Books News: New monthly award for self-published authors, plus events and opportunities for writers

THE GUARDIAN AND LEGEND TIMES LANCH NEW MONTHLY AWARD FOR SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHORS
Launched last month in the Guardian's literary section, with support from publisher Legend Times, the newly-minted Guardian Legend Self-Published Book of the Month initiative is aimed at authors who self-publish, small DIY publishers and those who publish their fiction online, for e-book markets. In their piece announcing the new award, the Guardian quote research that states one in five e-books purchased in 2013 was by a self-published author or DIY publisher; and that number is predicted to continue rising as more and more aspiring authors turn to the internet to realise their dream of seeing their words in print. 

Many authors, such as Scotland's Ewan Morrison, have argued passionately against the rise of DIY and self-published e-books – in our feature last year on the sea changes currently happening in all of the publishing-related industries, he said: "There are really only about five people in the world who've done well out of self-publishing. Of those five, four have used it as a platform to get a mainstream deal. That is fundamentally different from the digital utopian premise of 'life beyond the publishing houses.' (Read the full Paradigm Shift feature on Books here.)

Morrison's argument that the rise of DIY publishing means fewer sales for a great many more authors, and is therefore unsustainable, may well hold water, but the rise and rise of the self-publishing sector as a huge slice of the market continues apace. As a spokesman for the Guardian said: "No longer can the mainstream industry ignore what the general public have been reading and enjoying for a number of years, with many self-published authors outstripping the sales of novels published traditionally." They cite Hugh Howey, author of dystopian SF novel Wool, and Barry Eisler (author of the John Rain novels) as examples of successful self-published authors. 

The Guardian and Legend's new prize is now open on a rolling, monthly basis to any self-published novel written in the English language, or translated to English, published after September 2011. Ten novels will be shortlisted each month, and the winner announced publicly, either in the paper, or online. Although there is no cash prize on offer, the kudos to be gained in recognition from the Guardian, and the judging panel from Legend, which includes literary agent Andrew Lownie, Legend's comissioning editor Lauren Parsons, and author Polly Courtney, will be enough to tempt many self-published authors to submit. The first competition ran from 8-18 April, and the winner has yet to be announced. Keep your eyes on the Guardian for details of this month's submission period, and if you enter and are shortlisted, let us know!

IRAQI AUTHOR HASSAN BLASIM SHORTLISTED FOR FOREIGN FICTION PRIZE
This video of Iraqi author Hassan Blasim reading his story The Reality and The Record, taken from his debut collection The Madman of Freedom Square, was shared last week by Comma Press, after Blasim made the shortlist for this year's Independent Foreign Fiction Prize.

This year's shortlist also includes Japanese authors Hiromi Kawakami and Yoko Ogawa, the first two female Japanese authors to have made the shortlist in the prize's history. The winner will be announced on 22 May. Blasim was nominated for his collection The Iraqi Christ, published by Comma. We interviewed Blasim on the collection's publication – read the interview here. 

CROWDFUND 'A BIRD IS NOT A STONE' – A NEW COLLECTION OF PALESTINIAN POETRY
A Bird Is Not a Stone will collect poems by contemporary Palestinian writers in a new volume, edited by Henry Bell (co-runner of Glasgow spoken word event Fail Better, and one of the main organisers behind the Solas Festival), and Sarah Irving. The poems, translated from Arabic into English, Scots, Gaelic and Shetlandic by a range of Scottish poets, will be published in a volume with a foreword by Scotland's Makar Liz Lochhead and Palestinian poet Maya Abu al-Hayyat . 

The project is nine days, and about £600 away from its funding goal on Kickstarter. "We want to make sure that this collection and the messages it carries – of cultural vitality, of life, of communication – find the widest possible audience," say the book's publishers. "In order to do that, we are fundraising for two things. Firstly, to be able to share as many copies of the book as possible, principally with universities, libraries and other institutions in Palestine and in Palestinian refugee communities. And secondly, to enable Palestinian poets to come to Scotland (and, OK, maybe the rest of Britain) and Scottish poets to visit Palestine, to share their work with different audiences." 

