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 #jrr tolkien #deep appreciation #formative years #bookstore

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The Author School to launch during LBF

Writer Abiola Bello and publicist Helen Lewis will launch The Author School, a “creative and innovative new community for aspiring, self-published and published authors”, during London Book Fair. The school will involve classes, workshops, one-to-one tutorials and online courses, with the first... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors sign protest letter against baseline tests

Authors including Philip Pullman, Michael Rosen, John Dougherty, and Alan Gibbons have signed a letter saying baseline assessment tests should not be brought in to primary schools. The tests, to be introduced in September 2015, will take place in the first few weeks after a child starts in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Expanding tearoom and bookshop chain opens in Chester

A new branch of a growing tearooms and bookshop chain is to open in Chester this weekend. Beatons Tearooms Ltd, which is also a bookshop, was first founded by owner Patrick Duffy in 2010 in Tisbury, Wiltshire. Beaton's outlets are “very much a tearooms,” Duffy, said, “but the book stock is also... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indie bookshop numbers fall again in 2014

The number of independent bookshops in the UK fell once again last year, with nearly 50 high street bookshops closing in 2014.  The number of indie members of the Booksellers Association fell by 48 in 2014, to 939 indies. The 2013 figure (987) was a watershed moment for the industry, as it was... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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ALLi to launch bookshop campaign during LBF

The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) is to launch a new campaign aimed at bookshops during the London Book Fair. Called Authors for Bookstores, the campaign will launch at the Indie Author Fringe Festival, which will be held on 17th April at Foyles’ Charing Cross Road flagship. ALLi... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK Authors Force Clean Reader App to Stop Some Book Sales

Creators of the Clean Reader app will no longer sell books after receiving complaints from authors that their works were being altered without permission. The post UK Authors Force Clean Reader App to Stop Some Book Sales appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air March 27, 2015: Annie Cohen-Solal

Annie Cohen-Solal, author of 'Mark Rothko: Toward the Light in the Chapel' (Yale University Press, 9780300182040) will appear on PBS's 'Charlie Rose' on Friday. March 27. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Survey Says Median Author Advance in UK under £6,600

The Bookseller reports that the median advance for traditionally published UK authors is less than 6,600 pounds, based on the early results of a new survey The post Survey Says Median Author Advance in UK under £6,600 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Median author advance under £6,600

The median advance for traditionally published authors is “well under £6,600”, according to early findings of a survey into authors’ attitudes towards their publisher. The survey also found that bigger publishers pay more. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Politicians vie for author votes at lively hustings

Copyright, fair contracts for authors, and libraries were among the points addressed by politicians at a hustings hosted by the Society of Authors (SoA) and the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) last night (24th March). The event saw writers given the opportunity to question... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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iBooks Bestsellers: ‘Paper Towns’ Rises

The debut of the trailer of the film adaptation shot John Green's 2008 novel to the #2 spot. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Augsburg Fortress to Launch Kids' Imprint

The publishing arm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America is launching a children's imprint for the general trade. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Salon du Livre Paris: Indie Intros a Success, Authors Continue Protests

At the Salon du Livre in Paris, a new program introduced indie publishers to agents and scouts, while authors continued protesting poor contracts. The post Salon du Livre Paris: Indie Intros a Success, Authors Continue Protests appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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NYC Teen Author Festival in Photos

The eighth annual NYC Teen Author Festival featured events throughout the week of March 15-23. Several authors participated, and shared photos from the event across social media. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Family Christian Bankruptcy Felt by Authors, Agents

The Family Christian Stores bankruptcy drama continues to reverberate across the Christian publishing world. Some publishers owed money by FCS are holding back royalty payments, to try to forestall their own financial hiccups. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Three bookshops open

Three new independent bookshops have launched onto the scene in Manchester, Cheltenham and Cornwall. The Suffolk Anthology opened its doors at the end of last month in Cheltenham, run by former GP Helene Hewett as a family business with her two children, selling new titles, with a significant... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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French Children’s Book Authors Suffer Pint-sized Payments

With meager advances, often just 500 euros, and royalty rates of 3-8%, French children's book authors have much to complain about. The post French Children’s Book Authors Suffer Pint-sized Payments appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Debut author organises own £200k marketing campaign

A debut author has arranged a marketing and publicity campaign she estimates is worth £200,000 to support the release of her book, and which her agent said “must be unique for a first-time author”. Janet Kelly’s Dear Beneficiary, about an older woman who has a relationship with a Nigerian man... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lauren Oliver, author of Delirium trilogy: 'Writing is compulsive for me'

The bestselling young adult author wrote her first published novel on a BlackBerry while commuting. Now she has a fan base ardent enough to complain about the way she ended one bookLauren Oliver, a bestselling young adult writer whose latest book, Vanishing Girls, was published in the US last... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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