to sex up our submissions to get them noticed and how publishers themselves package their books to entice the reader.
Libraries are branching out: As Swansea Library declares Friday nights, singles night and Swiss Cottage Library, London introduces a "borrow a person" event, we discuss whether the Libraries should be using gimmicks to attract visitors.
Children's books (in the UK) are about to be labelled with suggested suitable age ranges by the publishers. Is this a good thing or (as children's librarian Jake Hope believes) is it a cynical and misguided idea? Also, digital books for kids - should bedtime stories be left to the iPod or is this a step too far? And, My Beautiful Mommy, does your child really need a book to prepare them for your plastic surgery?
And as Richard and Judy prepare to leave Channel 4, taking their book club with them, the panel discuss whether this is the beginning of the end for UK authors? We also talk about the growth of the importance of bestseller lists, embedding your credit card details in your e-book and A-levels in Harry Potter.
On the panel this week are Donna Ballman, Richard Howse and Dave Bartram. Also, our special guest is Publishing Director of Icon Books, Simon Flynn.
