Self-publishing routes

An examination of the Jewish origins of the "Mensch of Steel", a look at the "romance" of mathematical curves and a volume that seeks to rectify the shocking lack of research into the health benefits of camel milk are among the six books that will vie to become the 2021 recipient of The Bookseller/Diagram Prize for the Oddest Book Title of the Year.

Tributes have been paid to bestselling novelist and "icon" Wilbur Smith after he died unexpectedly at his Cape Town home, aged 88.

Smith passed away on the afternoon of 13th November with his wife Niso by his side "after a morning of reading and writing", Wilbur Smith Books announced.

Paratext fascinates me to no end. I love looking and thinking about all of the pieces that comprise a book which aren't the actual narrative itself: the book's colophon, the book's description and flap copy, the author's biography, and the copyright page hold so much information about the book and its context that overlooking them feels wrong.  Read more

The proportion of children's books featuring a minority ethnic character has almost quadrupled in the last four years, according to a new survey - but researchers say "we are not yet at the point where children of colour have the same experience of literature as their white peers".

The Department of Justice's attempt to halt Penguin Random House's acquisition of Simon & Schuster finds support within an industry already burned by bad trends. "Obviously every agent is thrilled that the wheels might be grinding to a halt on this," one insider says.