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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News and Events WLT From left to right: Top: Emmanuel Carrère, Jorie Graham, Jessica Hagedorn. Middle: Eduardo Halfón, Ismail Kadare, Sahar Khalifeh. Bottom: Abdellatif Laâbi, Lee Maracle, Hoa Nguyen. World Literature Today, the University of... Continue reading at World Literature Today
[ World Literature Today | 2019-07-19 14:45:14 UTC ]
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Clay Risen argues that the famous regiment became the face of U.S. global engagement. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2019-07-18 13:28:53 UTC ]
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Avon has bought four more novels from journalist and author Laura Jane Williams in a "significant" deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-18 04:30:54 UTC ]
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Powell’s employees were among a group on Monday night that protested a reading at the bookstore by Blake Nelson, a Portland author whose recent work and public statements have drawn on extremist right-wing rhetoric. Nelson’s newest book, The Red Pill—published by Bombardier Books in... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2019-07-17 18:00:11 UTC ]
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Why author Laila Lalami chose the Mojave desert as the setting for "The Other Americans," the latest read of the Los Angeles Times Book Club Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-07-17 14:00:28 UTC ]
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Andrea Camilleri, author of the Inspector Montalbano series, has died at the age of 93. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-17 02:58:54 UTC ]
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Imagine that you are a character from a classic tale pitching your memoir to a literary agent. You know that it will become the next bestseller. Write your query letter, story synopsis, or elevator pitch to the agent. The post It’s My Story and I’ll Pitch if I Want To by Cassandra Lipp appeared... Continue reading at Writer's Digest
[ Writer's Digest | 2019-07-16 09:00:28 UTC ]
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This excerpt-sampler of work from the anthology ‘Drawing Power: Women's Stories of Sexual Violence, Harassment, and Survival’ Edited by Diane Noomin, includes three stories by artists who survived sexual assault: Lee Mars’ “Got Over It,” Carol Lay’s “A Sampler of Misdeeds,” and Ajuan Mance’s... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-07-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The US Senate Committee on the Judiciary has a markup session scheduled for the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act on Thursday (July 18). The post US Publishers Association and Authors Guild Renew Support for CASE Act appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-07-16 02:09:29 UTC ]
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Sophie Cameron chats about LAST BUS TO EVERLAND, her new YA novel featuring magical realism and LGBTQ heroes, set in Scotland. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-07-15 10:31:25 UTC ]
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Indie publisher Comma Press and the University of Central Lancashire have teamed up with the Northern Short Story Festival for the next Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short Fiction. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-15 08:57:23 UTC ]
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The organisers of Stratford Literary Festival are extending their Bedtime Stories project, which helps families in areas of disadvantage read with their children, thanks to a £15,000 Arts Council England (ACE) grant. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-15 08:55:07 UTC ]
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“We write dystopian stories to be cautionary tales, not instruction manuals,” says Neal Shusterman. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2019-07-14 18:14:39 UTC ]
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As we descend into the hazy thick of summer, this week’s book events remind us that one day in a life has the power to change everything. Indeed, it’s all that ever changes anything. In the memoir corner, we have a traumatic encounter at the train station, a knock on the door of a rundown... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-07-12 14:20:00 UTC ]
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In his op-ed for Forbes last year, Panos Mourdoukoutas, a professor of economics at LIU Post in New York, suggested that Amazon stores should replace libraries to save taxpayers money. Following the backlash this preposterous suggestion created, Forbes took the article down. But the outpouring... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2019-07-12 08:48:09 UTC ]
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The Crime Writers' Association will continue the Margery Allingham Short Story competition for at least another five years and has plans to rename next year's prize. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-11 11:04:19 UTC ]
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A pitcher who had modest success with the Yankees in the 1960s, Bouton revealed the seamier side of baseball in a book that was a best seller. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2019-07-11 02:47:37 UTC ]
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Arundhati Roy, whose books include the Booker Prize-winning The God of Small Things along with The Ministry of Utmost Happiness and My Seditious Heart, spoke with writer Siddhartha Deb in May at Harlem’s Apollo Theater as part of PEN America’s World Voices Festival. The following is adapted from... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2019-07-10 08:49:18 UTC ]
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In this episode of A Phone Call With Paul, Paul Holdengraber speaks with David Ulin, writer, and former book critic of the Los Angeles Times, about the dramatic changes in Los Angeles, the literature of the city, and his work on Joan Didion. From the episode: Paul Holdengraber: What are the most... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2019-07-10 08:47:10 UTC ]
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Cypriot author Constantia Soteriou has won the £5,000 Commonwealth Short Story Prize with 'Death Customs', marking the first time the prize has been awarded to a translation as the judges choose an all-women line-up of regional winners. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-09 20:13:50 UTC ]
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