The Bookseller's Disability Issue to return in October

The Bookseller is to publish a Disability Issue on 14th October edited for a second year by author Claire Wade, co-founder of Authors with Disabilities & Chronic Illnesses (ADCI).

Wade will work with bestselling writer Catherine Miller, who won the Katie Fforde Bursary in 2015, and Nydia Hetherington, author A Girl Made of Air, to bring the issue to fruition. It follows publication of the first Disability Issue last year on 24th September.

Wade is the author of The Choice (Orion) and winner of the Good Housekeeping First Novel Competition 2018 and the East Anglian Book Award 2020 for Fiction. She said: "With the first Disability Issue of The Bookseller, curated by ADCI, we were able to speak directly to the publishing industry and raise awareness of the obstacles disabled authors and employees face. This second issue is a great opportunity to review what has changed and explore how to continue increasing accessibility and inclusivity within the industry."

Wade said she was particularly looking for pieces about "the obstacles disabled people face, whether that’s to do with getting published, navigating the process, attending events, lack of opportunities etc. As well as raising the issues, I’m keen to include ideas on how to overcome them." Pitches from disabled authors, agents, editors, industry employees and booksellers, should be sent to Wade at disabledauthors@gmail.com by 8th July.

A preview of books, dedicated to authors with disabilities as well as books exploring issues around disability and chronic illness will also be published in the same issue. Book submissions, for titles to be published between November 2022 and October 2023, should be sent to The Bookseller by 19th August 2022. Printed books for the preview may be sent, with an AI, by 19th August, to Katie Fraser at The Stage Media Company, 47 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XT, or an electronic AI may be sent to Katie.Fraser@thebookseller.com. For advertising support, please contact Emma.Lowe@thebookseller.com.

A "youth" issue will also run on 19th August, and will include extensive coverage of the YA Book Prize that is set to be announced in Edinburgh. Commissioning for this will be led by Caroline Carpenter,The Bookseller’s deputy features editor/children’s editor. The issue is primarily to be focused on experiences of those under the age of 25 working in the book business, including authors and illustrators. Pitches may be sent to Caroline.Carpenter@thebookseller.com.