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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'The future is creativity': Children's book author Hervé Tullet nurtures kids' imaginations at ICA LA

Artist and "Press Here" author Hervé Tullet launches an interactive art-making project, Ideal Exhibition, at ICA LA in downtown L.A. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-07-26 10:00:39 UTC ]
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Author Linda Holmes shares her D.C. Dream Day with a four-legged friend

The host of NPR's "Pop Culture Happy Hour" podcast has written her debut novel, the romantic comedy "Evvie Drake Starts Over." Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-06-19 22:05:02 UTC ]
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Green dream for Leventhal as new Jewish-interest kids’ imprint launches

British indie publisher Greenhill Books is to make its first foray into children’s with Green Bean Books, a new imprint of Jewish-interest titles. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Small Island author Andrea Levy dies, aged 62

Andrea Levy, writer of bestselling Windrush generation novel Small Island (Headline), has died from cancer at the age of 62, with the publishing community paying tribute to how she "reshaped the literary world". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wimpy Kid’s best friend takes centre stage in new Kinney novel

Puffin, part of Penguin Random House Children’s, will this April publish Jeff Kinney’s first novel outside of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, about protagonist Greg Heffley’s best friend Rowley Jefferson. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-01-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sarpong, Porter and du Beke among Bookshop Day authors

June Sarpong, Sophie Mackintosh, Anton du Beke and Max Porter are some of the authors preparing to take part in this year's Bookshop Day on Saturday 6th October, according to The Booksellers Association, whose "unmissable" line-up also has children running bookshops, alongside poetry karaoke,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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US children’s authors campaign against ‘kids in cages’

A group of US authors has raised more than $102,000 (£77,500) to help children in detention camps. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'No kids in cages': Children's book authors unite against Trump policy separating families at the border

About 2,000 children’s and YA book authors and their supporters have signed onto a campaign to oppose President Trump's controversial family separation immigration policy under the name "Kid Lit Says No Kids in Cages." The campaign made its appearance Monday on Twitter with a statement signed by... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Debut author lands £1.5m publishing deal for 'sensational' historical novel

An American debut author has secured a £1.5m advance for her "sensational" historical novel, with Hutchinson winning the UK rights after a 12-publisher auction.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookCon 2018: From Wimpy Kid to Bill Clinton

Young readers and teens will find a feast of programming at this year’s show—and there’s also plenty for their parents to check out, too. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Puffin reveals Wimpy Kid's 'The Meltdown'

The 13th Diary of a Wimpy Kid cover and title has been revealed on Facebook as well as on a children’s radio station. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Opening a Queer/Feminist Bookstore in Small-Town Mississippi

With its official grand opening on February 3, owner Jaime Harker’s dream has become a reality: the small town of Water Valley, Miss. has its first (and only) Queer/Feminist bookstore – Violet Valley Bookstore. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kinney celebrates 10 years of Wimpy Kid

Penguin Random House Children's held a breakfast at the Ritz to celebrate 10 years of publishing Jeff Kinney's Wimpy Kid novels, and to thank the retailers and journalists who have supported the series. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hudson: kids non-fiction provides 'trust and authority' in fake news world

The opportunity for children’s non-fiction lies in offering “trust and authority” in a world of fake news, paid for ads and internet misinformation, DK’s chief executive Ian Hudson has said. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rates rises could see 275 towns lose bookshops, politicians told

Booksellers have appealed directly to politicians to reform business rates or risk 275 towns losing bookshops at a parliamentary reception in the House of Commons. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-07-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Twelfth Wimpy Kid coming in November

Penguin Random House Children's is publishing the 12th book in Jeff Kinney's bestselling Wimpy Kid series, alongside 20 other international publishers, in November 2017. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ethiopia’s Tsehay Melaku: ‘My Dream Was To Be an Author’

A political novelist looks back on how issues explicated by her fiction ended up hampering book sales in her home country of Ethiopia. The post Ethiopia’s Tsehay Melaku: ‘My Dream Was To Be an Author’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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MPIBA 2016: Kids' Booksellers, Authors Get Primed for Fall

With 15 new stores signing on as members in 2016, the Mountains and Plains Independent Bookstore Association is booming. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors Guild Backs 'Small Claims' Copyright Bill

The bill seeks to help copyright owners who do not have the resources to pursue federal copyright claims. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2016: It’s Show Time! Kids’ Events on Author Stages: Act II

Children’s authors will be front and center on the Uptown Stage today, when back-to-back kids’ programming takes place. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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