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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HarperCollins Union Authorizes Strike

The more than 250 members of HC's union overwhelming voted to authorize a strike if current negotiations do not lead to a contract. No deadline for a strike had been announced. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
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A New York Library Bans Pride Displays and LGBTQ Kids’ Books, And Other Library Censorship Stories from Pride Month

Libraries from California to North Carolina to Utah to New York have seen their Pride displays challenged or removed this month. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-06-30 10:41:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #libraries #north carolina #pride month


111 Queer Books Recommended by Librarians, Booksellers, and Authors

While we celebrate queer literature and history all year long at Lit Hub dot com, we also love a good book list. This year, in honor of Pride, we reached out to some of our favorite librarians, booksellers, and authors and asked them about the queer books they find themselves recommending over... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-06-24 08:52:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #good book #queer books #year long


Register Today for AAPI Communities in Conversation #7, Featuring Marie Myung-Ok Lee, Author of 'Finding My Voice'

Lee is set to appear in conversation with Lynn Nguyen from the Los Angeles Public Library. The live stream is set for Tuesday, July 5th at 1 PM ET. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
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New Kids’ Book Says It’s OK to Ask for Help—Even If You’re a Rabbi

Alice Blumenthal McGinty demonstrates how learning to ask for help can create a stronger community in her new children’s book, ‘A Synagogue Like Home’ (Candlewick, Aug.), which depicts a week in the life of a contemporary synagogue. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Neon Hemlock Press: A Small Press in a Big World of Speculative Fiction

This year, a Neon Hemlock Press novella won a Nebula. But what is this publisher, where did it come from, and what does it put out? Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-06-21 10:36:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #small press #speculative fiction #big world


James Patterson apologizes for saying white male authors face ‘racism’

The 75-year-old writer has penned more than 300 titles, sold more than 500m copies and is worth an estimated $800mThe bestselling author James Patterson has apologized for saying white male authors face “another form of racism”.In an interview with the Sunday Times, Patterson said white male... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-06-15 18:35:13 UTC ]
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Ibram X. Kendi on fatherhood, empathy and dreaming of better worlds

Ibram X. Kendi joins the L.A. Times Book Club to discuss "How to Raise an Antiracist." Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-06-14 14:00:53 UTC ]
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The New York Public Library is giving 500,000 free books (for keeps!) to kids and families.

We’ve said it many, many times before and we’ll say it many, many times again: libraries represent the best of America. Today’s entry: the New York Public Library will give away 500,000 books this summer to help kids, teens, and families build their at-home libraries. In addition to English,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-06-09 14:17:10 UTC ]
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Massachusetts Secretary of State Candidate Platform Built on Book Censorship

A candidate for Massachusetts's Secretary of State is traveling to public libraries to secretly video their Pride displays. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-06-09 14:14:42 UTC ]
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Review: With 'Yerba Buena,' a top L.A. author of queer YA romance is all grown up

Nina LaCour's first novel for adults, "Yerba Buena," follows a promising and complicated lesbian love story in the mold of Sarah Waters. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-05-26 13:00:31 UTC ]
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Farewell, This Is Us: the sensational schmaltzfest we all needed

The Pearson family saga has been comfort TV at its cosiest, full of twists, cheesy lines and fabulous characters – and it even bowed out with its own ‘Sopranos fade-to-black’ momentWarning: this article contains spoilers.It’s over. After 106 episodes of emotional evisceration, This Is Us (Amazon... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-05-26 12:40:10 UTC ]
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U.S. Book Show: Humor, History, and Hope at Adult Authors Chat

Sisters confront racism with humor, a fantasy novelist delves into short stories, a military history expert salutes the civil rights movement, and a movie star's memoir goes behind the scenes. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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French author Alice Zeniter has won the eye-popping €100,000 Dublin Literary Award.

The Art of Losing (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) by French novelist Alice Zeniter has won the prestigious Dublin Literary Award, a prize which comes with a handsome glass trophy and the world’s largest purse for a single novel published in English—a whopping €100,000. Nominations for the Dublin... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-05-24 16:21:57 UTC ]
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Hazel Henderson, environmental activist and futurist author, dies at 89

She spent decades campaigning for social change, fighting to limit air pollution in New York City and to rethink conventional yardsticks for economic development. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-05-23 23:59:08 UTC ]
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Jim Murphy, children’s author who humanized U.S. history, dies at 74

His books about the Great Chicago Fire and America’s first epidemic were Newbery Honor winners. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-05-19 22:43:48 UTC ]
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Larry Woiwode, author of acclaimed 1970s novel, dies at 80

His 1975 novel, "Beyond the Bedroom Wall," was considered among the best of its time. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-05-17 02:04:35 UTC ]
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From the author of ‘The Flight Attendant,’ a gripping tale of survival

Chris Bohjalian’s latest novel ‘The Lioness’ takes readers on a posh African safari that turns terrifying. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-05-11 12:00:26 UTC ]
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Wowing Young Readers: Close-up on Union Square Kids

It’s full steam ahead for Union Square Kids. The publisher’s dynamic line of children’s, middle grade, and YA titles includes well-established authors and illustrators and new voices alike. Editorial director Tracey Keevan shares the vision behind Union Square Kids, its publishing aspirations,... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Senate Chaplain Barry Black Debuts a Book for Kids

ZonderKidz will publish U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black’s picture book, ‘A Prayer for Our Country: Words to Unite and Inspire Hope,’ on June 7. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-10 04:00:00 UTC ]
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