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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Sphere has signed two books from thriller writer Karen Dionne for a "significant" six-figure sum following a "heated" seven-way publisher auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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While some attendees, especially booksellers, rejoiced at a more “intimate” BEA, this year's show, in the Windy City for the first time in 12 years, left others concerned about what’s lost when the event leaves its standing locale of New York City. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The last two years have seen some major shifts at Danbury, Conn.-based Westchester Publishing Services, a composition and editorial services company with a focus on the trade; academic and scholarly; professional and institutional; and STM publishing markets. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As sales of print books stabilize, book manufacturers are seeking to grow their revenue by offering warehousing and distribution, as well as editorial and other publishing services. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Beginning with this fall’s list Abrams will phase out the name of its Stewart, Tabori & Chang imprint and publish all titles under the Abrams banner. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury is partnering YA authors with booktubers (vloggers who talk about books on YouTube) for a new anthology. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The author Jenny Diski, who published a memoir about living with inoperable lung cancer only last week, has died aged 68. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Traditionally, the American market for Spanish-language books has been dominated by big publishers from Latin America and Spain. But now there’s a new wave of independents making a splash. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster UK has acquired to novels by Swedish author Malin Persson Giolito from Astri von Arbin Ahlander at the Ahlander Agency in Stockholm. UK and Commonwealth rights to Persson Giolito’s Quicksand, as well as her next novel, were bought at auction at the London Book Fair by... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers Amberley, Faber & Faber and Ebury are bringing out titles on the Hillsborough disaster after justice prevailed for the victims and their families 27 years on. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jan Constantine will step down as the legal counsel of the Authors Guild at the end of April, just a few days after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Guild's appeal in its copyright infringement lawsuit against Google. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-04-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The US Authors Guild’s appeal against the earlier ruling that allows the tech giant to scan millions of books under ‘fair use’ has been rejected by the Supreme CourtA long-running face-off between the US Authors Guild and Google over the search engine’s scanning of millions of books was brought... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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To prove that authors do not need to cancel events in North Carolina in order to show their opposition to the state's new "bathroom law," local bestseller Sara Gruen has mounted an event called "Kill the Bill" with a major local bookseller, and other NC authors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The novelist and the 'New Yorker' staff writer take home the prizes for fiction and biography respectively at the centennial awards ceremony. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A letter signed by writers including Pulitzer winners Junot Diaz, Alice Walker, and Richard Ford calls PEN's acceptance of Israeli support "deeply regrettable." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Self-published writers have voiced disgruntlement about a perceived sidelining of the Author HQ area at London Book Fair, calling it a “step backwards” for the independent author movement. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In response to Sherman Alexie’s decision to cancel an appearance in North Carolina and concerns that more cancellations could follow, the ABA and other book-related groups asked authors not to punish booksellers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author and biographer Adrian Greenwood has died following a “vicious and sustained” attack in his home. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Just before the start of the 2015 Frankfurt Book Fair, Publishing Technology promoted chief technology officer David Montgomery to CEO. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After the success of Ted Rall's 'Bernie,' the publisher has commissioned works on Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump to drop during this election cycle. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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