27 January 2016 On 25 January, following a huge response to a petition, the House of Commons debated plans to introduce quarterly tax ‘updates’ for the self-employed and small businesses. Changes to tax administration impact on authors and many of you signed the petition and made your concerns known to the Petitions Committee ahead of…
25 January 2016 Our President Philip Pullman tops the Books section of the Debrett’s 500, ‘a positive endorsement and recognition of Britain’s 500 most influential people.’ Pullman is praised for his advocacy of authors’ and readers’ interests as well as his writing: Pullman has campaigned against age and gender labelling of literature as part of…
Earlier this month we wrote to publishers as part of an international movement calling for action on contract terms. In an open letter we asked publishers to take responsibility for their role in authors’ income by reviewing their contract terms and treatment of authors. We were delighted by the widespread media coverage of the story…
Literary festivals’ payment of authors has been prominent in the news this month, prompted by Philip Pullman’s resignation as Patron of Oxford Literary Festival. The SoA President resigned his role at OLF because they do not pay authors. We welcome this principled stance by our President and the support it has attracted. Last year we…
21 January 2016 We’re delighted that the plans to make cuts of more than 10% to the Welsh Books Council have been scrapped after protests from Welsh- and English-language writers. More than 500 authors wrote to the Welsh Assembly, as did publishers, to explain the devastating impact the cuts – more than twice those proposed…
More than 400 writers have written to protest against proposed cuts which threaten the future of the Welsh publishing industry. Welsh- and English-language writers are standing in solidarity to oppose the 10% cuts to the Welsh Book Council (WBC). The SoA shares their concerns and welcomes and supports the letters to the Welsh Assembly. The…
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Our President, Philip Pullman, has resigned as a Patron of Oxford Literary Festival because they do not pay authors. He explained his decision: My position as President of the Society of Authors, which has been campaigning for fair payment for speakers at literary festivals, sat rather awkwardly with my position as Patron of the Oxford…
Sean Grundy, Joseph O’Connor and Julian Simpson have been shortlisted for the Tinniswood Award for the best original audio drama script – the UK’s premier prize for audio drama writing. New talent is also celebrated in the Imison Award. Debut audio drama writers Eoin O’Connor, Iain A J Ross and Emma Spurgin Hussey are shortlisted….
5 January 2016 The SoA has today written to publishers to ask them to help improve authors’ earnings by addressing contractual terms. The letter is part of an international collective call to action on creator contracts. In an open letter, addressed to members of the Publishers’ Association and the Independent Publishers Guild, we ask publishers…
4 January 2016 We are delighted that authors Simon Brett and Vivian French and screenwriter Peter Morgan have been recognised in the 2016 New Year’s Honours List. Brett, who receives an OBE for services to Literature, sits on the SoA’s Council and is a trustee of the Authors’ Foundation. Children’s author French receives an MBE for services to Literature,…
14 December 2015 Following the Culture Minister Ed Vaizey’s call for input on the Government’s White Paper on Culture the SoA has made a submission. Our submission is based on four key principles: Culture plays an important role in the economy and investment is essential – as two recent reports have clearly shown. Culture also has…
