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’'


Yellow Kite wins eight-way auction for Aldo Kane's story

Yellow Kite has acquired Aldo Kane's "inspirational" memoir Lessons From the Edge, following an eight-way auction.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-18 23:37:01 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #yellow kite


How a visit to Iceland inspired a futurist novel of climate change and hope

Australian author Charlotte McConaghy brings 'Migrations' to the L.A. Times Book Club Feb. 24. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-02-17 16:00:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #climate change #times book #australian author


The Bookseller calls for authors to pen 'ode to booksellers'

The Bookseller is calling for authors to pen an “ode to booksellers” as part of a celebration of the trade during a time when high-street bookshops are unable to open their doors.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-14 20:12:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookseller calls #bookseller


Maria Guarnaschelli, Book Editor Who Changed What We Cook, Dies at 79

She introduced Americans to new cuisines and helped transform cooking from a domestic chore to a cultural touchstone, inspiring her daughter, Alex, to be a chef. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-02-11 23:05:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book editor


James Gunn, Prizewinning Science Fiction Author, Dies at 97

In short stories like “The Immortals” and novels like “The Listeners,” Mr. Gunn helped prepare readers for the future. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-02-11 17:10:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #short stories #science fiction


Novelists are writing for TV more than ever. How it's changing the industry

Over the past 20 years, industry shifts have funneled more novelists into TV rooms than ever. It's salutary in many ways — beginning with health insurance. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-02-11 15:00:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #novelists


On the Connection Between Chinese Folktales and American Comic Book Heroes

I first heard about the monkey king from my mom. When I was a kid, my mother used to tell me Chinese folktales before bedtime. My mother is an immigrant. She was born in mainland China and eventually made her way to the United States for graduate school. She told me those stories so that […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-02-11 09:48:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mainland china #graduate school #comic book


From the author of ‘Morning Has Broken,’ magical tales perfect for Valentine’s Day

Published a century ago, Eleanor Farjeon’s “Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard” delivers charming stories of love in its many forms. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-02-10 17:02:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #century ago


Two authors expose the deceptive, self-aggrandizing absurdity of online life

Lauren Oyler’s “Fake Accounts” and Patricia Lockwood’s “No One Is Talking About This” critique our Internet-attenuated lives. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-02-10 13:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online life #lauren oyler #fake accounts #patricia lockwood


Dedicated category previews for Black authors, LGBTQ+ titles

The Bookseller is to run two new category previews in the second quarter of 2021 as it looks to highlight growing areas of the market and key national celebrations such as Black History Month and Pride. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-09 22:49:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #black authors


6 Caribbean Children’s and YA Book Authors

Get to know the works of some of the best Caribbean authors writing classic and contemporary books for young readers. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-02-09 11:36:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #young readers #ya book


Obituary: William J. Petersen

Evangelical publishing stalwart William J. Petersen died January 31 at age 91. His career spanned six decades including 25 years with Revell. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-02-09 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #career spanned


Orion pre-empts 'fiercely romantic' Williams debut

Orion Fiction has pre-empted "fiercely romantic" debut What Time is Love? and one more novel by journalist Holly Williams in a six-figure deal.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-08 09:50:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #orion fiction #six-figure deal


Chatto signs Edmund de Waal's 'extraordinary' Camondo story

Chatto & Windus has signed Letters to Camondo, an “extraordinary” book penned by Edmund de Waal during the first lockdown that tells the story of the Jewish Camondo family in Paris. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-07 20:38:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #chatto windus


The Stories That Bind Us Together: On E. Lily Yu’s “On Fragile Waves”

DURING ONE KEY MOMENT, E. Lily Yu’s disquieting debut novel On Fragile Waves offers a kind of authorial self-critique regarding the representation of diasporic migrants. A character Yu calls “the writer” has traveled to Australia to interview asylum seekers in the Afghan migrant community there... Continue reading at Los Angeles Review of Books

[ Los Angeles Review of Books | 2021-02-06 16:00:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lily yu #fragile waves #key moment #debut novel


400 years of the African American experience, told by a ‘choir’ of Black voices

Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain gather activists and scholars to write a group history. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-02-05 13:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #black voices


Alice Oseman | 'It’s more of an episodic story, so I decided a comic would be a better format'

Nick and Charlie, the lead characters in graphic novel series Heartstopper, first appeared in Alice Oseman’s début Young Adult novel Solitaire. The pair were fairly minor characters, but almost as soon as she finished writing the book, she knew she wanted to expand on their story. “They have... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-05 10:51:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #alice oseman #lead characters #finished writing #graphic novel


Macmillan Learning Announces Winners of First Annual “Black History, Black Stories” Contest

The contest was created by Macmillan Learning "to elevate Black voices in education and in recognition of the fight for social justice inspired by the #BlackLivesMatter movement." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-02-05 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #macmillan learning #macmillan


‘The Queen’s Gambit’ is a bestseller, but its author, Walter Tevis, was hardly a one-hit wonder

Tevis wrote science fiction greats like “The Man Who Fell to Earth” and the overlooked “Mockingbird.” Also, “The Hustler.” Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-02-03 17:15:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #walter tevis #science fiction