Growing up, Jeff Kinney discovered Tolkien, comics and computers at his local bookshop. When it closed he was bereft – would opening his own as an adult help to right that wrong?Author Jacqueline Woodson recently spoke about books being either mirrors or windows. Mirrors for seeing ourselves, and windows for seeing into other worlds. Growing up, I enjoyed both types of books, from the realistic contemporary fiction of Judy Blume to the epic fantasy of JRR Tolkien. I had access to books by these and every author in between courtesy of a bookstore a short drive from my house. I didn’t understand my privilege then, but I’ve come to understand it better over time.In the short time that it was open, I developed interests that would shape my career. I grew up at the advent of personal computing, and the books I read helped me along a path to becoming a programmer. I also developed a deep appreciation for comics, thanks to an expansive humour section at the bookstore. Those comic collections helped to prepare me for my dream career as a cartoonist. Had we not had a bookstore nearby during my formative years, I would have grown up to be a completely different person.We’ve had several romances develop from first dates in the cafe, and one couple is getting married this autumn Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2019-10-05 09:00:40 UTC ]
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Recent reports about a widening disparity between the earnings of authors at the top of the charts and those at the bottom of the food chain are borne out in 2015’s figures—but the story is far from black and white. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New study reveals Julia Donaldson, David Walliams and JK Rowling lead the top 1% of authors, who account for nearly a third of all UK book salesThe gap between publishing’s rich and poor continues to widen, as figures from Nielsen BookScan reveal that the top 50 authors account for more than 13%... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Joanne Harris and Linda Grant among signatories of letter saying authors have been giving services for free for too longThe fight to ensure literary festivals pay authors appearing at their events has gained momentum after a number of prominent writers, including Linda Grant, Denisa Mina, Joanne... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A UK festival to “celebrate the work and achievements” of black, Asian and minority ethnic writers (BAME) has launched a crowdfunding campaign. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors Ali Smith, Neil Gaiman and Joanna Trollope have led a wave of “tremendous support” for CILIP’s legal fight for libraries as its campaign petition tops 7,000 signatures. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Thomas Moore, the former monk and bestselling author, is reinterpreting Jesus’s message for a new generation of readers with original translations of the four Gospels. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Slightly Foxed bookshop on London's Gloucester Road is to close at the end of the month due to “extortionate” rental rates. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-01-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author and publishing organisations worldwide have banded together to urge the United States' government to investigate the disappearances of five missing Hong Kong (HK) publishers. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-01-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Flooded bookshops The Book Case in Hebden Bridge and The New Bookshop in Cockermouth are to receive a £5,000 grant each from the James Patterson fund. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-01-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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“The way people buy books today is completely different from how they bought them five or 10 years ago,” Martin Lindstrom says. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Bookseller reports a jump in the average price of books in the UK last year, as well as a boost in print book sales — especially at indie bookstores. The post UK Print Book Sales Pop in 2015, Indie Bookshops Get a Boost appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Skegness’s Jolly Fisherman image used before seeking permission on the cover of Bryson’s bestselling travelogue The Road to Little DribblingSkegness’s Jolly Fisherman, he of the beaming smile and rotund belly, might be a little less cheerful after it emerged that his image was used without... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A selection of adult and children’s authors to meet at this year’s Winter Institute—and what makes their books notable. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Independent bookshops have reported robust Christmas trading, with 72% saying sales increased on last year, reflecting a buoyant market for indie bookshops amid the best Christmas for physical book sales in five years. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A bookshop chain in Hong Kong has been pulling political titles from its shelves following the disappearances of five publishers, known for producing 'gossipy' books about China's political elite. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The International Publishers Association and the Italian Publishers Association have condemned the Vatican for attempting to jail two authors who alleged corruption and financial wrongdoing in the Holy See. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-01-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Suspected abduction of five booksellers prompts fears of mounting self-censorship in face of mainland crackdown on ‘salacious’ publicationsOne of Hong Kong’s leading international bookshop chains has removed politically sensitive books from its shelves in the wake of the mysterious disappearance... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-01-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Earning a living as a writer is as likely as winning the lottery. Instead of writing books and persuading others to buy them, find out what people want to write, then do it for themPhilip Pullman: professional writers set to become ‘an endangered species’ due to low wagesI left school with a... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-01-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House has sold its Author Solutions division to an affiliate of the Najafi Companies, a private investment firm that at one point owned Bookspan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As part of its ongoing effort to raise writers’ income, the Authors Guild is sending an open letter to members of the Association of American Publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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