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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Telling US Senators on the Foreign Relations Committee that the alternative is discrimination against readers with disabilities, Allan Adler conveys to the the Hill the Association of American Publishers' readiness to support ratification and implementation of The Marrakesh Treaty. The post The... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Children’s author David Almond has donated his archive to Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In a tightening market for fiction and especially for debut authors looking for that big break, editors can be choosier–and many are more dependent than ever on literary agents to find their next debuts. The post With Fewer Debut Novels Selling, What Do Editors Want To Tell Authors? appeared... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A debut author has hit back after her novel was criticised in an Observer review, which has become the focus of a debate on social media. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Philip Pullman is to judge a new 500-word short story competition which is being launched ahead of the 2018 Liverpool Literary Festival. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Constable has acquired a non-fiction book detailing acts of courage from Victoria Cross and George Cross recipients from charitable endeavour The Sebastopol Project. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The New York Times and The New Yorker won the Pulitzer Prize for public service Monday for breaking the Harvey Weinstein scandal with reporting that galvanized the (hash)MeToo movement and set off a national reckoning over sexual misconduct in the workplace. The Times and The Washington Post took... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Profile Books and the Wellcome Collection have acquired The First Mystery: The story of you - before you were born by Katharina Vestre and with illustrations by her sister, Linnea Vestre. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Steffanie Ness on how digital transformation empowers publishers to be responsive in a demanding market place. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In a joint venture with Mignon Fogarty, better known to her fans as Grammar Girl, Macmillan is producing the QDT podcast network, as well as a series of Quick and Dirty Tips books by Fogarty. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A new exhibit at the National Building Museum brings Matthew Desmond’s Pulitzer Prize winning book “Evicted” to life, with photographs, data, and audio. “For those of us that have never thought about eviction, I want them to realize what it’s doing to our families, and our children and our... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2018-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Despite a disappointing 2017, comics retailers attending the annual Diamond Retailers Summit in Chicago were optimistic about 2018, and expect new retail services and forthcoming titles to drive sales in the second half of the year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Does the burgeoning technology—best known in the finance industry for powering cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin—hold promise for publishing? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Good Literary Agency has made two new hires, Nicola Chang, of Aitken Alexander Associates and Arzu Tahsin, former publishing director of Weidenfeld & Nicolson. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ahead of its fourth anniversary, how is the organization faring? PW recently caught up with Brianna Schofield, executive directors of the Authors Alliance. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After a steep decline, the number and types of black-owned independent bookstores are growing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-04-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Quercus imprint riverrun has acquired a debut short story collection Friday Black by American writer Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Grammy-winning performer and songwriter Lucinda Williams has signed with Simon & Schuster UK to publish her memoir. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook published a blog post today detailing the changes it has made to how it manages users' data. You can read a broader summary of that report here, but among the new changes is a tweak to how Facebook collects and stores call and text history.... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2018-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Man Booker International Prize has drawn controversy for changing the nationality of one of its longlisted authors from “Taiwan” to “Taiwan, China”. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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