The novelist and short story writer on her new book about Azrael, the angel of death, her encounters with Raymond Carver and Richard Yates, and why fiction should be uncannyJoy Williams, 80, has written five novels and four story collections and is the recipient of numerous awards. Her most recent book of short stories, Concerning the Future of Souls: 99 Stories of Azrael (Tuskar Rock), was published earlier this year. Her work ranges from the philosophical examination of being, belief and morality to urgent engagements with environmental catastrophe; James Salter wrote of her that she belongs in the company of Céline and Flannery O’Connor. Born in Massachusetts, she now lives in the Sonoran desert.An earlier collection of yours was called 99 Stories of God, and now you’ve moved on to Azrael (the angel of death and transporter of souls) as the subject. What drew you to him?I read in a WS Merwin collection his translation of Hadrian’s deathbed poem to his soul – Animula vagula blandula – so sorrowful and succinct. The soul, a worthy subject. And Azrael has always fascinated me: he was death, but not death exactly. He was more a gorgeous creation of Islam. I picture him as responsible for all the souls of this ensouled Earth. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2024-10-19 17:00:20 UTC ]
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When I think of literary authors, I often imagine my college reading list — and my lecturer’s pontifications on how their books have been meticulously etched into the canon of cultural significance. I rarely think about storytime with Mom and Dad. So would you believe it if I told you that Nobel... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2019-10-11 11:00:05 UTC ]
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William Kent Krueger’s career arc is an example of what publishers claim they want to do but find it increasingly hard to accomplish: grow an author. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The author's new novel imagines the “lost” diary of Mary Pinchot Meyer, JFK’s murdered paramour. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Bluebird has swooped for an "imaginative, beautiful and mindful" children’s activity compendium from illustrator Laura Brand, featuring a foreword by Fearne Cotton. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-10 19:48:04 UTC ]
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Octopus imprint Endeavour has bagged the untold story of forensics pioneer Frances Glessner Lee by investigator Bruce Goldfarb. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-09 12:45:41 UTC ]
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Following its decision to close all bricks-and-mortar store locations, LifeWay Christian Resources is offering other retailers a discount on all LifeWay branded products as well as books from its B&H imprint as part of a new program. Over 400 stores have signed up since June. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Rathbones Folio Prize has brought forward its 2020 shortlist and winner schedule two months earlier than in previous years. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-09 02:57:15 UTC ]
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Chicken House has struck a three-book deal with debut author Holly Rivers for her middle-grade mystery series, Demelza and the Spectre Detectors. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-08 23:08:40 UTC ]
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The kids in “Look Both Ways,” a National Book Award finalist, share hustles, jokes, video games, board tricks, secret messages and private dreams. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2019-10-08 20:46:07 UTC ]
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In his poems, essays, short stories and novels, he highlighted the differences between East and West Germany, even after the Berlin Wall fell. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2019-10-07 22:40:33 UTC ]
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Leicester County Council has published the UK’s first storybook written by children in care. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-07 20:29:02 UTC ]
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Translating one medium into another is tricky. Music is music and art is art and dance is dance; to try to convey the power of another art in fiction is its own sleight-of-hand. My own first novel takes on that challenge. In A Song For A New Day, musician Luce Cannon was on the cusp […] The post... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2019-10-07 11:00:15 UTC ]
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Whether you're looking to break a reading slump or prefer short form writing, we've got the deets on where you can find free short stories online. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-10-07 10:37:57 UTC ]
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Growing up, Jeff Kinney discovered Tolkien, comics and computers at his local bookshop. When it closed he was bereft – would opening his own as an adult help to right that wrong?Author Jacqueline Woodson recently spoke about books being either mirrors or windows. Mirrors for seeing ourselves,... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2019-10-05 09:00:40 UTC ]
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Titan Books has signed Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and Blue Peter Book Award shortlisted author Polly Ho-Yen's debut adult novel. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-04 16:28:19 UTC ]
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HarperFiction has snapped up Dog Rose Dirt, the first thriller from award-winning fantasy novelist Jen Williams. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-04 00:12:15 UTC ]
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Queer Eye host and “Antoni in the Kitchen” author Antoni Porowski shares his media diet. TV Show Jack Whitehall: Travels with my fatherRead Full Story Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2019-10-03 07:00:13 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury has acquired Irish writer Louise Kennedy’s debut collection of short stories and her first novel in a "fiercely contested" nine-way bidding war, ahead of this month’s Frankfurt Book Fair. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-02 22:07:05 UTC ]
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Did you know that there’s an entire genre of books dedicated to white people going to Nepal to find themselves? I didn’t either! But it’s not so surprising since the release of Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir Eat, Pray, Love, and its 2010 film adaptation, which has caused an uptick in tourism to... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2019-10-02 11:00:13 UTC ]
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This week on The Maris Review, Kimberly King Parsons joins Maris Kreizman to discuss her National Book Award longlisted short story collection, Black Light, now available from Vintage. On sitting with the grime in her stories: Maris: The title really does provide a tool to wrap one’s head around... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2019-10-02 08:48:20 UTC ]
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