Diary of a small town sensation: how the Wimpy Kid author built his dream bookshop

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 ]
News tagged with: #local bookshop #judy blume #epic fantasy #formative years #bookstore

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Authors, Booksellers & Agents Call for DoJ to Investigate Amazon

Days before Amazon celebrates its 20th anniversary, Authors United is asking authors to sign a letter to the DoJ for an investigation of Amazon, and ABA submitted a similar request on Monday. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As 'Watchman' Hits Stands, Authors Reflect on 'To Kill a Mockingbird'

With Harper Lee's new novel 'Go Set a Watchman' on sale today, Publishers Weekly asked a collection of authors for their thoughts on her beloved debut, and Pulitzer Prize winner, 'To Kill a Mockingbird.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors call on the US to investigate Amazon's book business

Just because Apple is on the hook for allegedly anti-competitive book sales doesn't mean that Amazon is above reproach. As promised, groups representing both authors and booksellers are calling on the US Department of Justice to investigate Amazon fo... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Publisher Canelo Offers UK Authors Strong Incentives

Industry vet Michael Bhaskar's digital publisher Canelo launches this week with two titles and is offering 50-60% royalties, giving UK authors new options. The post New Publisher Canelo Offers UK Authors Strong Incentives appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookshop events: no 'wow'

Mentioning no names, but aren't some bookshop events in London - and increasingly elsewhere - succumbing to the over-heated London price overdrive, leaving many of us reeling as it separates the rich from the poorer? £8? £10? £15? Why even stop there if the market can take it? Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fearing Piracy, Authors Guild Pushes Change to Copyright Law

Citing a major uptick in Internet piracy, the Authors Guild has urged Congress to require ISPs to monitor and filter the Internet for pirated works. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'The Little Paris Bookshop' is a summer read rich in easy pleasures

Nina George's international bestseller features good food, talk of love, and picturesque scenes of rural France. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Joseph Goebbels' family win legal battle to be paid royalties for diary extracts

Random House Germany had argued against paying to publish Nazi propaganda minister’s diaries in new biography on moral groundsDescendents of Joseph Goebbels, Adolph Hitler’s propaganda minister, are to be paid royalties for extracts from his diaries published in a new biography, following a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors Guild Slams 'Inadequate' E-book Royalty

The Authors Guild is asking bestselling authors to push back against the industry's reigning 25% ebook royalty rate "on behalf of all authors, as well as themselves.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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iBooks Bestsellers: Paper Towns Rises to #3

John Green’s 'Paper Towns' ascended to #3 on Apple’s iBooks bestseller list for the week ended on July 6. E.L. James’s 'Grey' took the top spot on the list. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nonprofit House Partners with Authors

Greenpoint Press, a small nonprofit house founded in 2004 that specializes in personal nonfiction, partners with its authors and, among other things, offering them a 50% royalty rate. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Free school visits ‘one of the worst things an author can do’

Following the debate over whether authors should be paid to appear at festivals, children’s writers have warned that fewer schools are now offering to pay for author visits. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cote denies class certification in Authors Solutions case

A lawsuit accusing Author Solutions of seeking to make money from authors, rather than for authors, has been denied class certification by a judge in the US. New York-based law firm Giskan Solotaroff Anderson & Stewart filed a class action lawsuit against Author Solutions in New York in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Boom! to Collect ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’

Tony Parker's serilalized comics adaptation of the Philip K. Dick classic novel will be collected into a complete trade paperback edition and released in December by Boom! Studios. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Court Denies Class Action in Author Solutions Case

In a 30-page written opinion, Cote ruled that the plaintiffs failed to produce evidence to back up their fraud claims. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pop-up restaurant “sensations” sign with Hodder & Stoughton

Hodder & Stoughton has acquired a debut cookbook by “pop-up restaurant sensations” Terry & George. Lifestyle editorial director Nicky Ross bought world English language rights in a two-book deal from Marianne Gunn O'Connor. The first book is Terry & George – Cooking for Friends by... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Desmond Elliott prize reminds us that authors need long-term support

With her prizewinning debut, Claire Fuller could be following in the footsteps of Ian Rankin and Hilary Mantel who found success with their later work – but only with the support of her publisherAs one of the judges for the Desmond Elliott prize for best debut novelist this year, I couldn’t help... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon May Pay Self-Published Authors No More Than $0.006 Per Page Read

So much for writing short.Last month, Amazon took a page out of Spotify's playbook, electing to start paying its self-published authors by the page rather than per download. The new model was put into action Wednesday—and it looks like the e-commerce giant may now pay writers no more than $0.006... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2015-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Don't buy gun-shaped cellphone cases, authorities implore

Police and prosecutors in New Jersey are asking people to please not buy a cellphone case that looks like a gun. "It's a terrible idea, and it's very dangerous," New Jersey state police said on Facebook. "We strongly recommend that you do not use this product. "Officers do not have the luxury of... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author seeks Refuge for Books donations

Author Lucy Beresford is launching an initiative to create a library at one of the London shelters for domestic violence charity Refuge.   Beresford said: “I'm launching an initiative called Refuge for Books, asking all my friends in the publishing world to send me a copy of a book for Refuge.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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