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 ]
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July Religion Bestsellers: Self-Published Authors Take Over, Wanda Brunstetter Stays #1

For the first time, a pair of self-published authors, Aaron and Jennifer Smith, took two spots on PW’s Religion Nonfiction Bestsellers list. Plus, Wanda Brunstetter topped the fiction list with the latest installment of her Amish Milionaire series. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Japan offices raided by antitrust authorities

Japan’s Fair Trade Commission has raided the offices of Amazon in Japan on suspicion of it pressuring retailers to offer products at lower prices than on rival sites, Reuters has reported. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Portman to star in TV adaptation of Karen Joy Fowler novel

Natalie Portman is to star in a miniseries adaptation of by Karen Joy Fowler (Serpent’s Tail). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dad's self-published bedtime story ordered by Virgin Atlantic

A devoted dad's self-published bedtime story, about a hot air balloon, a rabbit and an owl, has got off to a flying start after receiving an order for 2,000 copies from Virgin Atlantic airline. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Dat cheeeeeeeze’: How publishers from the HuffPost to The New York Times are using Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories are just a few days old, but publishers ranging from Bloomberg Business U.K. to Bustle have started playing with the feature. While Stories lack some of the bells and whistles offered by Snapchat Stories (which inspired the Instagram product), social teams are still finding a... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2016-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Drops E-book Royalty Suit Against S&S; Is Wiley Next?

S&S was incorrectly named in the original suit, but lawyers told PW that they are planning on filing suit against the book's current publisher, Wiley. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Coronet buys journalist's story of a 'no spend year'

Hodder imprint Coronet has acquired narrative non-fiction book No Spend Year by personal finance journalist Michelle McGagh. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hawkins enters world's 'highest paid authors' list

Three British writers made the list of the world’s 14 highest paid authors, with Paula Hawkins entering the table for the first time. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Untold story' of 2011 UK riots to Silvertail

Silvertail is to publish a behind-the-scenes account of the 2011 UK riots by former police officer Michael Matthews. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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General Electric Is Using Instagram Stories to Promote Its Snapchat Series About Volcanoes

Instagram Stories launched Tuesday, and brands are already using the Snapchat-like feature, which lets marketers and the digital platform's 500 million monthly users curate daily moments that disappear after 24 hours. In fact, General Electric is using its first Instagram story to push a video... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2016-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Holgate: inclusion of US authors 'disastrous' for Man Booker

Sunday Times literary editor Andrew Holgate has reignited the debate about the recent eligibility rule changes for the Man Booker Prize, saying that making US authors eligible for the Man Booker - which unlike some critics of the move he had been "excited" about when it was first mooted -  has... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Three buys for Unsung Stories

Red Squirrel imprint Unsung Stories has acquired world rights for three titles due for publication in 2017. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Siobhan Dowd story turned into graphic novel

Independent publisher Barrington Stoke is adapting short story "The Pavee and the Buffer Girl" by the late writer Siobhan Dowd into a graphic novel. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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LaHaye, Co-Author of Left Behind Series, Leaves A Lasting Impact

Tim LaHaye, the evangelical pastor and co-author of the best-selling Left Behind series, died of a stroke on Monday. He was 90. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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H&S to publish Brexit 'inside story' by Cameron's comms director

Hodder & Stoughton is publishing a book on the "inside story" of the EU referendum authored by Craig Oliver, David Cameron’s communications director, this autumn. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author, Executive Martin Levin Dies at Age 97

Martin Levin, whose many industry roles included publishing executive, mergers and acquisitions guru, and author, died July 25. He was 97. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-07-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What Happened When I Got Rid Of Everything In My House That Doesn't Spark Joy

Do socks really "spark joy?" This writer went through (nearly) every item in her house with some surprising results.I hate clutter. Growing up, my favorite book (and the only one I kept from my childhood) was The Boxcar Children, a story of four orphans who live in an abandoned train car with... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2016-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Poll: Will Verizon's Yahoo-AOL Combination Change Online Advertising?

Verizon's $4.83 billion deal for Yahoo's web assets, a play to combine the dot-com pioneer's content and ad-tech operations with those of Verizon subsidiary AOL, offers new reach and capabilities to advertisers, at least to hear executives involved tell it.This transaction is about unleashing... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2016-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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At Berrett-Koehler, an Emphasis on Authors

Berrett-Koehler pays a lot of attention to its authors, so much so that it puts a "severe cramp in scalability," said founder Steve Piersanti. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Story of Turkish journalist's arrest to Biteback

Biteback Publishing is to release We Are Arrested: A Journalist’s Notes from a Turkish Prison by journalist Can Dündar. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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