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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Doris Lessing, Nobel Prize-winning author, has died at 94

Nobel Prize-winning author Doris Lessing died at her home in London on Sunday, her publisher announced. She was 94.Nobel Prize-winning author Doris Lessing died at her home in London on Sunday, her publisher announced. She was 94. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indies First movement turns hundreds of authors into booksellers

To support Indies First, scores of authors will be working in indie bookstores on Small Business Saturday. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-11-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Strange Ads Promote an Author Who Isn't Real and a Book That Doesn't Exist

IFC's upcoming The Spoils of Bablyon, a comedy miniseries that spoofs serious miniseries, is based on a book that seems to be sold out in Hudson News stores around the country. The problem with keeping the book in stock, though, is that there were never any printed copies. Eric Jonrosh (and the... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2013-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Judge rules against authors in Google Books copyright infringement case

Google's Books project, which has indexed millions of titles and made them available online, hasn't always been on completely solid legal footing. After all, Books operates without the permission of authors, which has understandably drawn some ire from copyright holders, not to mention other web ... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-11-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #copyright holders #books project #judge rules


Judge dismisses Authors Guild case against Google Books

A U.S. judge has thrown out a long-standing copyright infringement case brought against Google by the Authors Guild, saying the company’s book-scanning project provides significant benefits to the public. Judge Denny Chin, formerly of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2013-11-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #find books #books project #copyright lawsuit


Christmas picks lined up by independent bookshops

Indies hope to highlight 'books that are a bit quirky and a little bit different' and might be overlooked by chain retailersThe nation's independent bookshops have pooled their collective expertise to identify the best of this year's crop of Christmas books, in a bid to pick out the hidden... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2013-11-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ether for Authors: More Gatekeeping? Sisyphus Could Relate

Self-publishing, despite its community's diversity of style and material, may need awards and other 'gatekeeping' devices for coherence in the marketplace. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-11-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Egmont's Jelly Pie brings humour to kids with YouTube and mobile games

New community may come from a publisher, but it's starting with digital media rather than books. By Stuart DredgeStuart Dredge Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2013-11-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pan Macmillan deal for self-published author

Pan Macmillan has acquired five self-published and two unpublished novels by bestselling ebook... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-11-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Children's Book Authors Feted at Shanghai Children's Book Fair

On the last day of the inaugural China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair (CCBF), held from November 7-9, the winners of the Golden Pinwheel Awards were announced. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Progress for community-owned bookshop

Residents of Wandsworth in London have seen their dream of opening an independent bookshop move a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Polaroid Kids Tablet 2 comes loaded with apps from Cartoon Network, Disney and Marvel

A kid-friendly tablet often isn't enough by itself to keep little tykes happy -- you have to get the content they want, too. Polaroid is counting on this formula to lure parents to its newly available Kids Tablet 2. The 7-inch slate comes preloaded with the full versions of 70-plus apps and... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Small Demons will close Nov. 25 unless last-minute buyer appears

The U.K.'s Bookseller reports Small Demons had been in negotiations with an international buyer, but those talks fell through.Los Angeles-based bookish tech startup Small Demons will close its doors Nov. 25, it has told publishers, unless a last-minute buyer is found. The U.K.'s Bookseller... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ether for Authors: Can Turning Publishing Into a Competition Pay?

Our weekly round-up of web buzz looks at Italy's RCS Libri / Rizzoli Lab effort in co-publishing; self-publishing in Germany; author contracts; and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-11-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #author contracts #web buzz #weekly round-


Final Doctor Who ebook author named

Author Neil Gaiman is revealed as the final short story author of the Doctor Who stories. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-11-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Graphic Novelist Jacques Ferrandez is Still Dreaming About Algiers

Jaques Ferrandez is beloved and celebrated in France yet practically unknown in the Anglo-Saxon world; his recent adaptation of 'L’Étranger' (The Stranger) has been a bestseller. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What books sell best? Self-help, kid lit, and erotica

As USA Today celebrates the 20th anniversary of its bestseller list, the organization says romance novels, children's books, and inspirational books defined the last two decades of reading. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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McDonald’s Happy Meal Kids Book Giveaways: Then and Now

McDonalds is giving away 20m copies of four original children's books about nutrition, while a similar giveaway in the 1970s focused on classics—reflecting a change in cultural priorities. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ether for Authors: Is Amazon Really in Retreat?

Porter Anderson looks at reactions to the news of Larry Kirshbaum's departure from Amazon Publishing, plus problems with print, and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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First book prize for Edinburgh author

Edinburgh author Angela Jackson is named the winner of the 2013 Edinburgh International Book Festival's First Book Award. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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