Eight candidates stood for four positions in our annual elections. 1405 members voted in this year’s election, administered by Electoral Reform Services. Elected members of the Management Committee serve for three years, and oversee the strategic direction and governance of the Society of Authors. Successful candidates and outgoing members The successful candidates are: Ferdinand Dennis –…
10 October 2017 It’s World Mental Health Day and we’re marking it with some wise words from mental health writer and campaigner Mark Brown, a book launch in aid of Mind, and a reminder about the mental health resources available on our website. ‘Mental health is too important to get wrong,’ said author Mark Brown…
Each guest is regarded as a ‘Woman of the Year’ and represents not only herself, but the millions of women who make a difference every day. Solomon is attending in celebration of her work leading campaigns to improve working conditions for authors in the UK, as well as fighting for fairer business dealings in the…
2 October 2017 The election ballot for vacancies on the SoA’s Management Committee is now open until noon on 25 October and we urge all Full Members to exercise your democratic right. Full Members* of the SoA should soon receive ballot papers and candidates’ statements for the 2017 Management Committee elections with your copy of…
UK PLR (Public Lending Right) have announced the launch of their new website, aimed at making it easier for users to keep in touch. You can now find them at www.bl.uk/plr. Users can still access their online account through the new PLR homepage, and all the usual pages regarding eligibility, registration and advice have been…
18 September 2017 On the eve of Ahmet Altan’s trial, the SoA and English PEN simultaneously published a specially commissioned article by Altan, translated by Yasemin Çongar, while scores of authors including Joanne Harris, Neil Gaiman, Philippe Sands QC and A L Kennedy have sent words of support. Facing the prospect of a life sentence,…
11 September 2017 The Society of Authors in Scotland has arranged for agents Jenny Brown (Jenny Brown Associates), Louise Lamont (LBA) and Philip Patterson (Marjacq Scripts); and commissioning editors Lori Herber (Editor, Bastei Lübbe), Francesca Main (Publishing Director, Picador) and Clare Whitston (Senior Commissioning Editor, Children’s, OUP) to hold individual meetings with delegates at the…
8 September 2017 The Society of Authors is inviting entries for its 2018 Authors’ Awards. Run by authors for authors, the prizes make up the UK’s biggest literary prize fund. A total of £94k was awarded in 2017. At a ceremony next summer, this unique range of prizes will celebrate the work of more than…
25 August 2017 We are excited to announce two new awards which will be distributed amongst our annual £250,000 Authors’ Foundation grants. All applicants for grants for work in progress will now be considered automatically for the Eric Ambler Awards, offered in memory of the spy thriller writer, and for the Antonia Fraser Grants, open…
22 August 2017 Brian had been a member of the SoA for more than 50 years, serving as distinguished Chair of our Management Committee in 1978, and subsequently for many years on our Council. He was a huge, prolific talent, deservedly recognised as a towering figure in science fiction since the 1960s, and settling firmly…
4 August 2017 Neil Gaiman, Philip Pullman, Joanna Trollope, Lemn Sissay and Joanne Harris are prepped to inspire poses and donate signed books next week in a five day ‘yoga challenge’, organised by The Society of Authors to raise awareness of the importance of authors looking after themselves and each other. Illustration © Anna Marinova…
28 July 2017 We have written an open letter to all publishers, raising authors’ concerns about special sales practice, and urging seven simple steps to ensure that special sales do not damage authors’ overall earnings or the market for full-price sales. Dear publishers, Please reassure authors by taking seven simple steps to ensure that special…
