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’'


The Guardian view on modern writers: the myth of the reclusive author | Editorial

These days, most writers cannot afford to live secluded from their public. But when a very private author like Thomas Harris announces a new novel, there’s always special excitementAuthors – at least as far as their relationship with the public goes – fall into several distinct categories. There... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #day jobs #recent study #travel expenses #audience members


There Is No Good Way to Stop China From Planting Microchips in American Electronics

Cybersecurity is full of hard problems, but perhaps none so difficult as securing the supply chain for our electronic devices. That’s why the report published this week by Bloomberg about Chinese spies secretly planting microchips in American electronics in order to conduct espionage is so... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2018-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #supply chain #report published #opposite direction


Daily News publisher changing name back to Tribune

Over two years after a much-ridiculed branding change, Tronc, owner of the New York Daily News and other publications, is changing its name back to Tribune Publishing on Oct. 9. [] "> To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2018-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tribune publishing


PRH to publish 'Silence of the Lambs' author's first novel in 13 years

Thomas Harris, author of The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal, is returning after more than a decade with a new novel, to be published by Cornerstone imprint William Heinemann next year. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #thomas harris


Persaud wins £15k BBC Short Story Award

Trinidadian writer Ingrid Persaud has won the £15,000 BBC National Short Story Award for her tale about a man reunited with his absent father through the power of chocolate. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Century bags 'explosive', anonymously-authored US conspiracy thriller

Century will this month publish a US conspiracy thriller - "rooted in real life, but not 'a true story'" - featuring "a controversial and wealthy tycoon who is running for President of the United States and a former porn star who is ready to go public with details of their affair". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #conspiracy thriller #month publish #real life #true story


Sarpong, Porter and du Beke among Bookshop Day authors

June Sarpong, Sophie Mackintosh, Anton du Beke and Max Porter are some of the authors preparing to take part in this year's Bookshop Day on Saturday 6th October, according to The Booksellers Association, whose "unmissable" line-up also has children running bookshops, alongside poetry karaoke,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #max porter #du beke #sophie mackintosh #bookshop day #booksellers association #writing workshops #book clubs


Industry Notes: Man Booker’s Shortlisted Authors, London Book Fair’s Literacy Charity

The Man Booker Prize for Fiction (October 16) is preceded by a series of events with shortlisted authors, and London Book Fair has opened its search for its official 2019 literacy charity. The post Industry Notes: Man Booker’s Shortlisted Authors, London Book Fair’s Literacy Charity appeared... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-10-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #man booker #shortlisted authors #literacy charity


The Indie Author–Indie Bookseller Relationship Warms Up

More and more indie booksellers are tightening bonds with their communities is by stocking self-published titles by local writers—as long as they don't say a word about Amazon. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #indie author #indie booksellers


Hodder to publish bedtime stories for stressed adults

Hodder & Stoughton is publishing Bedtime Stories for Stressed Out Adults - a collection of “soothing and consoling best loved stories and poems aimed to calm an anxious mind before sleep”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hodder stoughton #adults - #anxious mind


CILIP makes changes at Carnegie and Kate Greenaway following diversity review

Library and information association CILIP has opened up nominations for the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards to other industry bodies and is introducing a ‘children’s choice’ prize, in response to the recommendations an independently chaired diversity review. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kate greenaway #industry bodies


Industry Notes: Copyright Clearance Center’s Frankfurt Programming; Changes Ahead for LitAg

As the world's largest book industry trade show prepares to undergo some construction updates in coming years, this year's longtime Frankfurt sponsor announces key programming events for the upcoming book fair. The post Industry Notes: Copyright Clearance Center’s Frankfurt Programming; Changes... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #litag appeared #coming years


ACFW 2018 Sharpens Focus on Author Training and Support

Attendance at the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers conference was up from last year, with the emphasis remaining on encouragement for both aspiring and established authors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #established authors


Irish TV star Ryan Tubridy pens Christmas jumper story

Walker Books will next month publish a Christmas story by Irish TV presenter Ryan Tubridy, with illustrations by Chris Judge. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #walker books #month publish #christmas story #chris judge


The ‘New’ Association of American Publishers to Focus on Advocacy, Copyright

Taking direction from its board members, the AAP has reset its focus on copyright and advocacy for the value of book publishing in modern society. The post The ‘New’ Association of American Publishers to Focus on Advocacy, Copyright appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #copyright appeared #american publishers #board members #book publishing


Who Was William Cooper? The Man Behind One of the Most Controversial Books of Our Time

William Cooper, author of 'Behold a Pale Horse,' did not plan to make his life into a harrowing saga of American despair, but that’s how it turned out. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #controversial books


Books to Film: Author Patrick deWitt on Seeing His ‘Sisters Brothers’ on Screen

'I enjoyed the experience of seeing the movie,' the Canadian author says–but only on his second viewing. Seeing his work go to the screen, Patrick deWitt says, takes some getting used to. The post Books to Film: Author Patrick deWitt on Seeing His ‘Sisters Brothers’ on Screen appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post books #sisters brothers #canadian author #patrick dewitt


Penguin Random House leads William Hill longlist

Penguin Random House (PRH) has four books on the longlist for this year’s William Hill Sports Book of the Year, which celebrates excellence in sports writing. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Kerr and Morpurgo support Seven Stories expansion campaign

Children’s authors Judith Kerr and Michael Morpurgo will next week launch a campaign to fund a new gallery at Seven Stories, the Newcastle-based National Centre for Children’s Books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #michael morpurgo


Scottish Book Trust announces author residencies

Authors Gerry Cambridge and Linda Strachan are part of a group of nine authors who will work with schools in Scotland as part of Live Literature School Residencies Programme, organised by Scottish Book Trust. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |