Being a crime writer doesn’t mean I condone murder. Do I even have to say it? | Garry Disher

Every now and then I encounter people who can’t suspend disbelief. They ask how I can write about ‘such terrible things’Feeling unappreciated is your lot as a writer. Few readers; no readers. Scathing reviews; no reviews. Publishers saying, “Don’t call us, we’ll call you” or not taking a punt on your second book because the first sold poorly. The fat American and English imports on display at the front of many bookshops, a tiny Australian section in the back corner. Beverley Farmer finding her short-story collection Milk shelved with books on nursing mothers; me finding my novel The Stencil Man shelved in Art and Craft.Most of these indignities occur while you’re still at your desk. They multiply once you appear in public. Elizabeth Jolley, signing books at a department store in Perth, was scrutinised by a beady-eyed woman who eventually approached and asked, “How much is the table?” A bookseller stuck the first page of a US thriller under my nose and said, “Once you can learn to write as good as this …” Related: Harold Bloom’s defence of western greats blinded him to other cultures | Kenan Malik If I say, 'Worse things happen in real life than I invent, just read a newspaper,' I learn they don’t read newspapers Related: Peter Handke's Nobel prize that dishonours the victims of genocide | Ed Vuilliamy Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2019-11-03 17:00:27 UTC ]
News tagged with: #department store #real life #peter handke #nobel prize #bookseller

Other news stories related to: "Being a crime writer doesn’t mean I condone murder. Do I even have to say it? | Garry Disher"


Stripes unveils four new Proud writers

Little Tiger imprint Stripes has chosen stories by four unpublished writers to feature in its upcoming Proud anthology by LGBTQ+ authors. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #lgbtq+ authors #unpublished writers


Yomi Adegoke & Elizabeth Uviebinené | 'Just because something is by black women and about black women, that doesn't mean that it can't be mainstream'

A new, refreshing bible for young black women aims to speak to a demographic neglected by mainstream self-help. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #black women


Books: True crime, Terrance Hayes and more book news

Welcome to the Books newsletter from the L.A. Times! I’m Carolyn Kellogg, Books editor, with the latest. THE BIG STORY Bestselling novelist Megan Abbott, known for her psychological thrillers like “Dare Me,” explores the allure of true crime, books like Michelle McNamara’s “I”ll Be Gone in the... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #michelle mcnamara #psychological thrillers #carolyn kellogg #book news #terrance hayes #true crime #books editor #books newsletter


Snapchat is welcoming outside developers, but doesn't want to make the same mistakes as Facebook

Snapchat is opening up to outside developers and apps for the first time in a bid to boost user growth with new features and collaborations. In doing so, the video messaging app is following the footsteps of its rival Facebook, which first welcomed outside developers in 2007. That helped... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-06-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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World Industry Organizations Condemn Murder of Bangladeshi Publisher Shahzahan Bachchu

'The beautifully diverse publishing culture of Bangladesh is at risk,' says the Internaitonal Publishers Association, in condemning the shooting murder of poetry publisher Shahzahan Bachchu. 'Free expression' says PEN 'is under grave threat in Bangladesh.' The post World Industry Organizations... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-06-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #free expression


Morality clauses: are publishers right to police writers?

Offensive opinions. Bullying. Sexual misconduct. As the literary world is rocked by scandal US publishers are asking authors to sign contracts with ‘morality clauses’. Are they really the answer?When the American Libraries Association awards its Andrew Carnegie medals in New Orleans later this... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #single mom #deeply saddened #abusive behaviour


Harvill Secker launches BAME crime writing competition

Harvill Secker is launching a competition in partnership with Bloody Scotland to find a debut crime writer from a BAME (black, Asian, minority ethnic) background. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #bame black


Writers Champion Godine’s Re-Launch of Andre Dubus

In the nearly half-century that the Boston-based David R. Godine has been publishing books, no book has ever been relaunched—until now. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Romance writer's bid to stop authors from using word 'cocky' fails in court

Self-published author Faleena Hopkins asserted her right to the word, but judge calls attempt to stop other authors using it ‘weak’ Romance writers around the world can breathe a sigh of relief after a US court ruled that they can continue to use the adjective “cocky” in their book titles, after... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookExpo 2018: How Real Life Inspires Writers

'Show Daily at BookExpo' asked all six of the Adult Buzz authors what inspired their books. Here are their answers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Junot Díaz | 'If you tell a child you’re a writer and don’t have a story for them, no one can make you feel more fraudulent'

The critically lauded US author turns his hand to children’s books with a fortuitously timed tale of immigrant experience—and keeps a decades-old promise as a result. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Herron, McDermid, Mina shortlisted for Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year

Mick Herron's lauded espionage thriller Spook Street (John Murray), already a CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger winner, has now also been shortlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year (£3,000). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #peculier crime #theakstons crime #mick herron


Holly Bourne | 'The most important thing to me as a writer of fiction—oddly enough—is to tell the truth'

The YA author’s first venture into adult fiction could find a wide readership, finds Alice O’Keeffe. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #wide readership #adult fiction #ya author #important thing #holly bourne


Rights Roundup: War, Allegory, and Crime Drama Ahead of BookExpo

A wartime tale with a Senegalese protagonist in France, a generational family drama from Georgian author Nino Haratischwili, a Catalan classic, two books for young readers, and the Orient Express with Agatha Christie aboard—all are in our pre-BookExpo rights roundup. The post Rights Roundup:... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #orient express #young readers #rights roundup #bookexpo appeared


'Atmospheric' Inverness-set crime series to Harvill Secker after auction

Harvill Secker has snapped up rights to a new "page-turning and atmospheric" crime series set around Inverness by G R Halliday, following a "hotly-contested" auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Former agent's 'dark' debut wins RNA new writer award

Former literary agent Hannah Begbie has won The Romantic Novelists' Association's (RNA) Joan Hessayon Award for new writers for her novel Mother (HarperCollins). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Castillo Comes to Writers House

Johanna Castillo is returning to her roots, leaving her editorial job for a post as a literary agent. The v-p and executive editor of Atria will return to the deal-maker's life on June 6, joining Writers House as a senior literary agent. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #literary agent #editorial job #writers house


LUP partners with Northcote House on Writers series

Liverpool University Press is partnering with Northcote House Publishers for publication of the series Writers and their Work. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Spread the Word launches writer development programme

Development agency Spread the Word is launching a new annual development programme for London-based writers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Crime buyer Knobbs leaves Waterstones to pursue writing career

Waterstones' crime buyer and noir novelist Joseph Knobbs is leaving the company after almost a decade to become a full-time writer.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #full-time writer #crime buyer