If you would like to contribute, the campaign is now taking donations from £1 upwards, with special bookmarks, tote bags, signed copies and bespoke readings on offer for those who pledge. Get involved using the widget below, or head over to the Kickstarter campaign page. More info about the project can be found on the A Bird Is Not a Stone blog.

 

EVENT: DOUG JOHNSTONE LAUNCHES 'THE DEAD BEAT' @ LOOKING GLASS BOOKS, EDINBURGH, 1 MAY
Author and musician Doug Johnstone, the best-selling author of Hit and Run, Gone Again and Smokeheads, will be launching his new novel, The Dead Beat, at Edinburgh's Looking Glass Books on 1 May. Johnstone will be in conversation with Blasted Heath publisher, literary agent and author of Bye Bye Baby and Slammer, Allan Guthrie. The new novel, which follows a young woman who gets more than she bargained for when covering the obituaries column at an Edinburgh newspaper, references quintessential 90s indie and rock bands such as Teenage Fanclub and Nirvana. It is out on 1 May, and will be on sale at the event, where Johnstone will be signing copies. Find out more here.

EVENT: HIGH FLIGHT ZINE LAUNCH @ THE ROXY 171, GLASGOW, 2 MAY
The High Flight is a new literary zine launching in Glasgow this Friday. Dedicated to short fiction and poetry, and edited by Stephen O’Toole, Annmarie Devlin, Mick Clocherty and Sam Small, The High Flight will launch with a fundraiser on 2 May at The Roxy 171, featuring performances from some of Glasgow and Edinburgh's best up-and-coming performance poets.

The zine, which will be published monthly, will feature poetry and short stories, and dedicated listings for spoken word events in Glasgow. Friday's lineup includes feminist firebrand Leyla O'Reilly, Leo Glaister, and Miko Berry of the Loud Poets (the current Scottish Slam Champion), as well as Sam Small himself, host and organiser of the very popular spoken word sessions at Glasgow's Inn Deep. The event begins at 7.30pm, and tickets are £5 on the door. Find out more here.

SUBMIT: OPPORTUNITIES FROM FREIGHT BOOKS
Gutter is a highly-acclaimed, award-winning literary magazine published in Glasgow by Freight Books, featuring work by Scottish authors and poets. It comes out twice a year, and is regarded as one of Scotland's leading literary journals, having previously published work by Alan Bissett, Elizabeth Reeder, Harry Giles, Jen Hadfield and others. The submission date for Gutter Issue #11 is 30 April – to enter, check the submission guidelines here.

Another literary magazine still taking submissions, and closing on 30 April, is a new venture from Freight, edited by Zoe Strachan, and titled Out There. The first volume of Out There, which focuses on work by those who identify as Scottish and lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, will be published in September. To submit check the guidelines here. 

SUBMIT: PHILANTHROBEATS SEEK POEMS ON THE SUBJECT OF MENTAL HEALTH
Some of the people behind acclaimed clubbing-charity venture Philanthrobeats are putting together a one-off, special event at The Old Hairdressers in Glasgow on 16 May. Intended to raise awareness about mental health in Scotland, the organiser, Sophia Platts-Palmer, is keen to hear from all artists, writers and performers who wish to take part in the event – to submit a poem, short film, short story or other piece on the subject of mental health, email sophia@philanthrobeats.com this week.

The selected pieces will be displayed, performed or included in the show on 16 May. On the night, there will be a selection of Glasgow's finest spoken word artists performing short sets; the mental health-related Universal Comedy troupe will be performing; and there will be a screening of a new documentary from mental health charity Mind Reel. The night will finish with live music, and a set from Philanthrobeats regular Tuscan Whale.