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In this week’s issue, in children’s lit, the graphic novel is skewing younger to kids four years to eight; Scribd launches a new audiobook offering aimed at small and independent publishers; an essay on ensuring that the stories of sexual assault and other trauma victims get heard; even the most successful authors get their books rejected, and more.

Kid reading: Public domain image

The American Academy of Arts and Letters Unveils Expanded Roster
The New York Times
“The American Academy of Arts and Letters, an honor society of leading architects, artists, composers and writers, announced 33 new members, including poet Joy Harjo and author Ta-Nehisi Coates, as part of its effort to expand and diversify.”

Scribd Announces an Audiobook Production Line, Highlighting Independent Publishers
Publishing Perspectives
“In its second self-produced imprint, the subscription service Scribd adds audiobook titles, opening with ‘Black Imagination,’ to its newly launched Scribd Audio brand”

We Can’t Believe Survivors’ Stories If We Never Hear Them
Electric Literature
“Our ideas about which narratives are important, sane, or credible depend on what we see reflected in culture”

Comics Formats Go Younger
Publishers Weekly
“As sales of middle-grade graphic novels continue to grow, publishers are bringing the format to a younger audience, with a new wave of graphic novels for early readers, ages four to eight.”

Frankfurt Commits to In-Person Fair, Opens Registration
Publishers Weekly
The Frankfurt Book Fair returns October 20-24, and will offer a combination of in-person and virtual events, after being all virtual in 2020 due to the COVID epidemic.

Here are the Finalists for the 2021 Joyce Carol Oates Prize.
Literary Hub
Danielle Evans, Jenny Offill, Darin Strauss, and Lysley Tenorio are this year’s finalists for the $50,000 Joyce Carol Oates Prize. The winner will be announced in late April.

If Witing’s Got You Down, Remember that James Patterson’s First Book Was Rejected 31 Times
Literary Hub
When feeling the sting of rejection, note that James Patterson, the world’s highest-paid author who has sold more than 425 million copies of his books, had his first novel rejected 31 times.