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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Online video platform for children’s books launches

Sigalit Hart, a children’s storyteller and producer, has launched an online TV channel dedicated to children’s books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Milkweed Publisher Ventures Into the Wild to Acquire Book

Daniel Slager paddled into Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area to acquire a book by two outdoor adventurers who had been camping out in the region for nearly a year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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My Job in 5: Jasmine Denholm, Bookseller, Wenlock Books

Describe your role I’m a bookseller at Wenlock Books, an independent bookshop in Shropshire. My job includes running the shop, social media accounts  and Children’s Book Club, organising events and meeting with reps.  I also keep the website going by writing blog posts and book reviews,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Showcasing Children's Books at SIBA

The Southern Independent Bookstore Alliance Discovery Show, held September 16–18 in Savannah, Ga., featured several notable children's and YA authors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Positive Birth Book to Pinter & Martin

Parenting publisher Pinter & Martin is to publish of The Positive Birth Book by Milli Hill, founder of The Positive Birth Movement, an online platform designed to help improve the birth experience of women. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Picture Book Heroes Honored at the Carle Awards

On a brisk early autumn evening, the Eric Carle Honors celebrated its 11th year of recognizing instrumental figures in children's literature. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Book People 'is profitable again' says c.e.o

The Book People’s c.e.o Williams Wellesley said the retailer has “once again become profitable and successful” after its EBITDA increased by £4.3m in 2015. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Serial Dilemma: Does ‘Belgravia’ Spell ‘Success’ in Book Apps?

As innovative as publishers may want to be, how do we evaluate market response to 'Julian Fellowes's Belgravia' with so few apps as apt comparisons? The post Serial Dilemma: Does ‘Belgravia’ Spell ‘Success’ in Book Apps? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Melissa Hill moves to HQ in six-figure deal

HQ has acquired two books by Melissa Hill, author of 13 novels including The Charm Bracelet, Something From Tiffany's and Before I Forget, for six-figures. Hill's previous books were published by Hodder. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How Readerlink Became the Main Book Distributor to Non-Bookstore Retailers

In the five years since Dennis Abboud bought Levy Home Entertainment, the company, rebranded as Readerlink, has become the leading distributor of books to Target, Walmart, and other huge non-trade outlets. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW Picks: Books of the Week, October 3, 2016

This week: an atmospheric Victorian thriller, plus the latest from Laurie Halse Anderson. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Changes Coming This Fall for Spanish-Language Publishers

The change of seasons has brought changes in the landscape of Spanish-language book publishing. In September, the Celebra imprint announced that it will stop acquiring new titles, and the Sélector USA imprint launched. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Roughly Speaking podcast: David Zurawik on the Clinton-Trump split-screen; three good books (episode 156)

In this podcast: 2:31: Today on the show, Dan catches up with the Sun's media critic David Zurawik to talk about last Monday's televised debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. With Clinton widely seen as the winner of that debate -- well prepared, with attacks on Trump's record that... Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2016-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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12 Books Translated from Dutch and Flemish to Know Before Frankfurt

A number of books have been translated from Dutch to English ahead of Flanders and The Netherlands' appearance as the 2016 Guest of Honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair The post 12 Books Translated from Dutch and Flemish to Know Before Frankfurt appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kit Caless | ‘If I’d pitched the book from scratch, I’d have been laughed out of every publisher’s office’

An offbeat look at the carpets adorning the UK’s largest chain of pubs, Kit Caless' Spoon’s Carpets: An Appreciation has the feel of a festive bestseller, says Caroline Sanderson. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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George RR Martin and Apple announce interactive Game of Thrones books collaboration

A Game of Thrones: Enhanced Edition, available through Apple from Thursday, promises ‘a world of additional content’ including sigils, family trees and glossariesGeorge RR Martin has hailed “an amazing next step in the world of books” as he announced publication of a new digital edition of A... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PRH Releases ‘Game of Thrones’ Enhanced E-Book

To mark the 20th anniversary of the release of the first book in George R.R. Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series, 'A Game of Thrones,' Penguin Random House has released an enhanced ebook edition of the title featuring additional content. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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International Industry Notes: PEN America on Banning Books in the USA

PEN America's new report asserts that 'diverse books' frequently are the first to be yanked when it comes to book challenges and 'soft censorship.' The post International Industry Notes: PEN America on Banning Books in the USA appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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2016 National Book Festival in Photos

The National Book Festival, now in its 16th year, was held Saturday, September 24, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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National Book Foundation Names 5 Under 35

The honorees for the program's eleventh year include Brit Bennett, Yaa Gyasi, Greg Jackson, S. Li, and Thomas Pierce. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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