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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Authors, agents and publishers have praised the increase in the number of books with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and mental health themes in 2015, but added that more needs to be done in terms of publishing BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) authors and books that feature... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Assistant editor Drucilla Shultz recommends 'North 40' by Aaron Williams about a metamorphosizing book in a small desert town. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Presenter of the BBC's weekly "Meet the Author" programme, Nick Higham is leaving the show after six years at the show's helm on the BBC News Channel. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The number of Americans using adblockers will grow over the next three months, according to a report released today by Digital Content Next, a trade group representing online publishers. The study estimates that about a third of Amer ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher
[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Monica Parker, author of 'OMG! How Children See God' (HCI, 978-0-7573-1864-1) will appear on 'Tough Talk Christian Radio' with Tony Gambone on Thursday, December 10, at 10:30 a.m. ET. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In 'Why Liberals Win the Culture Wars,' Stephen Prothero narrates the history of the American culture wars from the country's founding through today, with some interesting revelations along the way. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins imprint Fourth Estate has signed My Absolute Darling, a debut novel from American author Gabriel Tallent, after an eight-way auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authorities in Pakistan are investigating whether Tashfeen Malik, one of the attackers in a San Bernardino shooting, had ties to Islamic militant organizations amid reports that she had pledged allegiance to an Islamic State leader on Facebook, Pakistani intelligence sources said... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The founder of 'author-centric' independent publisher September Publishing has said publishers should find time to “constructively” reject authors or they will “abandon the industry” and become self-published. Speaking on a panel entitled ‘Writing the future: author-centric publishing’ at... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Newspaper publishes online article saying ECB had ‘confounded expectations’ by deciding to hold interest rates, causing euro to temporarily plummetThe Financial Times is to review its digital publishing practices after publishing an inaccurate article about the European Central Bank’s decision... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kalem literary agency and Turkish publisher Everest gathering global publishers and translators in Istanbul to launch Farewell My Beautiful Motherland by Ahmed Umit. The post A One-of-a-Kind Celebration for Turkish Author Ahmed Umit appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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We take a look back at some of the library stories that captivated the publishing world in 2015, and a look ahead at what they portend for 2016. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In the late 1990s the venerable book trade chronicler Ian Norrie wrote to The Bookseller’s then-editor Louis Baum to complain about the inclusion of an author in the magazine’s series of The Great and the Good. “Authors are not part of the book trade per se,” Norrie wrote. This week The... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Society of Authors reveals 2015 saw the highest number of applications for financial assistance, with more well-known authors beginning to ask for helpA record number of struggling authors applied for emergency financial assistance in 2015, the Society of Authors has revealed, with... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Stuart Evers recently collaborated with U.K. folk trio Daughter, writing three short stories that provide the visuals for three music videos promoting Daughter's second album. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Yes, book publishers have a problem with writers of colour – it’s just not the one Man Booker prizewinner Marlon James describesThere are so few ethnic minority voices in publishing and the media that when one criticises another it has come to be regarded as a form of strike-breaking. Knowing... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A coalition of authors groups and booksellers is urging the Supreme Court to reverse the verdict in Apple's ebook price-fixing case. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors are divided into two camps – those who self-publish and those who are traditionally-published, and the “eternal debate” over which is superior should end, The Bookseller’s Author Day has heard. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ebury m.d. Rebecca Smart said that traditional publishers need to “shout from the rooftops” more about the value and investment they provide for authors. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Novelist Kamila Shamsie has said that traditional publishers’ focus on the “bottom line value of pounds and pennies” has meant a shift away from building authors’ careers in the long-term and created a lack of diversity and new voices. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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