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RE: Who Needs Book Publishers When You Have Steemit?
As someone who practically lives in a bookstore I can tell you that never before has there been so many genres and cross-genres of books available to the public. And yes, most of these are published with great care by traditional publishers who are just as keen as the consumer to offer books that feature diversity (including sexual and gender diversity) and play against stereotype. Today's literary marketplace includes everything from beautifully illustrated feminist graphic novels for the youth market to cross-genre travel memoirs to sci-fi with heroines and books on STEM for kids...and everything in between. In the past decade, publishers and editors have done a 180 in regards to overturning old models in publishing. Hurrah!
@Florentina, I agree; things are changing rapidly, particularly in the past few years. Unfortunately most publishers still struggle with cross-genre fiction. They just don't know what to do with it.
For sure, the difference between "literary" and "popular" writing has blurred but today's publishers --especially the Big Six-- have taken advantage of this. I mean, consider that as far back as 1992, Donna Tartt was changing the rules with her bestselling debut, The Secret History--a literary novel that was also a mystery thriller. The book, along with so many others in the 90s, changed the rules and has given us cross-genre writers like Cory Doctorow, Neil Gaiman, Annie Dillard and so many others. The amazing author and literary critic, Lev Grossman, does really well with his "hybrid" fantasy novels which are written in a literary style.
Funny you mention Lev, I am seeing him in just a few days. He is speaking at the Sydney Opera House. He is a great champion of the democratisation of literature.
How wonderful!