American author Joy Williams: ‘The comfy story has got to change’

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 ]
News tagged with: #uncannyjoy williams #story collections #numerous awards #published earlier #work ranges #philosophical examination #urgent engagements #environmental catastrophe #sonoran desert #earlier collection #ve moved #deathbed poem #gorgeous creation #ensouled earth #recent book

Other Publishing stories related to: 'American author Joy Williams: ‘The comfy story has got to change’'


Toni Morrison, Award-Winning Author of Beloved and More, Dead at 88

Morrison's accolades included a Pulitzer, a Nobel Prize in literature, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2019-08-06 14:40:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #toni morrison #nobel prize #presidential medal #award-winning author


Ocean Vuong (and his mom) steal the show at the second biannual Asian American Literature Festival.

All photos courtesy of Hannah Colen. Held in Washington D.C., the Second-Annual Asian American Literature Festival took place this year at multiple locations including the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Freer|Sackler Galleries, and kicked off at Franklin Park down the street from the Eaton... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-08-05 16:16:47 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ocean vuong #photos courtesy #american literature


17 Of The Best Christian Fiction Authors For Your TBR

When you're just in the mood for a good Christian novel, this list of the best Christian fiction authors might just be the best place to turn. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-08-05 10:34:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #christian fiction


Panel Mania: ‘Drawing Power: Women’s Stories of Sexual Violence, Harassment, and Survival’

Featuring a foreword by Roxane Gay, the comic anthology is a powerful and instructive collection of short stories by 60 female artists. The post Panel Mania: ‘Drawing Power: Women’s Stories of Sexual Violence, Harassment, and Survival’ appeared first on The Millions. Continue reading at The Millions

[ The Millions | 2019-08-02 10:00:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #drawing power #sexual violence #roxane gay #short stories #anthology


An American Bookseller's Summer in Rome

John Francisconi, the general manager of Bank Square Books in Mystic, Conn., is finishing up a three-week residency at Otherwise Bookshop in Rome and reflects on the experience for PW. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-08-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #american bookseller #general manager #bookshop


Formerly Self-Published Italian Author Lands Netflix Series

Netflix will produce a new series titled 'Zero,' an Italian-language show based on the work of 27-year-old Antonio Dikele Distefano, a formerly self-published Italian author whose books have sold hundreds of thousands of copies since he signed with Mondadori. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-08-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Hodder lands Williams audio guide to life curation

Hodder & Stoughton has landed a "brilliantly funny" non-fiction audio project from Laura Jane Williams based on her cult Instagram stories and online columns. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-02 01:38:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hodder stoughton #brilliantly funny #hodder


William Collins nets James Grant's history on UK's "unwritten" constitution

William Collins has acquired a new history of the British Constitution by legal expert and academic James Grant, about the UK's "unwritten" constitution. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-31 20:13:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #william collins


There’s a newly translated John Steinbeck story about a chef and his cat.

Long before funny cat content flooded every single corner of the internet, John Steinbeck, legendary dog person, was writing it for Le Figaro, proving once again that France gets all the good stuff before we do. Steinbeck wrote “The Amiable Fleas,” or “Les puces sympathiques,” in 1954 for Le... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-07-31 15:44:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #john steinbeck #good stuff #short stories


Unearthed Steinbeck Short Story Isn’t at All Like ‘Grapes of Wrath’

The quintessentially American author wrote pieces for a Paris newspaper in the 1950s. Now, one of those — about a nervous chef and a magnificent cat — is being published in English for the first time. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2019-07-31 09:00:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #american author


Review: Susan Straight's new memoir amplifies stories of strong women who survive and thrive

Susan Straight's new memoir, "In the Country of Women," depicts the tough, trauma-burdened women who have populated her life. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-07-30 19:40:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #strong women #susan straight #memoir


Murder? Poachers? What the hell is going on with Where the Crawdads Sing author Delia Owens?

A few days ago, Publishers Weekly reported that Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens’ debut novel and the September 2018 pick for Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine Book Club, topped a million in print sales in 2019. Today, Laura Miller at Slate had a much juicier story about Owens: her... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-07-30 15:00:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #delia owens #days ago #crawdads sing #reese witherspoon #print sales #debut novel


Can chess be bad for your health? One author found out.

In “All the Wrong Moves,” Sasha Chapin comedically revisits an obsession that took him to some strange places. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-07-30 15:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #strange places


How Google Is Thinking About Its Upcoming Changes for User Privacy

Earlier this year, Google outlined upcoming changes to its marketing-leading Chrome browser that are likely to prompt seismic changes for digital media trading with the company's leading privacy executive tipping the privacy overhaul for a 2019 launch. Speaking last week at Adweek's inaugural... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2019-07-29 18:27:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #chetna bindra #digital media


Is this the oldest debut author in history?

Sarah Yerkes didn’t begin writing until she was in her 90s, but last month, at the age of 101, she released her first collection of poems, Days of Blue and Flame. A graduate of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and a 74-year resident of Washington D.C., Yerkes had decades-long... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-07-29 16:21:29 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #graduate school #harvard university #debut author


Alice Slater to edit short story collection for Three of Cups

Indie micropublisher Three of Cups Press will publish a short story anthology, Outsiders, edited by podcast host Alice Slater. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-29 14:08:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Irish writers dominate Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award shortlist

The 2019 Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award shortlist is dominated by Irish authors with former winner and Booker Prize longlistee Kevin Barry and relative newcomers Danielle McLaughlin and Louise Kennedy in the running for the £30,000 prize. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-29 11:15:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #irish authors #louise kennedy


Mantle triumphs in five-way battle for Carter love story

Pan Mac imprint Mantle has triumphed in a five-way battle for a "true heartbreaker of a love story" from Eva Carter in a two-book deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-29 08:37:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #love story


Pearson must ‘force’ change in behaviour

An exclusive survey undertaken by Harris Interactive shows that Pearson’s pursuit of a digital-first textbook strategy may face challenges with UK students. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-29 01:37:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #face challenges


Orion nets non-fiction debut from Beach Hut author Henry

Beach Hut series author Veronica Henry is branching out with a debut non-fiction release celebrating food and life by the sea, acquired by Orion. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-28 21:23:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this |