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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Media Monkeys Diary: BBC traitors, the Sun, John Ryley and Robert Peston

Professor Jean Seaton, the BBCs official historian, has at last agreed a title with it for her volume on the 1974-87 period, due in January. These were years of endless friction with the Thatcher government over reporting of Northern Ireland, the Falklands War and the bombing of Libya, and ended... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #prime minister #tony blair #david beckham #george michael #boris johnson


Authors on the Air Friday June 13, 2014: Rick Rinehart and Ron Deal

Taylor Trade’s editorial director, Rick Rinehart, will appear on "Weekend Edition Sunday" on Sunday, June 15, to discuss his grandmother, the mystery author Mary Roberts Rinehart. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Bookshop boom' under way as Winstone's opens second branch

A mini UK bookshop boom appears to be under way as a fifth new store opening is announced in a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-06-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #store opening


Brooklyn Book Festival Unveils 2014 Author Lineup

Authors Paul Pope, Colson Whitehead and Roz Chast are among more than 100 literary figures presenting at the 9th annual Brooklyn Book Festival, slated for September 21, 2014 at the Brooklyn Borough Hall and Plaza. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #roz chast #colson whitehead


Authors Guild Responds to Second Circuit Ruling

The Authors Guild released a statement in response to the Second Circuit's affirmation of Judge Harold Baer's October 2012 decision in the Authors Guild v. HathiTrust. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air June 9, 2014: Kenneth Turan

Kenneth Turan, author of "Not to be Missed: Fifty-Four Favorites from a Lifetime of Film" (PublicAffairs, 9781586483968 ) will appear on the "Diane Rehm Show" on Tuesday, June 10. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookshop memories: share your photos and stories

As Foyles closes the doors of its world famous, 111-year-old London store and opens a new one share words and images that stir your memories of independent bookshopsShare your photos and stories via GuardianWitness With Amazon still throwing its considerable weight into the ongoing dispute... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #ebook market #ongoing dispute #london store


S&S Adds InkedIn to Author Portal

Simon & Schuster has launched InkedIn, a new online community for S&S authors that lets them hold one-on-one or group discussions on publishing related topics. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air June 5, 2014: Thom Shea

Thom Shea, author of "Unbreakable: A Navy Seal’s Way of Life" (Clovercroft Publishing, 9781940262376), will appear on the "Sean Hannity Show" on Thursday, June 5. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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One Direction fanfic author inks worldwide book deal

Following the success of Anna Todd's After series, the wildly popular stories starring the boy band will be published at the end of the year Is fan fiction something to be feared? And where did it all begin?Simon & Schuster have inked a deal for worldwide rights to One Direction fanfic.... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #jane austen #wildly popular #worldwide rights #simon schuster


“A Footprint on the Convention Floor”: BEA’s Author Hub

BookExpo America's uPublishU Author Hub created self-published authors' own 'footprint on the convention floor' for the first time, setting a strong precedent. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air June 2, 2014: A.J. Baime

A.J. Baime, author of "The Arsenal of Democracy: FDR, Detroit, and an Epic Quest to Arm an America at War" (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 9780547719283), will appear on NPR’s "The Takeaway" on Tuesday, June 3. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Minecraft helps to build sales of kids' non-fiction in Q1

This year is set to be a strong one for children’s non-fiction, with retailers reporting... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2014: Stan Lee: From Comic Book Legend To Children’s Author

With X-Men: Days of Future Past and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man 2 taking top box-office this month, one might presume that the co-creator of all these classic superheros is sitting by a pool somewhere sipping mai tais. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2014: Skylar Dorset: A Dream Becomes a Reality

Skylar Dorset says a dream compelled her to write her debut YA fantasy novel, The Girl Who Never Was (Sourcebooks, June), the first of a pair of Fairie Court books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook Seeks Patent for Tech to Let Kids on Its Network (Legally)

Facebook restricts users to those over the age of 13, but anyone who's talked to a tween lately knows how effective that is.But now it appears Facebook wants to create a way for young people to go legit on the network -- and still comply with the law.In a patent application filed in November of... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #collect data #appears facebook #children younger


Authors on the Air May 30, 2014: Jessye Norman and Joseph Hallinan

Jessye Norman, author of "Stand Up Straight and Sing!" (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 9780544003408) will appear on "PBS Newshour" on Friday, May 30. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2014: The Kids Take Over Uptown Stage

For the second year in a row, children’s authors will grab the spotlight for an entire day at BEA. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2014: Good News, Bad News at Town Hall

What American Booksellers Association CEO Oren Teicher called Amazon's "bullying assault of a major publisher" was a key concern among indie booksellers at both Thursday afternoon's ABA Town Hall and Annual Meeting. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #annual meeting #thursday afternoon #indie booksellers #major publisher #bullying assault #town hall #bad news


BEA 2014: New Opportunities for Agents and Authors in Today’s Publishing

A panel of veteran literary agents discussed the ways in which they now approach their jobs in the Thursday BookExpo panel “Beyond Authors: Self-Publishing & the 'New' Agents.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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