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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UKIP's Douglas Carswell pens book on 'how to overthrow emerging oligarchy'

UKIP MP Douglas Carswell has penned an "energetic polemic" called Rebel: How to Overthrow the Emerging Oligarchy, set to be published by Head of Zeus. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Life begins at thirty for Honno

One of the oldest women’s publishing ventures in the UK has big plans for its fourth decade in the trade, its founders tell Natasha Onwuemezi. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #life begins #publishing ventures #big plans #fourth decade #natasha onwuemezi


Spectre of Trump hangs over US National Book Awards

As the 67th National Book Awards were about to get underway in New York last night (16th November), 76-year-old US Congressman John Lewis, an American hero and living legend of the Civil Rights Movement, told The Bookseller: "We have to continue to stand up, speak up, and continue to fight. We... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #living legend


Six Books for a Post-Election Spiritual Detox

New books releasing this fall through January feature spiritual practices and insights for finding hope, solace, and a new way forward in a divided and hectic world. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-11-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books releasing


Keyes and Norton among Irish Book Awards winners

Marian Keyes, Graham Norton, Mike McCormack, Paul O’ Connell and Tana French are some of winners of the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2016 held in Dublin’s Double Tree Hilton yesterday evening (16th November). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #marian keyes #graham norton #mike mccormack #tana french


Abrams & Chronicle UK reveals structural changes

Abrams & Chronicle Books' m.d. Brenda Marsh has made her first structural changes to the company since her appointment in June. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #brenda marsh


Norman Bettison defends book on Hillsborough disaster

Sir Norman Bettison, the former chief constable of both Merseyside and West Yorkshire Police, has defended his book about the Hillsborough disaster, saying he is “entitled" to tell his story. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hillsborough disaster #chief constable


Faith-Based Books on Recovery and Healing From Addiction

New books publishing this spring are making a case for the transformational effect that spiritual practices can have on addictive behavior. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-11-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #faith-based books #books publishing #spiritual practices


Books on Politics, Trump Get Election Sales Bump

Books with "Trump" in the title got a post-election boost, as did many titles that deal with the big themes of the campaigns. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-11-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Colson Whitehead wins for fiction at the National Book Awards

In a year plagued by racial tensions, Colson Whitehead took the National Book Award for fiction for his novel "The Underground Railroad," a visceral and creative imagining of a female slave's escape from slavery. Although it takes years to write a book and bring it to publication, the National... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #racial tensions #colson whitehead #underground railroad


Anna Kendrick book: Her career and the rise of 'Pitch Perfect'

Anna Kendrick's new memoir, 'Scrappy Little Nobody,' was released on Nov. 15. One of the actress's most famous roles is as the protagonist in the 'Pitch' films, which became an unexpected hit. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #unexpected hit


Bloomberg Businessweek Faces ‘Deep Change,’ New Leadership

Ellen Pollock is replaced by Megan Murphy, as the magazine moves toward relaunch and internal restructuring. The post Bloomberg Businessweek Faces ‘Deep Change,’ New Leadership appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2016-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ellen pollock #internal restructuring


'March: Book Three' Wins 2016 NBA for Young People's Literature

Members of the publishing industry gathered at Cipriani Wall Street for the 67th National Book Awards, where John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell won for 'March: Book Three.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #john lewis #andrew aydin


Colson Whitehead Wins National Book Award for ‘The Underground Railroad’

The author Colson Whitehead won the National Book Award for fiction this year for his novel “The Underground Railroad.” Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2016-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #underground railroad


The 2016 National Book Awards: Lewis, Kendi, Borutzky, Whitehead and Politics

In an evening of references to the US general election, the National Book Award ceremony brought to the fore writers of color, the Civil Rights movement, and joy as 'an act of resistance.' The post The 2016 National Book Awards: Lewis, Kendi, Borutzky, Whitehead and Politics appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #general election


Author asks for books to be withdrawn from Daily Mail

YA author Melinda Salisbury has asked her publisher not to submit her books for review to newspapers such as the Daily Mail in support of the ‘Stop Funding Hate’ movement. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #author asks #daily mail


2016 National Book Awards for Young People Literature in Photos

On Wednesday evening, November 16, five finalists for the Young People's Literature prize headed to Cipriani Wall Street in lower Manhattan for the 67th National Book Awards. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #wednesday evening #lower manhattan


WIRED Book Club: Sex Criminals Titillates and Teases Us

In Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky's comic series, Suzie and Jon can stop time by having orgasms. And that's just the beginning. The post WIRED Book Club: Sex Criminals Titillates and Teases Us appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2016-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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London Book Fair’s ‘Building Inclusivity’ Conference Explores Diversity

Amid 'rhetoric of animosity and intolerance and the growing support for right-wing politicians,' a new conference examines the publishing community's accelerating drive for diversity. The post London Book Fair’s ‘Building Inclusivity’ Conference Explores Diversity appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #building inclusivity #publishing community


Children to receive free titles for Book Week Scotland

Every Primary-1 child north of the border is to receive three free picture books for Book Week Scotland 2016. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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