KA Cartlidge

News from the worlds of writing, publishing, and related technology.

PEN America launches a US safety program for authors facing harassment

PEN America launched the U.S. Safety Program - training and resources for authors, illustrators, and translators who are facing threats and abuse online and at events. Hachette, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and others have chipped in close to a million dollars, and fundraisers like name auctions for future novels are aimed at keeping the program funded beyond press releases.

The group frames it as a response to censorship campaigns and harassment that have hit writers of challenged books especially hard. For anyone touring or posting about their work, it's a rare example of publishers and literary organizations pooling money for concrete safety help instead of leaving individuals to manage it alone.

(Shortened and summarised to avoid devaluing the source)
AP News - Books and literature