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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Foreign authors warned about book censorship in China

Books translated for the fast-growing Chinese market may be censored without their authors’ knowledge, a writers’ advocacy group reportsA US-based advocacy group is warning Western authors to be vigilant about censorship of their work, which is sometimes done without their knowledge, in China’s... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-05-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books translated #foreign books #political sensitivities


Pronoun: Re-branded Vook Promises Authors 100% Royalties

Venerable digital publishing platform Vook is no longer, but has been re-imagined and rebranded as Pronoun — a company that will offer 100% royalties. The post Pronoun: Re-branded Vook Promises Authors 100% Royalties appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-05-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Garnons-Williams moves to 4th Estate

HarperCollins has appointed Helen Garnons-Williams as publishing director of 4th Estate, moving from her role as publishing director at Bloomsbury. Meanwhile, at Bloomsbury, Alexa von Hirschberg has been promoted from commissioning editor to senior fiction editor. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Global news organisations agree to share climate change content

The Guardian, El País, Le Monde and China Daily are among 25 publishers aiming to raise awareness in the runup to the next UN summitAn unprecedented alliance of news publishers including the Guardian, El País, Le Monde and China Daily have agreed to share climate change content to raise... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-05-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Short story competition for No Exit

Oldcastle Books is launching a new short story competition for its crime fiction imprint No Exit Press as part of Oldcastle’s 30th anniversary celebrations. The competition will launch on 25th May to mark the publication of Leigh Russell’s latest novel, Killer Plan. It will be open to any... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperFiction signs Impulse authors

HarperFiction has signed two new deals with writers discovered through its digital-first HarperImpulse programme. Debbie Johnson and Carmel Harrington were both originally published by HarperImpulse, which digitally published romantic fiction. Johnson has seen success with Cold Feet at... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Will Author Solutions Case Go Class Action?

With legal briefs now filed, attorneys for the author plaintiffs argue that a common question merits class action status: “Did [Author Solutions] engage in a fraudulent scheme to sell authors worthless marketing services?” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air May 18, 2015: Erin Kelly and Rifqa Bary

Erin Kelly, author of 'Kelly Tough: Living Courageously by Faith' (BroadStreet, 9781424550180), will appear on 'Today' and the 'Doug Gottlieb Show' on Monday, May 18. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A Canadian Author’s Adventures in International Book Marketing

Pakastani-born Canadian children's book author Rukhsana Khan explains how to leveraging appearances at book fairs for the greatest benefit and impact. The post A Canadian Author’s Adventures in International Book Marketing appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-05-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scribner UK signs American Housewife

The newly-launched Scribner UK is to publish a collection of stories by Helen Ellis, the creator of the ‘American Housewife’ parody Twitter account. Clare Hey, editorial director at Simon & Schuster UK, bought UK and Commonwealth rights to American Housewife from Sandy Hodgman of Hodgman... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Does writing a memoir help an author to heal?

Three writers share their thoughts and concerns about sharing deeply personal secrets in a memoir. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Solutions lawsuit continues

Lawyers acting for Author Solutions are due to file new papers with a New York court this week in the latest development in the lawsuit against the assisted publisher. The Penguin Random House-owned company Author Solutions provides a variety of services direct to authors under a series of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook signs deal to directly publish news stories

Facebook has reached a deal with New York Times and eight other media outlets to post stories directly to the social network's mobile news feeds, as publishers strive for new ways to expand their reach. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-05-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air May 13, 2015: Alan C. Fox

Alan C. Fox, author of 'People Tools for Business: 50 Strategies for Building Success, Creating Wealth, and Finding Happiness' (SelectBooks/Midpoint, 9781590792872) will appear on the 'Meredith Vieira Show' on Wednesday, May 13. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #people tools #building success #creating wealth #finding happiness


Writer's writer William Zinsser dies

Author and writing coach William Zinsser, who penned the best-selling book On Writing Well, dies in New York, aged 92. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2015-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Big Publishers Will Now Post Stories Straight to Facebook

The New York Times, Buzzfeed, and others are now posting stories straight to Facebook. But how will that affect what news you see? The post Big Publishers Will Now Post Stories Straight to Facebook appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2015-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hachette UK sales hit by VAT change

Sales at Hachette UK fell 4% year-on-year for the first quarter of 2015, partially due to an “unfavourable” VAT effect on ebooks, parent company Lagardere has said. Hachette UK said it had “steady sales in print and digital” in the first quarter of the year, with its performance “broadly in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Headteacher wins New Children’s Author Prize

Emma Cox, a headteacher from Devon, has won this year’s New Children’s Author Prize, organised by the National Literacy Trust and Bloomsbury. Malkin Moonlight, chosen from a shortlist of six books, is about a cat who is looking for his friend Roux. He comes across a group of cats at a recycling... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A Loyalty Program Gets Creative With an E-Book That Changes as You Travel

Travel rewards programs don't exactly scream "creativity," but FCB Brazil stepped way out of the box to promote the Smiles loyalty platform. Previously affiliated solely with Gol airlines, it's now an independent business attached to a number of other global partners. The agency created Trip... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-05-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air May 12, 2015: Cookie Monster

'Sesame Street's' Cookie Monster will appear on 'Rachael Ray' on Tuesday, May 12 to promote 'Sesame Street Let's Cook' (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 9780544454361). Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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