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 ]
News tagged with: #uncannyjoy williams #story collections #numerous awards #published earlier #work ranges #philosophical examination #urgent engagements #environmental catastrophe #sonoran desert #earlier collection #ve moved #deathbed poem #gorgeous creation #ensouled earth #recent book

Other Publishing stories related to: 'American author Joy Williams: ‘The comfy story has got to change’'

Oprah Interview with 'American Dirt' Author Airs March 6 at Midnight

Oprah Winfrey's interview with Jeanine Cummins, the embattled author or 'American Dirt,' which was criticized by Latinx activists for containing stereotypical depictions of Mexican immigrants, will air on March 6 at midnight. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-05 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #american dirt #oprah winfrey #jeanine cummins #stereotypical depictions

Publishers must change the story around neurodiversity

“Those people don’t read books, let alone write them.” These words were said to me as I sat in a meeting with some respected publishers. I had just explained that my work and research revolved around better representation for disabled and neurodivergent children. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-02-26 11:56:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

How 'American Dirt' controversy could change publishing industry

The "American Dirt" uproar is prompting the book industry to review, reenforce, and revamp plans to become more diverse and inclusive. The publishing industry is predominantly run by white women, according to a new study. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2020-02-12 17:29:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #american dirt #revamp plans #predominantly run #white women #book industry #publishing industry

How 'American Dirt' controversy could change publishing industry

‘American Dirt’: Who gets to tell your story?

The publisher of Jeanine Cummins’ novel “American Dirt” canceled her book tour Wednesday, saying she has received death threats. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2020-01-30 19:02:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #american dirt #jeanine cummins #book tour

Death threats against the author of ‘American Dirt’ threaten us all

If you’ve been distracted lately by the presidential impeachment trial, you may have missed this tertiary symptom of the collapse of our democracy. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-01-30 17:52:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #death threats #american dirt

Publisher Of Controversial ‘American Dirt’ Cancels Author Tour Amid Security Concerns

The latest Oprah's Book Club pick by Jeanine Cummins, a white woman, has been widely criticized for stereotypical depictions of Mexicans and migration. Continue reading at HuffPost

[ HuffPost | 2020-01-29 21:08:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #latest oprah #jeanine cummins #white woman #stereotypical depictions #book club

John and Jessie Frémont’s story of gold, ambition and the American West

Steve Inskeep recounts the couple’s expeditions in the wilderness and in politics. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-01-24 02:35:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #american west

‘Everyone wants a place where they feel safe,’ says Joy Harjo, the first Native American U.S. poet laureate

She says our global community is at a dire environmental moment in our collective history. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-01-14 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #feel safe #joy harjo #poet laureate #global community

FX Gives Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story a 3-Season Renewal

As FX expands to a streaming platform this year, with FX on Hulu, the network is making sure its most popular series will continue to be a mainstay on its linear channel for the next three years. FX has given a three-season renewal to American Horror Story, its anthology horror series from Ryan... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2020-01-09 17:00:29 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ryan murphy #streaming platform #popular series #anthology

Revisiting American Short Stories Selected by John Updike

This week, Annalisa Quinn reviews John L’Heureux’s story collection “The Heart Is a Full-Wild Beast.” In 1984, L’Heureux wrote for the Book Review about “The Best American Short Stories 1984,” selected by John Updike. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-01-03 10:00:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #john updike #story collection #book review #short stories

The Stories Behind American Heroes, Made Accessible to Kids

Picture book biographies of Thurgood Marshall, Katherine Johnson, Jimmy Carter and more introduce people who just kept going, until they changed the world. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2019-12-05 15:19:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #katherine johnson #jimmy carter #picture book

Myriad bags graphic novels from Williams and Slattery as it launches debut author contest

Myriad Editions has bagged a pair of "graphic medicine" books from Ian Williams and Zara Slattery, as the publisher launches its 2020 Myriad First Graphic Novel Competition. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-07 01:44:47 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ian williams #myriad editions #graphic novel #debut author

William Collins wins Mundy's 'urgent' climate change book in three-way auction

William Collins has triumphed in a three-way auction to publish Financial Times journalist Simon Mundy’s "urgent and practical" book on how climate change will transform global industry, economy and international development. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-23 16:03:08 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #william collins #climate change

What to expect from FX’s ‘American Horror Story: 1984’

Ad Age’s Coming Attraction offers brief previews of TV shows, movies and more of interest to marketers and media people. Tonight at 10 p.m. ET, FX’s fan-favorite horror anthology series “American Horror Story” will kick off its ninth season, titled “1984”—a nightmarish string of episodes... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-09-18 16:35:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rotating cast #anthology

Women ran. Women won. Women changed the rules of American politics.

Caitlin Moscatello recounts the 2018 midterms, which saw more female candidates than ever. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-08-30 12:14:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #american politics

The most influential American author of her generation, Toni Morrison's writing was radically ambiguous

In her creative and critical work, Toni Morrison sought to remap the contours of American literature and culture. Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2019-08-07 06:00:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #toni morrison #american literature #american author

Watch Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison explain why she told black stories

Celebrated novelist Toni Morrison has died at 88, and she leaves behind a commanding legacy of the black experience in literature. Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison has died, according to a friend who confirmed the news to the Associated Press. She was 88 years old.Read Full Story Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2019-08-06 11:00:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #black experience #prize-winning author