From Uber driving to huge book deal: Adrian McKinty's life-changing phone call

Despite awards and acclaim for his crime fiction, the impoverished novelist lost his home and was set to quit – then the phone rangIt was1.30 in the morning in Melbourne and Adrian McKinty had just got home after dropping off his last Uber customer of the night at the airport. His phone rang. It was Shane Salerno, agent to authors including Don Winslow, and it was a call that would pull McKinty into “some major league craziness”, ending in a six-figure English-language book deal and, last week, a seven-figure film deal from Paramount for his forthcoming novel The Chain.“Don told me you’ve given up writing,” said Salerno. McKinty, an award-winning crime novelist, had recently blogged about his decision to quit being an author. Beginning with his debut, Dead I May Well Be, written while he taught high school English in Colorado, and continuing with his award-winning series about Northern Irish detective Sean Duffy, McKinty’s books might have won him prizes and great reviews, but they weren’t making him any money. The family moved from the US to Australia in 2008 because McKinty’s wife, author and academic Leah Garrett, was offered a job there. Now the family had been evicted from the home they’d had lived in for eight years, and he was working as an Uber a cab driver (“the world’s worst,” he says now) and bartending in an attempt to actually bring in some cash.When they were evicted from their home, 'I was thinking to myself, "Oh God Adrian, what have you done with your... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2019-07-08 06:00:17 UTC ]
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U.S. Book Show: B&N CEO Says Chain Is in Midst of Significant Change

As Barnes & Noble continues to put its troubled past behind it, CEO James Daunt outlined the "process of change" at the company, which includes renovating stores to make them more appealing, empowering employees, adding sidelines, and renewing the browsing experience both offline and on. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Religion Book Deals: May 24, 2023

IVP's acquisition of two Spanish-language Bible studies and Jewish-themed board books acquired by Penguin are among recent deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-23 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Riot’s SFF Deals for May 22, 2023

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[ Book Riot | 2023-05-22 14:34:53 UTC ]
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Book Deals: Week of May 22, 2023

Park Row bets on a debut novel about love and death, actor Ione Skye sells a memoir to Gallery, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Quantum physics could offer a new way to study biology—and the results could change our understanding of life itself

There’s a chance our understanding of biology is radically incomplete. Imagine using your cellphone to control the activity of your own cells to treat injuries and disease. It sounds like something from the imagination of an overly optimistic science fiction writer. But this may one day be a... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2023-05-18 01:04:00 UTC ]
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Book Riot’s SFF Deals for May 15, 2023

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[ Book Riot | 2023-05-15 14:15:32 UTC ]
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Book Deals: Week of May 15, 2023

Callaway buys a book collecting photos from the Bob Dylan Archive, David Wroblewski sells Blackstone a follow-up to The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

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Book Riot’s SFF Deals for May 8, 2023

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[ Book Riot | 2023-05-08 13:34:09 UTC ]
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Religion Book Deals: May 10, 2023

A Grammy-winning Gospel singer shares her hard-won wisdom and faith for WaterBrook, Paraclete takes devotionals, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

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Book Deals: Week of May 8, 2023

Lloyd Deveraux Richards sells a thriller to Morrow, and Amistad buys a collection on the craft of Black writing edited by Jericho Brown. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

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[ Book Riot | 2023-05-01 15:35:42 UTC ]
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Book Deals: Week of May 1, 2023

HarperCollins buys world rights to a collection of journals and lyrics by Amy Winehouse, NBCC winner Isaac Butler sells a “military history of the first decade in the culture wars” to Bloomsbury, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

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Book Riot’s SFF Deals for April 24, 2023

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[ Book Riot | 2023-04-24 13:45:57 UTC ]
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Meals and deals: five biggest trends from London book fair 2023

There was lots to digest this year, including cookery books from social media stars, a climate change book from London mayor Sadiq Khan, and some big debut novels to look forward toOver the course of three days in London, thousands of editors, publishers and agents, among others, decide what... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-24 12:51:58 UTC ]
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London Book Fair: 30,000 Visitors, Many Rights Deals

In 2023, the London Book Fair reports more than 30,000 visitors and a long list of rights deals, which were reported to fair organizers. The post London Book Fair: 30,000 Visitors, Many Rights Deals appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-04-21 19:54:54 UTC ]
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Book Deals: Week of April 24, 2023

Malala Yousafzai sells a new memoir to Atria, Crown buys an authorized Tupac bio, YA bestseller Mary E. Pearson is set to make an adult debut with Flatiron, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

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Book Deals: Week of April 17, 2023

Knopf buys a memoir from WNBA star Brittney Griner, and Teju Cole sells his second novel to Random House. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

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The Steve Jobs Archive releases e-book chronicling the Apple co-founder's life in his own words

Populated with photographs, emails, speeches and interviews, "Make Something Wonderful" is a chronological exploration of the life of Steve Jobs. Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

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Religion Book Deals: April 12, 2023

Publishers sign podcasters Alicia Michelle, Carlos Whittaker, and TikTok influencer Sarah Grace Hallas. Convergent takes 'Black Liturgies', and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

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