For our November 1, 2018, Genre Spotlight feature, Library Journal will be previewing upcoming sf/fantasy/horror titles, with a focus on notable debuts, series launches, and standalones released between November 2018 and April 2019.

Emily Wagner, who is writing the article, will also explore the current state of the genre. Among the issues to be covered:

• Genre trends: What settings/subgenres are waxing and waning this season? What's so new that it can't yet claim to be a subgenre but has potential to grow?
• Noteworthy debut authors, series launches, stand-alones: What have you seen in-house or from other publishers that is most original and mind-blowing this season?
• Publishing issues: What exciting works in translation are you seeing, and from where, and in what subgenres? Are you finding outstanding self-published novels or those from platforms like Wattpad to release? How is are formats shaking out: how is the balance between ebooks and print tipping, are e-originals a growing part of your model? Are you releasing series closer together than in the past? Experimenting with serials or other alternative publishing models? Do you see any differing patterns between library buying/circulation and consumers?
• Political reaction: With the midterm elections around the corner, are you seeing more or different near-future dystopias than usual, and are readers hungry for them or in search of comfort and/or solarpunk-style hopeful inspiration in response to the current political climate?
• Own voices: Given the ongoing demand for works by authors from historically marginalized groups, how much of your list is authored by members of those groups, is that number growing, and what are you doing to increase it further? Are there initiatives at your company which can help not only publish those works but make sure they get marketing and sales support and help diversity the in-house staff? What forthcoming titles and authors would you recommend for librarians looking to further increase representation in their collections?
• Media adaptions: With more and more F&SF titles being adapted for the small screen as well as the bygone, is this trend affecting what you publish, or what you see in submissions?

Please email the following information: author, title, publication date, ISBN, page count, price, marketing plans, formats available (print, audio, ebook), and a brief description—catalog copy will suffice—to Emily Wagner at wagner.emilyr@gmail.com.

The deadline is September 14, 2018.

Thank you so much for your help and participation!

All the best,

Meredith Schwartz
Executive Editor
Library Journal
123 William St., Suite 802
New York, NY 10038