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’'


Trapeze clinches 'emotionally charged' love story from suspense writer Adams

Trapeze has snapped up a “sweeping” love story by Michelle Adams, marking a change in direction for the suspense author and scientist, as the Cornwall-based tale also attracts auctions and pre-empts from across the world. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-13 19:27:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #love story


“The Westing Game,” a Tribute to Labor That Became a Dark Comedy of American Capitalism

Jia Tolentino writes about the children’s book “The Westing Game,” by Ellen Raskin. Continue reading at New Yorker

[ New Yorker | 2019-06-13 16:15:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #westing game #dark comedy #american capitalism #children’s book


A meditation on race, class — and murder — set in one of Europe’s most storied cities

John Domini’s novel “The Color Inside a Melon” pushes readers beyond the expected. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-06-13 15:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


How Has the Internet Changed Book Culture?

A PubTechConnect event this week posed this question and more to some of the internet's most influential young books personalities. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-06-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Penguin rebuts charge of antisemitism against author Pedro Baños

Publisher’s review of How They Rule the World, accused of prejudice in its coverage of the Rothschilds, finds book ‘robust’ but not antisemiticPenguin has undertaken a “thorough” review of one of its books, Spanish colonel Pedro Baños’s How They Rule the World, after allegations of antisemitism... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-06-11 13:01:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #global power #mein kampf #penguin random house


Visa issues could stop authors attending Edinburgh Book Festival, warns director

Problems obtaining visas to enter the UK could put off authors from attending the Edinburgh International Book Festival, its director has warned. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-09 05:37:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #visa issues


Hamish Hamilton to publish Jonathan Safran Foer’s take on climate change

PRH imprint Hamish Hamilton will publish Jonathan Safran Foer’s "urgent and compelling work" of non-fiction We Are The Weather: Saving The Planet Begins At Breakfast later this year.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-08 12:53:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hamish hamilton #climate change


Telling stories that all can enjoy

Children’s books with Muslim characters can help open minds, and provide kids with role models that have stories like theirs. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2019-06-08 12:19:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #telling stories #muslim characters #open minds #role models


Life beyond ‘Star Trek’: Kate Mulgrew’s poignant, sometimes shocking family story

In her memoir “How to Forget,” the actress shows another side of her steely TV persona. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-06-07 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #star trek #kate mulgrew


ABC news boss Gaven Morris faces staff revolt over spiked Adani story | Weekly Beast

News director named on a warrant by the AFP but at least that redirected staff anger for a day. Plus: News Corp exodusWhen the Australian federal police swept into Ultimo with a search warrant for ABC news on Wednesday it was a mixed blessing for news director Gaven Morris.Morris’s name was on... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-06-07 01:26:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #search warrant #abc news #mixed blessing #high drama


BookExpo 2019: Middle Grade Buzz Authors Discuss Filling Voids

A BookExpo panel on May 31 gathered five creators of buzzed-about middle grade novels to discuss their upcoming works. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-06-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookexpo panel #upcoming works


How Dr. Seuss Changed Education in America

I-Huei Go on Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, and how his children’s classics—such as “The Cat in the Hat,” “The Lorax,” and “Horton Hears a Who!”—were part of a revolution in children’s education. Continue reading at New Yorker

[ New Yorker | 2019-06-05 09:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Changes at Macmillan Field Sales, Operations

Tim Greco has been hired and Holly Ruck and Malati Chavali have been named to new positions at Macmillan, where the sales team has been undergoing an overhaul of late. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-06-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sales team


In Elizabeth Gilbert’s ‘City of Girls,’ a young woman discovers the joys of sex

The novel argues for the right to sexual relations without the frisson of sexual relations. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-06-03 15:15:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #elizabeth gilbert #sexual relations


Atwood, Haig and Kay join National Theatre's celebration of authors

Margaret Atwood, Matt Haig and Adam Kay will all take part in the National Theatre's upcoming Authors of Stage series celebrating authors across the world.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-02 09:38:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #margaret atwood #upcoming authors #national theatre


Are Facebook Stories Ads Beginning to Catch On With Brands?

Facebook introduced ads for Stories last September and, while the social network and some of its advertisers are bullish on the option, the jury remains out among the ad community in general. Over 500 million people are using Stories on Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp (where the... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2019-05-31 19:45:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ad community


Everyday hardship and brutal authorities, in ancient and modern Egypt

With insights from the pharaohs’ era, Peter Hessler explores today’s chaotic Egyptian society. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-05-31 11:43:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #modern egypt


Puffins found starving to death in mass die-off likely linked to climate change, study suggests

Thousands of tufted puffins in the Bering Sea are dead partly because of starvation and stress brought on by changing climate conditions, researchers say. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2019-05-30 17:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #climate change #study suggests


Tony Horwitz Dies at 60; Prize-Winning Journalist and Best-Selling Author

A Pulitzer Prize winner at The Wall Street Journal, he wrote the best sellers “Blue Latitudes” and “Confederates in the Attic” and seven other books. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2019-05-30 16:33:57 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #best-selling author


During BookExpo: BookBrunch Announces American ‘Selfies’ Awards

Even as the London Book Fair brings its CAMEO Awards this week to BookExpo, BookBrunch does the same with its Selfies Awards for self-publishing authors. The post During BookExpo: BookBrunch Announces American ‘Selfies’ Awards appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-05-30 05:30:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cameo awards