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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From the acclaimed author of novels and short stories, 'Harrow' is a magnificent, moving story about people picking up the pieces of apocalypse. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-09-07 13:00:01 UTC ]
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Sir Quentin Blake has designed the cover for Tamesis Street, a forthcoming climate change story by global disaster relief organisation ShelterBox featuring an all-star list of contributors. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-02 10:19:32 UTC ]
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The Authors Guild's virtual panel "Centering Black Voices: Short-Term Progress or Sustainable Change?," held on July 27, offered a wide-ranging examination of the history and potential of the book industry’s continuing struggle to address diversity. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-07-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Discover the rich culture and history of Cuba with these stories, from romance to historical fiction and magical realism. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2021-04-01 10:30:00 UTC ]
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While we don’t know what the state of the our pandemic society will be come September, we can at least be sure that we’ll all be getting a little Joy Williams, as a treat. Specifically, a new novel—her fifth, and her first since 2000’s The Quick and the Dead, which was a runner-up for the […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2021-03-03 21:01:23 UTC ]
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There’s so much contemporary fiction released every day, it’s hard to keep track—and it’s hard to know which works will still be remembered in a year and which will slip into obscurity. Luckily, we have George Saunders to guide us. In an interview with Los Angeles Review of Books, Saunders was... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2021-02-05 16:37:34 UTC ]
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Karla Cornejo Villavicencio talks about her eye-opening book "The Undocumented Americans" and what it taught her about herself. She'll join the LAT Book Club on Dec. 15. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-12-08 15:00:23 UTC ]
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US writers' body The Authors Guild has sent an open letter to Audible, demanding the company make changes to its policy on returns. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-24 08:16:59 UTC ]
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Cash’s memoir is the story of a man whose penchant for letters suggests a desire to hold on to the present. Sealing up the envelope means ending the letter; it means allowing our fantasies and stories to be finished, read, and judged. The post The Stories We Become: On William Cash’s... Continue reading at The Millions
[ The Millions | 2020-11-23 17:00:48 UTC ]
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Eileen Robinson and Move Books are inspiring middle graders to find joy in reading through diverse characters and exciting stories. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-11-23 05:00:00 UTC ]
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These short stories by Black authors include some of the best Black short stories published, for middle graders, YA readers, and adults. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2020-10-16 10:37:00 UTC ]
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Brosh’s long-awaited graphic memoir comes seven years after her bestseller, “Hyperbole and a Half.” Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2020-10-08 11:49:19 UTC ]
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Annabel Steadman’s fantasy series Skandar and the Unicorn Thief has won a seven-figure book contract, with film rights also sold to Sony PicturesA 28-year-old first-time author from Canterbury has landed what is believed to be the world’s largest ever book advance for a debut children’s writer,... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-09-16 13:34:54 UTC ]
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Harvill Secker has won a debut novel by K-Ming Chang in a "heated" five-way auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-07 06:51:52 UTC ]
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This past weekend in Japan, Haruki Murakami released his new story collection Ichininshō Tansū (The First Person Singular). The collection comprises eight stories, seven of which were first published in the literary magazine Bungakukai between summer 2018 and winter 2020. Many of these... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-07-20 08:49:52 UTC ]
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Candice Carty-Williams and Bernardine Evaristo take book of the year and author of the year categories, as publishers face criticism for treatment of black authorsCandice Carty-Williams and Bernardine Evaristo have become the first black authors to win the top prizes at the British Book awards,... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-06-29 17:45:42 UTC ]
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As Black Lives Matter protests take place across the world, the publishing world is rushing to support those ‘ignored by the mainstream’. Who is the mainstream, then?The publishing industry is stilted and archaic. I worked in it for seven years, and left due to reasons I can’t legally talk... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-06-11 09:44:22 UTC ]
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I am a Black author and publisher in an industry that is dominated by white people. Black Lives Matter is not a hashtag. It is a movement that will carry on until we have seen real change. It is being said time and time again but there is still not enough representation in the publishing... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-11 01:22:51 UTC ]
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Immigrants and their descendants on coming to terms with both sides of their identities. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2020-04-16 13:49:30 UTC ]
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As schools close, parents are turning to children’s book writers and illustrators on social media to help with teaching kids stuck inside. Continue reading at Wired
[ Wired | 2020-03-23 13:30:37 UTC ]
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