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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Children's author Joy Cowley and illustrator Philip Webb have worked on dozens of books together since 1980. Joy, 81, who lives in the Wairarapa, and Philip, 64, who lives in Wellington, have two new offerings out this month. Continue reading at Stuff
[ Stuff | 2017-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ten years after publishing its original edition, the Hay Festival in Colombia announces the authors in the latest Bogotá39 anthology. The post Hay Festival Announces Bogotá39-2017 Anthology of Latin American Authors appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pan Macmillan's digital imprint Bello is to publish eight of Richmal Crompton's "forgotten" adult novels. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mark Halperin, left, and John Heilemann on a panel about their series on Showtime, “The Circus,” in January 2016. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2017-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cornerstone imprint William Heinemann is publishing a collection of short stories from actor Tom Hanks, anticipated to be a "major publishing event" for PRH this autumn. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It’s the news that some might think makes perfect sense: “American Horror Story” will tackle the 2016 presidential election. During an appearance on Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live!” Wednesday night, “AHS” co-creator Ryan Murphy revealed that the next season of the popular FX horror anthology... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sourcebooks has acquired worldwide English rights to 'Chasing Red,' a novel by Canadian author Isabelle Ronin, which was the most-read story on Wattpad last year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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And Other Stories is to publish three titles from “cult Argentinian provocateur” César Aira this year. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Paul Beatty's book 'Sellout' tells the story of an African-American who attempts to bring back segregation and slavery. The novel had previously won the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Debut British author K J Orr has beaten off competition from Booker Prize-winning Hilary Mantel to win the £15,000 BBC National Short Story Award with BookTrust for 2016. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The man who ushered classics like Catch-22 into the world, Gottlieb has reason to brag. But in his new memoir Avid Reader he prefers to downplay the editor’s role Joseph Heller, the author of Catch-22, once gave an interview where he credited his editor with kicking his work into shape. After... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A story by Potter titled 'The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots' was recently found and will be released by Penguin Random House in September. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The anonymity of six finalists in the running for the Costa Short Story Award has been lifted, revealing a novelist who made it into David Bowie's "Top 100 Must-Read books of all time". Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-01-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Aren’t we all kind of relieved this episode of "American Horror Story: Hotel" isn’t a flashback? After two consecutive backstory-heavy installments, the prospect of some small amount of forward momentum on existing storylines feels great. There’s probably not a self-help book for this. The... Continue reading at Baltimore Sun
[ Baltimore Sun | 2015-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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They’ve done ghosts and zombies and vampires and ghosts and freaks and witches and also ghosts, but co-creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk will have to come up with a brand-new spooky concept as FX renews “American Horror Story” for a sixth season. The first four seasons of the popular... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Over 40 authors including Alan Gibbons, Cathy Cassidy and Michael Rosen have backed a protest against the current UK school system following the "deeply disturbing" findings of a poll which suggested more than half of teachers are thinking of quitting. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Vera B. Williams' family saved pennies and nickels to get by during the Depression. So her mother's purchase of a "real chair" — neither stick-hard nor someone's castoff but brand new and cushiony — was an extravagance. "I don't intend to work all my life and have nowhere to sit down," the woman... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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When sickly Bostonian Edward J. O'Brien put together the first "Best American Short Stories" anthology in 1915, short stories were considered junky pop culture. He was hoping that his project would elevate the short-story form. He had no idea he was launching a series that would last a century... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-10-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The follow-up to the worldwide phenomenon will answer reader questions and offer advice on moving, packing, and dealing with other less than joyful topics. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC reporter Andrew Hosken builds a comprehensive picture of the Islamic State, their ideology, and what life is like under their regime. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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