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The Bookseller is to run two new category previews in the second quarter of 2021 as it looks to highlight growing areas of the market and key national celebrations such as Black History Month and Pride. A Black authors preview will run in the issue of the 9th April, and an LGBTQ+ spotlight in the issue of the 30th April; publishers are invited to submit their titles now covering the period from May 2021 to June 2022.
The Black authors preview is to be written by journalist and former Bookseller reporter Natasha Onwuemezi, and will cover books to be published in any format, and any genre, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry and children's and Young Adult (YA) writing. It was first suggested after a meeting with the Black Agents & Editors' Group (BAE).
The aim will be to showcase Black writers and illustrators, and also provide booksellers with key stock information for the year, including ahead of Black History Month in October. The preview will be published in the issue of 9th April, which will also carry an additional focus on Black publishing, agenting and writing. Submissions should be sent to The Bookseller by Friday 5th March (see below).
The category spotlight on LGBTQ+ books will be compiled and written by the journalist and writer Matthew Todd, a former editor of Attitude magazine. It will cover books published in any format, and any genre, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry and children's and YA writing. The aim will be to showcase writing and illustration in this area, but also provide booksellers with key stock information for the year, including ahead of Pride in June. The preview will be published in the issue of 30th April, with submissions to be sent to The Bookseller by Friday 19th March (see below).
The new previews follow an expansion in recent years with annual spotlights now on Scotland (23rd April), Wales (21st May), Ireland (10th September), and the North of England (23rd July) also slated to run in 2021.They complement The Bookseller's New Titles previews that run weekly in the magazine and online and cover a wide range of books across fiction, non-fiction, children's and paperbacks.
Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller, said: "We recognise that creating space in our busy previews schedule was important at a time when the change we all want to see needs continual impetus. The previews help connect publishers with booksellers, as well as providing a showcase for writers and illustrators, and we hope to see publishers strongly support these new previews with their submissions, so that we might repeat them in 2022. The intention is to further develop the programme over the next 12 months, including in other traditionally under-represented areas."
Printed books may be sent to Sasha McMullin at 28 Eastview Avenue, London, SE18 2HT, or electronically to Tamsin.Hackett@thebookseller.com. For advertising opportunities, please contact Emma.Lowe@thebookseller.com.