Sapling issue #847

The one in which we talk to emerging author J Efron.

Hi writers.

Last week, the longlist was announced in the The James Patterson and Bookshop.org Prize, “a new literary prize celebrating debut authors, hand-selected by independent booksellers.” We spy books from small and independent publishers Catapult, Erewhon Books, Curbstone Press, 7.13 Books, Counterpoint, and University Press of Kentucky among the honored titles. In fact, there are more books represented from independent presses than the big 5!

In other news, if you or a writer you know has a book that qualifies in the class action suit against AI company Anthropic, the deadline to file a claim is coming up on March 30, 2026.

Now, here’s what’s happening in the small press world this week.

—Kit
Managing Editor / Sapling editor
Black Lawrence Press

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