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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Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man look truly stunning following a traditional, Pacific Northwest makeover.We all know Batman when we see him, but he always looks a little different, depending on the artist. Whereas in the hands of Dick Sprang, Batman is a barrel-chested 1920s strong man, in the... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2014-01-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Two of the writers shortlisted for last year's Costa Short Story Award have made the final... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Xiaolu Guo warns that English-language mainstream has warped a broader 'reading habit', on panel with Jhumpa Lahiri and Jonathan FranzenAmerican literature is "massively overrated", the award-winning author and film-maker Xiaolu Guo told the Jaipur literature festival – and fellow panellist and... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Vanessa Curtis, whose novels include Zelah Green and The Haunting of Tabitha Grey (both... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A new collection of contemporary short stories by Man Booker Prize-winning Hilary Mantel –... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-01-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Digital Book World/Writer's Digest 2014 survey, which polled just over 9,000 authors, found that many, given the chance, would still opt for a traditional book deal. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A comprehensive list of the writers to look for and galleys and finished books available at the ABA conference. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW has compiled a list of the children's books and galleys being given away at this year's Winter Institute, along with the buzz about why specific authors are attending. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Self-publishing sees traditional publishing as in denial about what readers want. But the problem isn't self-abnegation, it's capacity and mission. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A new story reading app will launch later this month with nine picture books from publisher... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rhondda Cynon Taf has approved budget plans that will see more than half of its 26 libraries... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-01-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scientific American has major plans to reconstruct and grow Scientific American Medicine, a comprehensive professional medical database it first published in 1981. Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2014-01-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Although she has yet to make an offer, a local author and blogger launched an Indiegogo campaign Monday to raise $15,000 by February 5 to purchase Main Street Books in St. Charles, Mo. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Guardian's flagship summit convenes in March 2014, bringing together media and technology companies from across the world to discuss the creative and commercial future of mediaChanging Media Summit 2014Disruption to disruptor: taking control of your digital strategyDay one - 18th March... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-01-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Last week, Ruth Rendell claimed that reading novels is a dying art. Sadly, she might have a pointNo one can say precisely why John Williams's novel Stoner has become a bestseller almost 50 years after its first publication. After all, plenty of books, "forgotten" or otherwise, are recommended by... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-01-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Should Australian newspapers, like Fairfax, publish opinion pieces that deny or seek to cast doubt on man-made global warming?Should Fairfax — or other media publishers — give a platform for climate change denialist opinion pieces?The most recent example is Fairfax publishing a piece by John... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-01-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For libraries, 2013 was an eventful year. PW takes a look back at the top 10 library stories of the year, and a look ahead to what might be on the horizon in 2014. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-01-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In a filing with the district court, the Authors Guild gave notice that it is appealing Judge Denny Chin’s to dismiss its copyright suit over Google’s library scanning program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-12-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The two stories were written in 1958 while the late writer was working at a Detroit-based advertising agency. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-12-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Last week I shared the 10 most popular Slate stories from 2013, a list that paints with a broad brush about the stories our readers loved the most. Now it’s time to dig deeper to reveal which pieces were the most popular on our three strongest social networks: Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit. As... Continue reading at Slate
[ Slate | 2013-12-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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