As celebrity books boom, professional authors are driven out of full-time work

Novelist Donal Ryan is the latest name forced to seek an income outside books, while children’s writers complain that stars from other media monopolise advancesDespite scoring three bestsellers in five years and a clutch of awards, The Spinning Heart author Donal Ryan has been forced to return to his day job in the Irish civil service in order to pay his mortgage.Ryan has become the latest casualty of tumbling incomes for writers. Despite receiving advances and signing a deal to write three more books with his publisher, the Irish novelist said he had found it impossible to earn a living wage as a full-time writer. “You need to have something else on the go,” he told the Irish Sunday Independent. “You could take a chance and scrape a living through bursaries and writing books, but I’d get too stressed out. It just isn’t worth it. I have two kids in school and I have a mortgage to pay.” Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2017-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #living wage #day job #irish novelist #full-time writer

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Twenty years of Buffy celebrated in new Boxtree book

Pan Macmillan imprint Boxtree is publishing a new unauthorised oral history of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and its spin-off "Angel", called Slayers and Vampires, to mark the 20th anniversary of the original cult '90s TV show.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sales of mind, body, spirit books boom in UK amid 'mindfulness mega-trend'

While fewer titles are selling in other genres, reading that offers a path to spiritual growth has risen 13% in 2017The UK’s “mindfulness mega-trend” shows no sign of running out of breath, with sales of “mind, body, spirit” books booming, against a background of slowing sales elsewhere on the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Michiko Kakutani Ends Her Reign as The New York Times’ Chief Book Critic

The Michiko Kakutani book review is an institution unto itself, one that has now come to an end as The New York Times chief book critic steps down from her role after 38 years at the Times, 34 of which have been spent writing about the work of basically every author in the contemporary Western... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2017-07-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kakutani Leaving Times' Book Dept; Sehgal Stepping In

Michiko Kakutani, the chief book critic for the 'New York Times,' is leaving her job in the books department. While the paper has not named a new chief critic, Parul Sehgal (formerly of PW) is joining the paper's team of daily critics. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Best Practices For Authors Who Want Their Book In Bookstores

One of the most thrilling experiences an author can have is walking into a bookstore and finding their book on the shelves Continue reading at HuffPost

[ HuffPost | 2017-07-18 13:39:29 UTC ]
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Get 'Mindfulness at Work Essentials For Dummies' ($9.99 value) FREE for a limited time

Manage stress and boost your productivity at work using mindfulness. Mindfulness at Work Essentials For Dummies explores the many benefits of utilizing mindfulness techniques in the workplace, offering managers, HR professionals and business people of all levels guidance on how mindfulness can... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2017-07-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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First time book producers and now finalists - how our young kiwis drew inspiration

Was it a spark of genius that struck as they had pen in hand, or was it plain old luck? Either way, it earned a first-time children's illustrator and first-time children's writer spots on the list of NZ Book Award finalists alongside their idols. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2017-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Celebrity book clubs: Page turner or dust collector?

Reese Witherspoon has one, so does Emma Watson, but are celebrity book clubs a great thing for reading? Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2017-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Zoella relaunches WH Smith book club with author 'friends'

Zoella has re-launched her book club with W H Smith, this time enlisting the help of fellow authors to select the titles. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Children's author brings books to life through augmented reality

There's nothing quite like having a book literally come to life in the palm of your hands. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2017-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Chuck Palahniuk wrote 'Fight Club.' His next work of fiction will be a coloring book

A coloring book may sound tame, but "Legacy: An Off-Color Novella for You to Color," is by Chuck Palahniuk. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Judith Kerr's next picture book based on author's ninth cat

HarperCollins has bought a new book from Judith Kerr, inspired by the 94-year-old author's ninth pet cat Katinka. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Michael Morpurgo wins Children's Book Award for fourth time

An Eagle in the Snow follows in the footsteps of Shadow, Kensuke's Kingdom and Private Peaceful. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2017-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Morpurgo scoops Children’s Book Award for fourth time

Michael Morpurgo has won the overall Children’s Book Award for a record-breaking fourth time. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Riddell to publish book about his time as children's laureate

Chris Riddell is publishing a book revealing his “incredible journey” as children’s laureate. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Quercus celebrates authors at Café de Paris

Pianist James Rhodes, comedian Bill Bailey, actor Greg Wise and TV presenter Katie Piper were among the Quercus authors appearing at an evening for booksellers hosted by the publisher at London cabaret venue Cafe de Paris. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-05-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Times journalist Wilson and Titan Books' Lewis to join Unbound

The Times’ commissioning books editor Fiona Wilson and Titan Books’ managing editor Beth Lewis are joining crowd-funding publisher Unbound. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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2017 Christopher Awards Celebrate Books on Family

Books about the bonds of friendship, raising a child with special needs, and the power of teamwork received recognition for “affirming the highest values of the human spirit” during the 2017 Christopher Awards ceremony in New York City on Tuesday, May 16. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-05-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Gun Safety Org Taps Book Professionals for New Advocacy Group

The nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety has recruited a group of book industry professionals--over 130 writers, illustrators, editors and agents--to speak out against gun violence. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-05-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Get 'Microsoft Office 2016 at Work for Dummies' ($20 value) FREE for a limited time

As the world's leading productivity software, Microsoft Office plays an integral role in the daily lives of professionals. Understanding how to quickly and accurately use Office 2016 can improve your productivity, and provide you with all the tools and knowledge you need to be successful. This... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2017-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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