Can a White Author Write Black Characters?

When a man routinely hailed as one of America’s “greatest living writers” publishes a new novel, one hardly expects it to draw reviews posing questions along the lines of “Can he do it? Can he actually pull it off?” Because when you’re Michael Chabon, Pulitzer Prize winner, the act of writing a decent novel ought to be taken as something of a given. But Chabon’s newest book, Telegraph Avenue, out last week, is set against the backdrop of race, and its author undertakes the task of inhabiting and giving life to characters whose skin color is different from his own. The book is a sprawling narrative about the intertwined lives of Archy Stallings and Nat Jaffe, two proprietors, one black and one white, and a used vinyl store trying to survive on the shifting, gentrifying frontier between hippie-dippy Berkeley and its neighbor, the historically black enclave of Oakland. Or, as Chabon neatly puts it, “the ragged fault line where the urban plates of Berkeley and Oakland subducted.” Continue reading at 'Slate'

[ Slate | 2012-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Can a White Author Write Black Characters?'


“México20″ List Spotlights Top Young Mexican Authors

The México20 list highlights 20 Mexican authors under 40 to be promoted in 2015 when Mexico is Guest of Honor at the London Book Fair. The post “México20″ List Spotlights Top Young Mexican Authors appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-12-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #london book fair


Zoella admits Girl Online ghost-writing

Her debut novel, Girl Online, was written with the "help" of her publisher, Penguin, admits Zoella. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2014-12-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #girl online


Authors on the Air December 8, 2014: Peter Zeihan

Peter Zeihan, author of 'The Accidental Superpower: The Next Generation of American Preeminence and the Coming Global Disorder' (Twelve, 9781455583669), will appear on Fox Business Channel’s 'Varney & Company' on Monday, December 8. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Geordie Shore's Pattison to write two novels

"Geordie Shore" star Vicky Pattison, who released her autobiography earlier this year, is to write two novels. Manpreet Grewal, commissioning editor, acquired world rights to the books for Little, Brown Book Group imprint Sphere from David Riding at MBA. Pattison’s novels will focus on a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Four from Black for Cargo

Novelist Tony Black has signed a four-book deal with Scotland’s Cargo Publishing. Helen Sedgwick, joint m.d. of Cargo Publishing, signed world rights to the novels directly from Black. She said: “Tony Black is a writer of enormous skill and depth and we’re absolutely delighted that he’s chosen... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #four-book deal #helen sedgwick #absolutely delighted #general fiction


US court hears Authors Guild's Google appeal

Google’s effort to scan and digitize millions of library books violates copyright law and deprives authors of licensing fees, royalties and sales, a lawyer for the Authors Guild told an appeals court in New York yesterday (3rd December). The Authors Guild has taken its battle with Google over... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #appeals court #licensing fees #authors guild #circuit court #judge ruled


Author C.J. Daugherty on Adapting Book-to-Web Series

Author CJ Daugherty discusses the release Night School the Web Series based on her bestselling YA novels — the first of its kind in the UK. The post Author C.J. Daugherty on Adapting Book-to-Web Series appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Europe's authors say CCI study boosts copyright case

A study published by EY (formerly Ernst & Young), has found that Europe's cultural and creative industries (CCIs) have experienced sustained growth even through recession, leading authors' groups to argue that this boost the case for ensuring copyright reflects the importance of creators. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #leading authors #study published #ernst young


Black Friday boosts US book sales

Book sales in the US jumped 23% week on week in the seven days ending 30th November as 15.8 million print books registered through Nielsen BookScan. It follows two consecutive weeks of volume growth above 5%. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book sales #nielsen bookscan #consecutive weeks #volume growth


Authors on the Air December 5, 2014: Steven Dupin

Steven Dupin, author of 'The Trans Am Diaries: A Hillbilly's Road Trip from Stand Up Comedy to Cancer...and Back Again' (Headline Books, 9780938467908), will appear on 'WGN Midday News' in Chicago on Friday, December 5. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #road trip #headline books


5 Tips for Writing a Memoir

Will Boast: "If fiction is the art of invention, memoir is the art of selection and arrangement." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Douglas Preston on Amazon, Authors United, and What’s Next

Throughout the months-long dispute between Amazon and Hachette over ebook sales terms, Douglas Preston was one of the most outspoken authors on the matter. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #douglas preston #authors united #outspoken authors


Cheaper books make for wealthier authors, insists Amazon's Jeff Bezos

'The Kindle is trying to reduce friction for reading a whole book, and it’s working,' Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said at a conference yesterday. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jeff bezos


Authors on the Air December 4, 2014: Pat Hackett

Pat Hackett, editor of 'The Andy Warhol Diaries' (Twelve, 9781455561452), will appear on Bravo’s 'Watch What Happens: Live' on Thursday, December 4. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Four Questions for... 'Foxcatcher' Author Mark Schultz

PW talked to Mark Schultz about his new memoir, 'Foxcatcher: The True Story of My Brother's Murder, John du Pont's Madness, and the Quest for Olympic Gold.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pw talked #true story


Why is American book publishing so white?

If squabbles over format, pricing and Amazon have led the US publishing industry to neglect an ever more diverse audience, we have forgotten why people read books in the first placeThe true price of publishingAt the recent National Book Awards ceremony in New York City, presenter and bestselling... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry #diverse audience #lemony snicket


Big Rights Deals for Barcelona Author’s Debut Novel

The 26 rights deals for Milena Busquets' short debut novel have raised eyebrows — but looking at the author's passion and personal history, it makes sense The post Big Rights Deals for Barcelona Author’s Debut Novel appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #personal history #makes sense


Authors on the Air December 1, 2014: John Schlimm

John Schlimm, author of 'The Ultimate Beer Lover's Happy Hour' (Sourcebooks, 9781402296321), will appear on 'Watch What Happens: Live' on Monday, December 1. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Black Friday Drives Sales of Kindles, Fire Tablets

Amazon kicked off this year’s cyber Monday by claiming that Black Friday sales of its Kindle e-readers and Fire tablets were up significantly over last year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fire tablets #cyber monday #kindle e-readers


Thirty-six authors head for Waterstones Piccadilly

Authors David Mitchell, Michel Faber and Malorie Blackman are among a total of 36 writers who will be socializing with customers at a Waterstones Christmas shopping event in London tonight (26th November). The Waterstones Piccadilly “Christmas Shopping Extravaganza” from 6pm – 10pm tonight,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #waterstones piccadilly #michel faber #malorie blackman #inviting members #sign books #waterstones spokesperson