New publishing house founded

Iris Delhoum and Elsa Pradier have launched Vents contraires, an independent publishing house, in response to growing concerns about media concentration and the dominance of a few large companies in the publishing industry. The initiative aims to create a space for diverse and politically engaged voices in literature and social sciences.

Focus on key themes

The publishing house is built around three main collections that bring together social sciences, political critique, and literature. These collections are designed to offer a coherent catalog grounded in solid political principles, emphasizing critical thought and cultural diversity in publishing.

First titles announced

The first three titles from Vents contraires include Anatomie d'une démocratie coloniale by Nitzan Perelman Becker, Le grand détournement médiatique by Pauline Trouillard, and La maison du Néguev by Suzanne El Farah El Kenz. These books address a range of topics, including the colonial project in Israel, the influence of American concepts of freedom of expression in Europe, and an autobiographical novel about the author's experiences with exile.

Future publishing goals

Vents contraires plans to release five titles in its first year and six in the second, with the goal of stabilizing around twelve books per year. The Ulule crowdfunding campaign is crucial for covering the basic costs of launching the publishing house and ensuring the realization of their ambitious program.

Additional crowdfunding projects

Other crowdfunding campaigns include Three against you, a young adult novel exploring a feminist historical romance; The Vengeance of the Mimosa, a first novel examining family secrets and resilience; and Ragnarök as you have never read it, a project offering Scandinavian mythology in a new format. Additional projects include Psithurisme, a first novel by E.C. Desvignes, and The waiting room of life, a personal development book for young graduates.

Media industry changes

In the publishing industry, Daniel Křetínský, owner of Editis, has received approval from the European Commission to acquire Fnac Darty, which could give him control over both a leading French publishing group and a major book seller in the country. This move may shift the balance of power in the French media and publishing landscape.

Restrictions on book selection

Meanwhile, the owner of Relay at Lyon station, Lagardère, has decided to remove booksellers' access to the ordering platform, reducing their autonomy in book selection. This decision has raised concerns about the independence of booksellers and the diversity of books available in retail spaces.

Language and AI in literature

Other developments include a proposed law in France to fight against "globish" and promote the French language, and a survey indicating that 69% of the French believe that a book written by AI is not real literature. Additionally, a judicial document indicated that authors and publishers involved in the 1.5 billion dollar settlement with Anthropic should receive their first compensation by the end of November.

Literary world updates

In the literary world, several authors and publishers have passed away, including Turkish writer Cem Akaş, French journalist Antoine Spire, and Japanese manga artist Tetsuya Chiba. Also, the National Central Library in Florence, which was damaged by a flood in 1966, has reopened parts of its space after sixty years.

Global publishing issues

In other news, a Canadian initiative to display poetry in public transport faces potential funding cuts, and a Georgia reform requiring a common school textbook for each subject has drawn criticism from the International Publishers Association. In the U.S., a federal appellate court ruled that school board members in Florida cannot use their position to avoid questions about books removed from libraries.