Graham Norton: ‘In a world going to hell in a handcart, Ireland is a wonderful beacon’

The chatshow host’s new novel centres on Irish lives dominated by shame and repression. Yet, after ‘decades of darkness’, the country’s legalisation of abortion and gay marriage have made him hopefulGraham Norton’s second novel, A Keeper, had not gone to press before this interview, so his publisher ran off an A5 photocopy for me. After reading the first few pages, I thought they must have sent me the wrong book. Literary fiction this strong could not be the work of a TV star whose canon of previous works comprised one novel. Whoever wrote this clearly had to be an established author.When I tell Norton this, he does a little squirm beside me on the sofa. “Oh my God, that’s incredibly nice of you. I’m not very good at taking compliments, so let’s gloss over this bit, but I’ll just say thank you very much. Seriously, that’s really, really nice.”We’ve got to thank the church for what Ireland is now, because it is a reaction to all those decades of darknessPeople get stuck in their heads about the thing that’s wrong with their life – they forget to have a lovely time Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]

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Hard books for hard times: literary experimentation gains popularity

For some authors, a demanding era for publishing calls for complicated stories not cautious and conservative ones and they're finding readersBetween the decline of the traditional bookshop and the internet wrecking our concentration, many thought the novel was on its last legs. With all the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How Tarted-Up Book Covers Belittle Women's Fiction

The publishing industry's packaging of women's literary fiction in stereotypically girly covers makes great books seem trashy.If you take a look at the cover of Alice Munro's latest Nobel Prize-winning short fiction collection, The View From Castle Rock, you probably wouldn't guess it includes... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Betty Crocker's Newest Recipe: How to Support Gay Marriage

Known as the "first lady of food," Betty Crocker has spent more than 90 years dispatching kitchen advice, including selling more than 75 million cookbooks since its first one was published in 1942. But of late, the fictional brand icon has taken on a new mission as a supporter of gay... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-06-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Terry McMillan addresses affairs of the heart

Terry McMillan's eighth novel, 'Who Asked You?,' is rich in narrative tension, nuanced humor and moral heft."Who Asked You?" is Terry McMillan's eighth book, and it is a corker: a long, smooth, Indian-summer cocktail. For all the racy, scandalous pleasures in books such as "Waiting to Exhale"... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Agent Nicole Aragi on the Future of Literary Fiction, Translation

In an interview with Guernica magazine, literary agent Nicole Aragi discusses the crisis of literary fiction, why translated books don't sell in the US, and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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“Time” Magazine Cover Commemorates One Kind of Gay Marriage Victory

While the fate of gay married couples in America hangs in the balance awaiting a pair of Supreme Court decisions, Time's latest cover insists a bigger decision has already been made. As the Supreme Court hears arguments in landmark marriage-equality cases, many around the country, including... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Same Sex, Different Story: PW Talks with Rodger Streitmatter

Just as president Obama comes out in favor of gay marriage, a new book takes a close look at American same sex couples, from Walt Whitman to Greta Garbo to Jasper Johns. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Whither the Midlist Publisher?

For nearly a decade, some say even longer, people in the publishing industry have been decrying the death of the midlist. As the story goes, the industry consolidated—smaller and midsize publishers were gobbled up and brought together into six large houses that themselves are small pieces of... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Open Road launches Iconic E-Books

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Tue, 18/10/2011 - 15:19 Digital publisher Open Road is launching a new imprint, Iconic E-books, with Erica Jong's Fear of Flying and Alice Walker's The Color Purple to be among its first titles. The Iconic E-Books titles will be those that have... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Macmillan New Writing to continue after Atkins departure

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Fri, 05/08/2011 - 08:30 Pan Macmillan's Macmillan New Writing scheme will continue despite the head of the imprint leaving the company. Will Atkins, who worked at Pan Macmillan for five years and was its editorial director for fiction, has left... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Waterstone's necessary for midlist and discoverability, says Page

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Wed, 25/05/2011 - 09:41 The safeguarding of Waterstone's future will secure the midlist of history and science writing, literary fiction and memoir, the m.d. of Faber has said. Stephen Page, writing in the Guardian, said if the Waterstone's... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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