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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Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books, will reach 12,000 children via its Authors into Schools programme this year thanks to a new sponsor. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-01 02:41:22 UTC ]
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A member of the Muscogee Nation, Harjo has authored eight collections of poetry. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2019-06-19 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Read a brand-new story from the award-winning author of Karen Memory, Ancestral Night, and The Red-Stained Wings. Continue reading at Slate
[ Slate | 2019-05-25 11:00:08 UTC ]
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Naomi Shihab Nye has become the first Arab American author to be named the Young People's Poet Laureate. Nye, a Palestinian American writer and longtime fixture of the San Antonio literary scene, is the seventh poet to be named to the post by the Poetry Foundation. Foundation Director Katherine... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-05-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Naomi Shihab Nye has become the first Arab American author to be named the Young People's Poet Laureate. Nye, a Palestinian American writer and longtime fixture of the San Antonio literary scene, is the seventh poet to be named to the post by the Poetry Foundation. Foundation Director... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-05-13 19:30:00 UTC ]
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She wrote the novel entirely on her iPhone, and now it's being read by millions. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2019-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A report showing that UK publishing has failed to reflect regional and racial diversity is a vital reminder that, despite all the initiatives, our work isn’t doneAs a young woman my hobby was reading, and it never occurred to me that I might be excluded from the process of creating books. My... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2019-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors Guild survey finds writers’ incomes have fallen dramatically in five years – with literary novelists worst-hitA major survey of American authors has uncovered a crash in author earnings described as “a crisis of epic proportions” – particularly for full-time literary writers, who are “on... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2019-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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William Collins has acquired The Science of Storytelling, the next book by Will Storr, author of 2016’s Selfie: How the West Became Self-Obsessed (Picador). Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Over the last five years, the North American graphic novel market has welcomed a wave of new readers. At NYCC 2018, a group of comics professionals focused on identifying some of the consumer and cultural trends driving this growth. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins' Avon imprint has acquired world all languages rights for a debut novel from journalist and author Laura Jane Williams. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Richard Combes examines the findings of the Authors Licensing and Collecting Society's author earnings survey. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Celebrating Juneteenth? June 19, or "Juneteenth," commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States. We've compiled 7 favorite recipes from African American authors, including Rufus Estes, the first African American chef to publish a cookbook, Dr. George Washington Carver and Maya Angelou.... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi's debut novel was initially rejected by British publishers. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2018-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A letter from 30 industry figures is urging the award to reverse 2014’s inclusion of US authors, in order to avoid a ‘homogenised literary future’Tensions over the decision to allow US authors to enter the Man Booker prize have flared up yet again, with 30 publishers signing a letter urging the... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2018-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Zealand author Joy Cowley has been shortlisted for the highest international distinction given to the creators of children's books. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2018-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Great American Read, a PBS-produced documentary series on reading in American culture that will debut in the spring, announced the authors, media celebrities and literary experts that are taking part in the program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Matthew Salesses' wife, Cathreen, was diagnosed with cancer in March, not long after the birth of their second child. Now, friends and colleagues in the Asian American writing community are offering literary rewards in a GoFundMe campaign to support the family. Author Margaret Rhee... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Saqi Books imprint The Westbourne Press is to publish the story of Wally Funk, who was part of the first group of American pilots to pass the Women in Space programme. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-11-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Viking is publishing 10 "exquisite" stories by the late William Trevor - six of them for the first time - in a new book called Last Stories. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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