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’'


Brinkhurst-Cuff curates Black Joy collection for Penguin

Penguin Books is releasing Black Joy for young adult readers, a collection of writing on race and belonging curated by gal-dem editor-in-chief Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-21 06:53:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #penguin books


Hodder Studio strikes two-book deal with Wolf Road author Lewis

Hodder Studio is publishing the next two novels by Beth Lewis, author of debut The Wolf Road, starting with "powerful novel" The Origins of Iris, which touches on themes of self-discovery and survival. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-21 05:11:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hodder


The virus isn’t transforming us. It’s speeding up the changes already underway.

The accelerating shifts, often for the worse, in digital life, inequality, foreign policy and other realms. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-12-18 14:22:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital life #foreign policy


Fungi and local authors prove Christmas hits for indies

A non-fiction work about fungi and books with local interest are among the top-selling titles for indies ahead of Christmas, The Bookseller has been told.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-17 16:31:47 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #non-fiction work #top-selling titles #bookseller


A never-before-seen Shirley Jackson story has just been published.

This week is a whirlwind for Shirley Jackson fans! On Monday we learned we’re getting a Jackson tribute anthology in 2021, and now, an unseen Shirley Jackson story has been published in The Strand Magazine. Jackson’s son, Laurence Hyman, found the story—“Adventure on a Bad Night”—among Jackson’s... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-12-17 16:17:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #strand magazine #literary hub #anthology


Sceptre lands Qureshi’s debut short story collection after four-way battle

Sceptre has won a four-way auction to publish Huma Qureshi’s prize-winning debut short story collection, Things We Do Not Tell the People We Love, next November. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-17 06:10:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Ben Bova, Science Fiction Editor and Author, Is Dead at 88

As editor of the magazines Analog and Omni, he was a champion of a new generation of authors, including George R.R. Martin. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-12-14 19:27:29 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #science fiction


John le Carré, Best-Selling Author of Cold War Thrillers, Dies at 89

Breaking from the James Bond mold, he turned the spy novel into high art as he explored the moral compromises of agents on both sides of the Iron curtain. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-12-14 16:04:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #best-selling author


Feeling moody? One author shares wisdom about halting those downward spirals.

In “The Book of Moods,” Lauren Martin borrows from cognitive therapy, Buddhism, New Age pop psychology and neuroscience. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-12-14 13:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Children's Author Presentations Go Digital

We’ve gathered some unique examples of how authors are tailoring their outreach to meet the needs of students and teachers during the pandemic. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-12-11 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #author presentations #ve gathered


The Top 10 Library Stories of 2020

PW looks back at the library stories that captivated the publishing world this year—and what they portend for 2021. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-12-11 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #library stories #publishing world


Hodder Studio pre-empts two from debut author Amanda Block

Hodder Studio has pre-empted two books from Amanda Block, including her debut The Lost Storyteller, which will be published in July 2021 in hardback, e-book and audiobook. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-10 15:06:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hodder studio #e-book #hodder #debut author


The story behind ‘And the People Stayed Home,’ the little poem that became so much more

With one Facebook post, Kitty O’Meara set off a wave of hope — and a creative windfall. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-12-10 13:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #facebook post


Year-End Changes: PRH Canada Separates Knopf and Random House

CEO Kristin Cochrane retains Anne Collins while moving Martha Kanya-Forstner to lead Knopf Canada and bringing in Sue Kuruvilla for RH Canada. The post Year-End Changes: PRH Canada Separates Knopf and Random House appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-12-09 21:22:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #random house


After years of turmoil, 'Dreamer' and author Marcelo Hernandez Castillo is proud to put down California roots

Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, author of 'Children of the Land,' and Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, author of 'The Undocumented Americans,' share their stories with the L.A, Times Book Club on Dec. 15. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-12-08 20:25:34 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #undocumented americans #times book


Bill Gates says to read these 5 books for ‘a change of pace’ this holiday season

The billionaire philanthropist offers some recommendations to get you through the final stretches of quarantine. While Bill Gates’s 2020 summer reading list concentrated on the pandemic and its economic repercussions, the Microsoft founder opted for a “change of pace” in considering his... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2020-12-08 11:00:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


YA author James launches The Climate Fiction Writers League

Author Lauren James has established The Climate Fiction Writers League, a group of over 50 international published authors writing about climate change.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-07 22:31:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #climate change


Groff follows Fates and Furies with Matrix for William Heinemann

William Heinemann is publishing Matrix, a new novel by Lauren Groff and her first since her New York Times-bestselling Fates and Furies. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-07 04:09:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lauren groff #william heinemann


William Collins pre-empts 'radical' Dalrymple debut on Indian independence

William Collins has snapped up a “radical” new assessment of Indian independence from debut author Sam Dalrymple in a pre-emptive co-publication deal with HarperCollins India. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-06 19:12:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #william collins #harpercollins india #harpercollins #debut author