An Oasis in the Desert: Why Libraries Are the Best Places to Write

It’s 2015. My partner and I are in Moab, Utah, for the summer, far from our home of Philadelphia. He is doing research for his dissertation. I am struggling to rewrite a novel that my editor says—and I agree—isn’t working. The desert landscape in southwest Utah is magnificent and to us wholly alien, we who […] Continue reading at 'Literrary Hub'

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-04-19 08:53:24 UTC ]
News tagged with: #desert landscape #southwest utah #agree—isn #wholly alien #libraries

Other Publishing stories related to: 'An Oasis in the Desert: Why Libraries Are the Best Places to Write'


Writing a Book is an Act of Prayer

Lamya H’s powerful memoir Hijab Butch Blues is an honest grappling with what it means to be queer, to be a devout hijabi Muslim person who resists gender normativity, to love faith and community. Seeking other queer women in Islam as a young person, H wonders if Maryam, whom no man has touched,... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2023-06-29 11:12:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #queer women #post writing #young person #electric literature #memoir


Adventures in Memory: On Searching for Truth by Writing Fiction

As a fiction writer, I’ve always felt compelled, memoir style, to pore over my life’s timeline. But in a novel, I can erase, revise, smash, crash, reconstruct, and transfigure that squiggly narrative. A novel has no obligation to mirror or represent anything familiar, recognizable, or real. And... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-06-28 08:52:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #writing fiction #fiction writer #felt compelled #memoir


How to Get Free Books For Your School Library (and Use Them to Host a Book Fair)

Some tips from a school librarian on getting access to free books for your school library, and using those books to put on a book fair. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-06-26 10:34:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #school library #book fair #school librarian #free books


The Week in Libraries: June 23, 2023

Among the week's headlines: The ALA Annual Conference kicks off in Chicago with a rally in defense of the freedom to read; EveryLibrary issues a sobering report on state legislation threatening libraries; and how one Missouri library is grappling with a new state rule governing allegedly... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-23 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Most Requested LGBTQ+ Books in Classroom Libraries — and How to Help on DonorsChoose

Make an impact this month by supporting these classrooms asking for LGBTQ+ books for their students via DonorsChoose. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-06-21 10:40:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lgbtq+ books #libraries


Cormac McCarthy's fearless approach to writing

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author was always willing to experiment with his prose, pacing and narration, crafting an oeuvre that varied wildly in style and structure. Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2023-06-16 17:42:27 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cormac mccarthy #prize-winning author


The Week in Libraries: June 16, 2023

Among the week's headlines: Illinois governor JB Pritzker signs a law to discourage book bans; Texas governor Greg Abbott signs a law that will encourage book bans; a school board in Missouri may use a new state law to ban Art Spiegelman's 'Maus'; and Zain Khalid wins the NYPL's Young Lions... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #state law #school board


The Young Heroes of the Writing World

Ohio State University professor emeritus Harvey J. Graff praises a new wave of very young authors all trying to change the world. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #young heroes #young authors


The Study of Reality: On Trauma, Quantum Mechanics, and Writing Science Fiction

Before I dedicated my life to taking pot-shots at the nature of the universe—I mean, before I became a science fiction writer—I was a frightened child. Death scared me, but living was the constant terror. My father told me I had chosen this. I had come to him in a dream before I was born […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-06-14 08:53:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #quantum mechanics #father told #science fiction


Illinois Governor Signs Landmark New Law to Discourage Book Bans in Libraries

The new law, signed by Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker on June 12, conditions state grant funding for libraries on adopting and adhering to the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights or adopting a written policy that would protect books and other resources. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #library bill #libraries


The Week in Libraries: June 9, 2023

Among the week's headlines: the Fifth Circuit hears a closely-watched book banning case; Louisiana passes a 'harmful to minors' law for library books; legal action over a flawed New York City library design; and California expands its partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #library books #legal action #dolly parton #imagination library


ALA 2023: Chicago Public Library Celebrates 150th Anniversary

One of the highlights for those attending the 2023 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago will be the Chicago Public Library’s 150th anniversary festivities, which will kick off with a citywide celebration on June 10 and continue throughout the rest of 2023. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The American Library Association's New Comics Initiatives

The ALA’s Graphic Novels and Comics Roundtable is rolling out new initiatives geared toward serving and supporting librarians. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #comics initiatives #graphic novels


Saint Dolly does it again: Imagination Library expands free book efforts in California

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library will expand its program to send children free books across all 58 California counties, Gov. Gavin Newsom announces. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-06-07 15:51:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dolly parton #imagination library #free books #free book


Libraries Need to Prepare for Another Anti-LGBTQ “Hide the Pride” Campaign

Libraries need to prepare for "Hide the Pride," a conservative campaign to remove all LGBTQ children's and YA books from libraries. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-06-06 15:28:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lgbtq children #ya books #libraries


It’s Okay to Have a Love/Hate Relationship With Your Writing

One of my moments of greatest relief as a writer—equal, perhaps, to the swell and crest of learning that my first novel would be published—was when, decades ago, my Intro to Creative Writing professor assigned Anne Lamott’s “Shitty First Drafts” and I arrived at this passage: “Very few... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-06-06 08:53:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #love/hate relationship #decades ago #first novel


Coalition Sues Over New Arkansas Library Obscenity Law

A coalition of 18 plaintiffs—including a powerful alliance of library, publishing, author, and bookseller groups—are suing to strike down a controversial new law that would expose librarians and booksellers to criminal liability for making allegedly inappropriate books accessible to minors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #expose librarians #criminal liability #bookseller


Brandon Taylor: ‘Writing is the most fun I’m capable of having’

The American author talks about growing up queer in a family of ‘wolves’, poverty and class in the US, and the 19th-century writers who inspired his latest novelBrandon Taylor writes quickly. “I can type almost as fast as I can think,” he says. The first draft of his debut novel, the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-06-03 10:00:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #brandon taylor #standing start #good sense #beautiful land #london offices #american author


The Week in Libraries: June 2, 2023

Among the week's headlines: a library-led coalition has filed a lawsuit challenging a new Arkansas law that exposes librarians and booksellers to criminal prosecution for making allegedly inappropriate books available, while a new 'harmful to minors' rule in Missouri is causing confusion and... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #exposes librarians #criminal prosecution


Salman Rushdie to write a book about being stabbed on stage

Author tells Hay literary festival he needs to ‘get past’ the knife attack he suffered before writing anything elseSalman Rushdie is writing a book about being stabbed on stage in New York last year, an attack which left him without sight in one eye, the author told the Hay literary... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-06-01 20:20:47 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #knife attack #salman rushdie #author told #literary festival