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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Shirley Hughes, children's author and illustrator, dies aged 94

Beloved English author and illustrator behind more than 60 books, including Dogger and the Alfie series, was voted the most popular Kate Greenaway winner in 50 years• Shirley Hughes obituaryShirley Hughes, the author and illustrator whose everyday stories of early childhood cast a happy glow... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-03-02 07:51:03 UTC ]
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Bologna Webinar: Reaching Kids and Teens in the Metaverse

Publishers and other marketers are dipping their toes into 3D virtual environments to reach younger readers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-03-01 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Hamilton author had his children's book translated into a sign language, and says everyone should do it

Bruce Simpson self published Paislee and the Talking Tree, and put an American Sign Language version online. Members of the deaf community say such translations are still not that common with newer books and applaud the move. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2022-02-28 21:15:37 UTC ]
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Leonard Kessler, children’s author whose books endured, dies at 101

A writer and illustrator, he created more than 200 books for young readers, including the ode to individuality “Mr. Pine’s Purple House." Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-02-26 04:19:15 UTC ]
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Leonard Kessler, Colorful Children’s Book Author, Dies at 101

He crafted tales of everyday life for early readers. His “Mr. Pine’s Purple House,” first published in 1965, later inspired a new publishing company — and Jeff Bezos. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-02-24 23:32:36 UTC ]
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Q&A with Andrew Pettegree, author of ‘The Library: A Fragile History’

Andrew Pettegree, co-author of “The Library: A Fragile History,” discusses the centuries-long development of libraries as a civic necessity. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2022-02-24 18:26:27 UTC ]
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Author Joanne Harris turns down US book deal over censoring of ‘f-bomb’

Author of Chocolat says she does not use words ‘accidentally’The bestselling author Joanne Harris has turned down a US book deal after the publishers demanded she take out an “f-bomb” from the novel.The Chocolat author, who lives near Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, tweeted on Saturday: “Today I... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-02-19 14:04:53 UTC ]
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ABA Town Hall Focuses on Board's Commitment to Free Speech

The ABA's hour-long Town Hall drew almost 200 participants, with booksellers celebrating the board’s increased diversity, but also concerned about changes made this past fall to the ABA Ends Policies regarding its view on freedom of expression. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-02-18 05:00:00 UTC ]
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12 Middle Grade Asian Historical Fiction Books by Authors of Color

These middle grade AAPI and Asian historical fiction books, including Troublemaker by John Cho, transport readers into past, learning about important moments in history. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-02-17 11:36:00 UTC ]
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Bologna and London Book Fair Highlight Authors Roberts and O’Farrell

Michèle Roberts in Italy and Maggie O'Farrell in England: Bologna and London announce brand-name author participation. The post Bologna and London Book Fair Highlight Authors Roberts and O’Farrell appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-02-17 07:23:24 UTC ]
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Toronto author's bestselling novel The Maid started as an idea on a napkin

Canadian author Nita Prose's debut novel The Maid became a New York Times and Canadian bestseller just a few weeks after its release on January 4.  Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2022-02-16 09:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Power of the Dog’ author Thomas Savage died in obscurity. It’s time to honor his work.

‘Power of the Dog’ author Thomas Savage died in obscurity. It’s time to honor his work. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-02-15 12:00:36 UTC ]
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Want to help stop book bans? The Authors Guild has tools for you.

If you’ve been paying attention to local news in the past year, you’ve likely noticed the concerning wave of book bans sweeping the nation. Books by authors of color; books that acknowledge historical atrocities; books featuring LGBTQ+ characters; sex education books for teens; all are under... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-02-09 19:49:33 UTC ]
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Incredible Books By Black Authors, According To Black Bookstore Owners

Works by writers like bell hooks, Damon Young and James Baldwin that will educate and make an impact on everyone. Continue reading at HuffPost

[ HuffPost | 2022-01-31 16:37:38 UTC ]
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Sites of Radical Possibility: The Best of 1970s and 80s Women-Authored Science Fiction and Fantasy

A late baby-boomer, I spent my tweens and adolescence in the 1970s under the Tolkien-woven spell of heroic fantasy, immersed in the imagined worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea trilogy (1968-72), Patricia A. McKillip’s Riddlemaster trilogy (1976-79), and Evangeline Walton’s Welsh-myth-remix... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-01-26 09:55:39 UTC ]
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Buddhist Teacher, Author Thich Nhat Hanh Dies at 95

The Vietnamese monk was prominently known for "engaged Buddhism," taking a mindful-but-active approach to contemporary issues. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-01-24 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Little People, Big Dreams: Children’s non-fiction posts all-time record return

If you chart the shift in the BookScan era of the publishing into Children’s & Young Adult Non-Fiction (CYANF), you see it evolving from, broadly, a more schools-book focused sector to one in which the vast bulk of the revenue is derived from trade titles. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-22 07:28:02 UTC ]
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Jonathan Evison’s ‘Small World’ feels like a big statement about America

In "Small World," short chapters and sheer eventfulness keep the story chugging along. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-01-21 12:00:01 UTC ]
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For some authors, inspiration arrives in high definition. Others see nothing at all.

Gillian Flynn, Carmen Maria Machado and other authors discuss their creative process. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-01-20 18:04:50 UTC ]
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Iraj Pezeshkzad, celebrated Iranian satirist and author of ‘My Uncle Napoleon,’ dies

His 1973 novel "My Uncle Napoleon," affectionately skewering the foibles of his countrymen and women in the decades before the Islamic Revolution, became one of the most phenomenally popular works of modern Persian literature. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-01-19 04:45:33 UTC ]
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