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

Other news stories related to: "Diary of a small town sensation: how the Wimpy Kid author built his dream bookshop"


Bestselling author Erik Larson garners rave reviews for his upcoming book 'Dead Wake'

'Wake' centers on the sinking of the British ship the Lusitania in 1915. The book will be released on March 10. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-03-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #upcoming book


Authors call for PLR to be applied to remote e-loans

Authors have called for Public Lending Right (PLR) to be extended to all ebook loans from libraries. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #ebook loans #public lending #authors call


Dahl’s Charlie tops Sainsbury's list of books kids 'should read'

Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Puffin) is the book parents most think their children should read before the age of 16, according to a survey from supermarket Sainsbury's. Sainsbury’s asked 2,000 parents which 50 books children should read by the time they are 16 to celebrate... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #taking place #supermarket sainsbury #roald dahl


Divergent author Veronica Roth is writing TWO new books

Newsflash! Divergent fans, sit down, take a deep breath and get ready to read Veronica Roth’s new duologyAttention all you Divergent fans! Put down your books, pick up your calendars and rejoice at some really exciting news.It has been announced that Veronica Roth, author of the bestselling... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #two-book series #veronica roth


Unnamed Press Creating Home For Contemporary Authors

Unnamed Press, a new publishing house based in Los Angeles, started out with a completely different name. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #contemporary authors


Edinburgh debates author earnings

Low advances, deep discounting and the problem of author earnings were on the agenda at a Trade Question Time discussion panel at the Scottish Book Trade conference in Edinburgh yesterday (24th February).  A return to a limited Net Book Agreement and a cultural change in publishers' attitudes... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #cultural change #author earnings


Mainstreet 'highly commended' in Best Small Shop

Scottish bookshop Mainstreet Trading Company has been highly commended in the Britain's Best Small Shop competition. The shop, based in St Boswells, Roxburghshire, was highly commended by the judges, but lost out on the top accolade to Hunters of Helmsley, a deli in Helmsley, North... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #ceremony held #north yorkshire #st boswells #small shop


Indies First Goes North: Canadian Authors for Indies Day is May 2

Nearly 100 independent bookstores and 270 authors throughout Canada have signed up for the first annual Canadian Authors for Indies Day on May 2. The post Indies First Goes North: Canadian Authors for Indies Day is May 2 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #indies day #canadian authors


First-Ever Canadian Authors for Indies Day Set for May

After hearing about the Indies First campaign in the U.S., Canadian author Janie Chang decided a similar initiative should be brought to Canada. The result is Canadian Authors for Indies Day, which will take place May 2, 2015. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #canadian authors #indies day


I read only non-white authors for 12 months. What I learned surprised me | Sunili Govinnage

Reading science fiction, chick lit and fantasy novels by people of colour for a year brought home to me just how white my reading world wasIn 2014, I managed to read 25 novels. All of them were written by people of colour. That was the result of a small challenge I set myself: not to read books... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #encouraging women #daily life #reading women


Indie Bookshop of the Year Award: deadline extended

The deadline has been extended for independent bookshops to apply for one of the industry’s most coveted prizes – Independent Bookseller of the Year at the Bookseller Industry Awards. Indies now have until 5p.m. on Monday 23rd February to submit their entries here to be considered for the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #added bonus #independent bookseller #independent bookshops #indie bookshop


Charing Cross Road events for Big Green Bookshop

The Big Green Bookshop is set to hold events at The Old Café – in the former Foyles Charing Cross Road – in an “exciting new partnership.” The Old Café in Foyles’ former home was always a popular venue with literary folk and is still operating after the bookseller moved its flagship store down... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #wood green #flagship store #literary folk #hold events


LBF's Mexico Focus authors unveiled

Elena Poniatowska, winner of the Cervantes Prize 2014, and critic and essayist Enrique Krauze will be headlining Mexico’s Market Focus Cultural Programme for this year’s London Book Fair. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Nascar Tries Science-and-Math Push to Catch Kids' Interest During School

On the eve of the biggest event of the Sprint Cup Series, Nascar is beginning an effort to get kids more interested in science and math through auto racing.Timed to coincide with Sunday's 57th Daytona 500, the Nascar Acceleration Nation program will look to steer primary schoolers into a greater... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #fan base


BEA Unveils 2015 Adult Author Breakfast Lineup

The event will be emceed by Kunal Nayyar, best known for his role as Raj on CBS’s 'The Big Bang Theory.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


VIDEO: India's chart-topping author Amish Tripathi

Amish Tripathi's Shiva trilogy about the popular Hindu deity has become the fastest selling book series in Indian publishing. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2015-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #indian publishing


Patterson most borrowed author but loan numbers fall

James Patterson remains the most borrowed author in UK libraries for the eighth year running, according to data released today (13th February) by the Public Lending Right (PLR). Daisy Meadows holds firm in second place, while fellow children’s authors Julia Donaldson and Francesca Simon remain... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #lee child #roald dahl #jacqueline wilson #nora roberts #fellow children #public lending #uk libraries


Ironmark buys small book publisher

Ironmark, a Howard County-based printing, design and marketing company, announced Thursday that it had acquired United Book Press, Inc. to create a book publishing division that would boost annual revenue from $22 to $35 million. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2015-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #$35 million #announced thursday #marketing company


Indie Book Day backed by bookshops and publishers

Indie Book Day is set to make a mark on the UK this year after starting in Germany two years ago and quickly spreading across Europe. The campaign – which hopes to become comparable to the American Record Store Day event, but for books – wants readers to flock to independent bookshops on 21st... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #independent publisher #independent bookshops


Peru’s Colmena Editores Gives Edgy Debut Authors a Voice

One of Peru's fledgling publishers, Colmena Editores, is making room for edgy new generation of authors, while also offering classics and criticism. The post Peru’s Colmena Editores Gives Edgy Debut Authors a Voice appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #making room #post peru