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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London Book Fair 2014: Helping Publishers to Sell Direct: The Qbend Story

Powering more than 50 e-bookstores for publishers specializing in such subjects as fiction, academic, professional and romance has given Qbend COO Kaushik Sampath many unique insights on e-retailing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air April 4, 2014: Michael Lewis

Michael Lewis, author of "Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt" (Norton, 9780393244663) will appear on C-SPAN2's "BookTV" on Saturday, April 5. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Taking an American Approach in Scandinavia

Astri von Arbin Ahlander is not your average 29-year-old. She’s also not your average literary agent. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Johnson wins Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award

Pulitzer Prize winner Adam Johnson has won the Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award for his short... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors Guild's Constantine Testifies

In testimony delivered before a House subcommittee, AG counsel Jan Constantine recapped the AG’s long running copyright dispute with Google and offered one possible solution—a collective licensing agreement for digital presentation rights to out-of-print books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Prejudice' claim from Scottish authors

London publishers are turning down work they consider “too Scottish”, the chair of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air March 31, 2014: Jennifer Buhl and Max Brooks

Jennifer Buhl, author of "Shooting Stars: My Unexpected Life Photographing Hollywood’s Most Famous" (Sourcebooks, 9781402297007), will appear on "Entertainment Tonight" on Monday, March 31. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Samuel Beckett story to be published 80 years after it was rejected

Nobel laureate was told by publisher that 'people will shudder and be puzzled and confused' by reading Echo's BonesA previously unpublished story by Samuel Beckett will go on sale in bookshops for the first time, 80 years after his publisher rejected it as a nightmare read that gave him "the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'The Gifts of the State' collects short stories by young Afghanis

'Gifts' consists of 18 short stories by young residents of Afghanistan who write about their lives – filled with tradition and warfare, on top of all the more ordinary things that young people everywhere hope and wish for. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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William Morrow Finds Sleeper Hit in ‘Orphan Train’

Sixty thousand is the number of copies Christina Baker Kline thought her newest book, "Orphan Train," might sell in her “wildest dreams.” For a midlist author on her fifth novel, it was a lofty number. It turns out, it was also way too low. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With 'Orphan Train,' Author Finds Bestsellerdom Fifth Time Around

Sixty thousand is the number of copies Christina Baker Kline thought her newest book, "Orphan Train," might sell in her "wildest dreams." For a midlist author on her fifth novel, it was a lofty number. It turns out, it was also way too low. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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NYT boss attacks Bloomberg for saying it shouldn't publish anti-China stories

Mark Thompson says New York Times journalism will remain impartial and won't be swayed by commercial considerationsMark Thompson, the chief executive of the New York Times, has hit out at rival Bloomberg for saying it shouldn't have published investigative news stories criticising China, because... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tax change for music and ebooks

The UK government is bringing in new laws that will mean some downloads become subject to UK tax rates. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2014-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'The Vatican Diaries' author John Thavis looks at the Catholic Church under the leadership of Pope Francis

John Thavis released The Vatican Diaries' in 2013 and added a section about Pope Francis for the paperback edition. 'It has struck me how the level of enthusiasm around the world for this new Pope is definitely a notch or two above that inside the Vatican,' the author said. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rush Limbaugh: rightwing talkshow host to bestselling children's author

He's no friend of those on the political left, but he knows how to woo kids. He's been named as one of four finalists for book of the year at the Children's and Teen Choice Book AwardsName: Rush Limbaugh.Age: 63.Appearance: Angry face drawn on a pink dish.Occupation: Radio talkshow host,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Changing Korean Book Retail Industry: Digital Publishing in Korea 2014

When online bookstores came on the scene back in 1999, there were around 5,000 brick-and-mortar bookstores in Korea. Today, there are barely 1,500 nationwide. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Obituary: Author and Editor Donald Michael Kraig, 63

Kraig is perhaps best known as the author of "Modern Magick," published in 1988. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Prices: Have Authors Lowballed Themselves?

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Small publishers are benefiting from changes in the industry

The advent of digital publishing technology and ebooks has created opportunities for home-based publishersThe world of publishing was once the preserve of very large organisations, huge publishing houses with massive production infrastructures and costs, that kept smaller niche publishers on the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors sign up to Hacked Off declaration

JK Rowling, Philip Pullman, Jeanette Winterson and tens of other authors have signed a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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