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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Nikesh Shukla calls industry’s backtracking ‘a perfect loop-de-loop of blame’ as he is joined by Jon McGregor in a groundswell of readers and authors demanding more diverse representationMan Booker winner Marlon James: ‘Writers of colour pander to the white woman’Authors Nikesh Shukla and Jon... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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There are few things more revealing than a fervent hobby. If you expose someone's passionate pastime, you somehow learn more about him than the activity alone should reveal. Think Vladimir Nabokov's butterflies, or George W. Bush's portraits. As for me, I've practiced only one activity with... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-11-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Andersen Press has acquired a satirical YA novel about two boys and Norse gods by debut author Julia Gray. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Weidenfeld & Nicolson is publishing award-winning journalist and broadcaster Sian Williams’ first book Rise: Surviving and Thriving After Trauma. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As race continues to be a hot topic in America, academic presses that have long specialized in African-American nonfiction are finding new opportunities in the trade market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What Twain eventually learned, after an interminable time on the trail, is that turkeys have a genius for feigning injury. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-11-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rabia Chaudry is writing an insider account of the case of Adnan Syed, a case she brought to the attention of "Serial", the weekly podcast that captivated millions. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A band of children's authors with recently published ninja-themed books have joined forces to organize Ninja Day Story Time, to encourage booksellers, librarians, and young ninja devotees to celebrate the occasion. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-11-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ranjit Bolt has won plaudits with A Lion Was Learning to SkiIn the summer of 2014, the spectacle of a middle-aged playwright selling limericks about “comedic giraffes” and “Spanish cicadas” was a regular one at Cambridge market. But as more followed – elephants, sharks and “a young lady from... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-11-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Gollancz has acquired William Gibson’s Sprawl Trilogy, comprising of Neuromancer, Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive and a collection of short fiction, Burning Chrome. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Guardian Faber has signed a non-fiction title called A Day in the Death of America by the Guardian's editor-at-large Gary Younge. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Stacy Schiff, P.J. Rourke and dozens more authors, illustrators, and celebrities will be interviewed at the 32nd annual Miami Book Fair at Miami Dade College (MDC) on Friday, Nov. 20 from 1-4 p.m. ET and Saturday and Sunday, November 21-22, noon – 5 p.m. ET each day. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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French authorities confirmed Thursday that the Islamic State militant suspected of masterminding the deadly Paris attacks was killed in a police raid the previous day. The body of Abdelhamid Abaaoud was found riddled with bullet and shrapnel wounds in the charred rubble of the raided apartment... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tom Gauld rings the changes for short fiction, following Philip Hensher’s article on creating an anthology of British short stories Continue reading... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Gavin McCrea, author of 'Mrs. Engels' (Catapult, 978-1-9367-8729-6) will be interviewed by 'Studio360' host Kurt Andersen on the program which airs Thursday, November 19 on WNYC at 8 p.m. ET. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Betsy Tobin and artist Tessa Shaw are to open Ink@84, the “independent bookshop of the future” in London's Highbury next month. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Microsoft is taking a novel approach to marketing its research projects with a series of free sci-fi short stories.The “Future Visions” anthology, available as a free ebook, includes stories from eight prominent science fiction authors, along with a short graphic novel and original... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2015-11-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Burt Reynolds, author of the memoir 'But Enough About Me' (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 978-0-399-17354-7) will appear on 'Fox & Friends' as well as NBC’s 'Access Hollywood' on Wednesday, November 18. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Eight years ago, we featured the 22-year-old creator of a site with 19 million users. 1.5 billion members later, the adventure continues.In early 2007, Fast Company senior writer Ellen McGirt got a rush assignment from the magazine's editor, Bob Safian. Both were newcomers to the publication,... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2015-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Music memoirs by artists such as Chrissie Hynde and Viv Albertine have taken the publishing world by storm, satisfying a hunger for less-told rock tales and changing our idea of what it means to be an ‘older woman’In 2010, at a Welsh literary festival, an editor got chatting to a 55-year-old... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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