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

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


Big Green Bookshop to hold riot benefit

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Thu, 11/08/2011 - 08:57 The Big Green Bookshop is to hold a comedy gig to raise money for the victims made homeless by the "appalling behaviour" of rioters in Tottenham last weekend. London’s Wood Green where the bookshop is based was also hit by... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #raise money #saturday night


Bookshops avoid major damage in London rioting

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Tue, 09/08/2011 - 09:30 Bookshops appeared to have been largely unaffected by the rioting that swept across London and other cities last night, causing tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage. As London shopowners began the clean-up this morning,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #london rioting #store portfolio


Xcite appoints author Coldwell as editor

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Tue, 09/08/2011 - 08:57 Erotic fiction publisher Xcite Books has appointed Elizabeth Coldwell to the role of editor. Coldwell is a former editor of Forum magazine and is also one of Xcite's bestselling authors. Managing director Hazel Cushion... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestselling authors #broad spectrum


Ross mulls “TV Kids Book Club”

Written By: Caroline Horn Publication Date: Fri, 05/08/2011 - 14:23 Publishers have welcomed the news that Amanda Ross, Cactus TV md, may launch a television programme dedicated to children’s books. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amanda ross #childrens books


Decemberists' singer writes kids book for Canongate

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Fri, 05/08/2011 - 11:01 Canongate has bought a children’s book written by the lead singer of American indie rock band The Decemberists. Senior editor Francis Bickmore bought UK and Commonwealth rights (excl Canada, Australia and New Zealand) to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lead singer #angharad kowal #writers house


Sceptre buys new novel by Cold Mountain author

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Wed, 03/08/2011 - 09:10 Sceptre has acquired the latest novel by Cold Mountain author Charles Frazier, to be published on 27th September 2011. Publishing director Carolyn Mays bought British Commonwealth, excluding Canada, rights in the title,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #karolina sutton #curtis brown #amanda urban


Society of Authors short story petition gains 5,000 signatures

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Wed, 27/07/2011 - 07:20 The Society of Authors' petition against the cuts to BBC Radio 4's short story programming has now amassed over 5,000 signatures. SoA general secretary Nicola Solomon and assistant general secretary Jo McCrum will present... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #central london #ali smith #jackie kay


Irish authorities clear Amazon Book Depository acquisition

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Wed, 27/07/2011 - 07:40 The Irish Competition Authority has cleared the acquisition of The Book Depository by Amazon after a three-week investigation into the deal. In a short statement, the authority said: "[We have] formed the view that the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book depository #short statement #substantial lessening #25th september #relevant parties #confidential information #published version


Irish authorities clear Amazon Book Depository acquistion

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Wed, 27/07/2011 - 08:17 The Irish Competition Authority has cleared the acquisition of The Book Depository by Amazon after a three week investigation into the deal. In a short statement, the authority said: "[We have] formed the view that the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book depository #short statement #substantial lessening #25th september #relevant parties #confidential information #published version


Foyles continues kids book giveaway

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Mon, 25/07/2011 - 08:46 Foyles continues its free book giveaway today (25th July), offering five titles free to children and teen readers. The five Foyles London stores have been giving away the titles free over this weekend and today, the first... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #teen readers


Terry Jones first Unbound author

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Tue, 19/07/2011 - 08:55 Former Monty Python star Terry Jones will become the first author to have his project published by the Unbound crowdfunded publishing project. His book, Evil Machines, comprises 13 tales parodying man's relationship with... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #terry jones


The Gift author returns with Union

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Thu, 14/07/2011 - 08:56 Union Books editorial director Rosalind Porter has bought a book on the intersection of creativity and commerce by Lewis Hyde, author of The Gift. Porter acquired UK and Australia and New Zealand rights in Common As Air:... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #zealand rights #devon mazzone


London Magazine asks for bookshop votes

Written By: Katie Allen Publication Date: Tue, 05/07/2011 - 09:25 The London Magazine has launched a competition for readers to nominate their favourite bookshop, highlighting indies including Daunts. As part of the publication's The Great Little Shop Awards, this month the magazine is asking... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #london magazine #vote online


Lecturers posting notes online "harming" bookshops

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Mon, 04/07/2011 - 08:31 University lecturers posting course notes online are "harming" academic booksellers, and the posts can also deter students from reading around the subject, the chairman of the Booksellers Association's Academic, Professional... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #academic booksellers #booksellers association #iain finlayson #serves students


Physical bookshops frustrated with Pottermore

Written By: Graeme Neill and Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Thu, 23/06/2011 - 16:34 Retailers have criticised J K Rowling's decision to sell the Harry Potter ebooks directly through the Pottermore website, with Waterstone's saying physical bookshops are "effectively banned" from selling... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pottermore website #graeme neill #physical bookshops #effectively banned #digital editions


Self-published author hits one million Kindle sales

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Mon, 20/06/2011 - 14:31 John Locke has become the first self-published author to sell more than one million ebooks through Amazon. The author used Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing platform to publish and sell his titles. He joins Stieg Larsson,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #self-published author #million ebooks #james patterson #nora roberts #charlaine harris #lee child #suzanne collins #michael connelly


Six shortlisted as Royal Society kids' book prize returns

Written By: Rachel Bradley Publication Date: Fri, 17/06/2011 - 08:07 A guide to astronomy and a pop-up guide to how the world works are among the shortlisted titles for the first Royal Society Young People's Book Prize in three years. The £10,000 prize was not awarded between 2008 and 2010 due... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #shortlisted titles #book prize #funding difficulties #anonymous donor #winning book


SoA not fighting for authors, claims historian

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Thu, 16/06/2011 - 09:22 Author Gregor Dallas has accused the Society of Authors of not doing enough to defend its members from large publishers which are cutting back on range and creating a "national scandal" with the declining quality of their... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #large publishers #cutting back


Joseph, Ziegler, Henderson, win at Society of Author awards

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Wed, 15/06/2011 - 08:21 Twenty-one writers shared £76,000 of prize money at the Authors' Awards last night presented by Joanna Trollope. Among them Anjali Joseph won the £10,000 Betty Trask prize for Saraswati Park (Fourth Estate). As previously... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #author awards #prize money #joanna trollope #previously announced #orange prize