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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Mitchell and Smith among 220 authors and illustrators backing Carnegie occupiers

Writers David Mitchell, Ali Smith, Cathy Cassidy, Nick Hornby and David Nicholls are among the top names who have signed an open letter supporting the occupiers of Carnegie Library and condemning the proposed changes to the Lambeth library service. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Harry Potter author JK Rowling's chair up for auction

A wooden dining chair used by author JK Rowling while she wrote the first two Harry Potter books is up for grabs at auction in New York -  and it is expected to fetch tens of thousands of dollars. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2016-04-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Betting on Africa’: A Nigerian Author’s Choice of Publisher

Having published her first novel, Dependence, with Legend in London, Sarah Ladipo Manyika turns to Abuja's Cassava Republic for her second outing. The post ‘Betting on Africa’: A Nigerian Author’s Choice of Publisher appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-04-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air April 5, 2016: Daniel A. Sjursen, Caleb Kaltenbach

Daniel A. Sjursen, author of Ghost Riders of Baghdad: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Myth of the Surge (ForeEdge, 978-1-61168-781-1) will be on WDBO FM 96.5 with Pat Williams on Thursday, April 7 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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China author wins children's book prize

Beijing-based author Cao Wenxuan becomes the first Chinese author to win the Hans Christian Andersen award for children's literature. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2016-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mexican Author Wins Human Rights Award

Lydia Cacho is one of two writers who were recently named the winners of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives/Puffin Award for Human Rights Activism. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Female authors make inroads at major publications – survey

Bylines by women at the New York Times Book Review and the New Republic are among the ‘dramatic increases’ over the last year, according to Vida’s annual survey of the publishing gender splitFemale authors and reviewers have found more room on literary pages over the last year, according to the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Getty Foundation to issue $8.5 million in grants for Latino and Latin American-themed shows across SoCal

A show about the boundary-pushing art of radical Latin American women and another devoted to the science fiction of the Americas are just two of 43 exhibitions and events receiving $8.5 million in grants from the Getty Foundation as part of Pacific Standard Time: Los Angeles/Latin America,... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-03-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Canadian Festivals: Paying Authors, Selling Books, Building Readership

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air March 28, 2016: Adam Hochschild, Caleb Kaltenbach, Jon Land

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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JK Rowling posts letters of rejection on Twitter to help budding authors

Harry Potter writer shares publishers’ brush-offs for first Robert Galbraith novel in attempt to to inspire other authorsThe Harry Potter author JK Rowling has shared some withering rebuffs publishers sent to her alter ego Robert Galbraith, in an effort to comfort aspiring authors.Rowling posted... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Audible UK sponsors short story salon

Audible UK has signed a deal to sponsor events organised by Pin Drop, the short story salon founded by curator Simon Oldfield and writer Elizabeth Day. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors to receive payouts following PLR miscalculation

More than 20,000 authors are to receive a share of the £264,000 payout from libraries body Public Lending Right following an error in the calculation of PLR annual figures. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bobby Charlton's World Cup Story to Yellow Jersey

Yellow Jersey Press is to publish Sir Bobby Charlton's account of "England's greatest sporting achievement" - the 1966 Football World Cup. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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NFL rule changes include the elimination of chop blocks, longer extra points

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[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Untold Life Stories of Buddhist Nuns Revealed

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The future of the Spanish language? It will be more Latin American -- and more English

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[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Winslow to Co-Author First Novel from Michael Mann Books

The first project in the pipeline for the just-announced Michael Mann Books is a new novel by Don Winslow. 'The Cartel' author will co-create a book, with Mann, about the American mobsters Tony Accardo and Sam Giancana. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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American University in Cairo Press Launches New Fiction Imprint

The mission of new fiction imprint Hoopoe is to "accurately reflect what is going on in the Middle East, from the Middle East." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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