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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You Too? Kim DeRose on Telling and Retelling Stories of Sexual Assault

It occurred at, of all places, a local tapas bar. I was sitting with a group of other Brooklyn moms when someone mentioned that my debut novel was going to be published soon. Everyone congratulated me and asked what the book was about, so I gave them a brief rundown: a group of teenage girls […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-09-28 08:55:40 UTC ]
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Cassidy Hutchinson Reappears. She Has More Trump Stories to Tell.

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[ The New York Times | 2023-09-23 12:54:00 UTC ]
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Read the Winners of American Short Fiction’s 2023 Insider Prize, Selected by Nickolas Butler

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[ Literrary Hub | 2023-09-22 08:15:30 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon restricts authors from self-publishing more than three books a day after AI concerns

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[ The Guardian | 2023-09-20 16:22:58 UTC ]
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Panel Mania: 'Toussaint Louverture: The Story of the Only Successful Slave Revolt in History'

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-09-18 17:22:40 UTC ]
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'Big Bang of Numbers' – The Conversation's book club explores how math alone could create the universe with author Manil Suri

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[ The Conversation | 2023-09-18 12:19:43 UTC ]
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[ The New York Times | 2023-09-18 09:01:07 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Book Riot | 2023-09-05 10:36:00 UTC ]
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Claire Keegan: ‘I can’t explain my work. I just write stories’

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Guardian | 2023-09-01 06:02:22 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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