She published her first book in her 40s and became the biggest selling author of the past decade in any genre – The Gruffalo alone has sold 13m copies. How did this former busker make it so big?The room where the children’s author Julia Donaldson writes – the heart of her vast picture book empire – is down a winding staircase, in the cellar of her grand white house in Steyning, West Sussex. Her desk looks out on the street at knee height. “I’m thinking of writing a book about legs,” Donaldson said, as she showed me around the house this summer. Children from the nearby school often wave in at her as they pass. Donaldson is well known in Steyning, due to her frequent signings at the local bookshop. She and her husband, Malcolm, a retired paediatrician, recently bought the local post office to save it from closure. But elsewhere she can walk the pavement without being recognised. “I got a letter the other day for Jacqueline Wilson,” Donaldson told me. “It said: ‘You’re my favourite author!’”If you are not someone who spends much time with young children, you may only be dimly aware of Donaldson’s work – although you will probably be familiar with her most famous creation, the Gruffalo. If you have children, however, you will know her as a cultural juggernaut whose influence among children is perhaps only surpassed by the works of Disney and CBeebies. Donaldson, who is 72, has written more than 210 books: chiefly picture books, but also poetry, plays, a 60-part phonics... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2020-12-17 06:00:31 UTC ]
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Once identified as the most notable magazine launch of the year in 2009, Hearst's Food Network magazine is continuing to ride a wave of reader enthusiasm with the announcement of its sixth rate base increase since the title went live. Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2011-08-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BlogHer co-founder and CEO Lisa Stone sounded triumphant today in San Diego, where her women-focused blog and advertising network was hosting its seventh annual BlogHer conference. More than 3,500 bloggers were in attendance, and the company announced some new partnerships like the "Live Well... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2011-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Time Warner Inc. released its second-quarter results today, posting its highest growth rate since third quarter 2007. Overall revenues rose 10 percent to $7 billion compared to same period 2010. Its publishing division also did wellTime Inc. boosted revenues 3 percent for the quarter, with... Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2011-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Time Inc. is making it easier for readers to access its magazines in digital formthe company announced Wednesday that it will make all 21 of its U.S. titles available on the iPad and other tablets by the end of the year. But consumers still wont be able to buy subscriptions through a key sales... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2011-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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While many publishers are still grappling with the question of digital properties and revenue, The Financial Times continues to reap positive benefits from its paid collection model, according to first half 2011 financials released Friday. Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2011-08-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Thu, 28/07/2011 - 15:19 World Book Night will launch in the US in 2012, with the States confirmed as the event's first international partner. HarperCollins vice president of independent retailing Carl Lennertz has been appointed as chief... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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TIME is ranked number one in the latest Digital IQ Index from "digital innovation think tank" L2 that measures the digital aptitude and ad revenue-per-page of 87 magazine brands.The rankings were developed by NYU Stern professor Scott Galloway. Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2011-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Wed, 27/07/2011 - 15:15 Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is the most popular title among the public to be given away as part of World Book Night 2012. The organisation launched a public vote last month asking people to vote for the titles they... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Wed, 27/07/2011 - 15:15 Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird has been voted the most popular title to be given away as part of World Book Night 2012. The organisation launched a public vote last month asking people to vote for the titles they... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It might seem only reasonable for independents to gloat, at least a little, now that one of their biggest competitors, Borders Book Group, which had 1,249 stores in 2003, has begun closing its remaining 399 stores. But the response from indies to Borders's demise has been muted by the potential... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Time magazine is making it easier for readers to subscribe to its digital and print editions. And harder for non-subscribers to read the magazine on the Web. Continue reading at AllThingsD
[ AllThingsD | 2011-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Fri, 15/07/2011 - 14:31 Vintage has made 12 titles by The Woman in Black author Susan Hill available to buy as ebooks for the first time across the UK and Commonwealth. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After the latest controversy broke in a string of revelations concerning phone hacking conducted by editorial staff, British newspaper News of the World is folding. News Internationals chairman deputy COO of News Corp. James Murdoch says that Sunday will be the last edition of the newspaper. Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2011-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Financial Times has decided to go another way for their digital subscription offering, opting out of the Apple sub model and creating an app through HTML 5, allowing users to get the app experience through their Web browser. Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2011-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Fri, 17/06/2011 - 10:52 Century has acquired world rights to a book by comedian Frank Skinner, set to feature columns selected from those he has published in the Times newspaper in the past two years, plus some fresh and previously unseen... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Wed, 15/06/2011 - 14:03 Random House author Katie Price is to attempt to break the Guinness World Records title for the largest book signing by a single author. Price's attempt will take place at the O2 Academy, Leeds, at 11 a.m. on 27th July,... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Mon, 13/06/2011 - 08:40 Authors Kate Atkinson and Julia Donaldson have been awarded MBEs in this year's Birthday Honours List. Transworld author Atkinson and newly-appointed children's laureate Donaldson were both recognised by the Queen, with... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Fri, 10/06/2011 - 14:53 The newly crowned children's laureate Julia Donaldson has given her support for National Libraries Day, the new initiative set to carry on the success of last February's Save Our Libraries Day. Donaldson said: "Hooray for... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-06-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publication Date: Tue, 07/06/2011 - 11:52 Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson has been named as the new Waterstone's children's laureate. The announcement was made at a ceremony today (7th June) at King's Place in central London. Donaldson was presented with the childrens laureate medal and a... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-06-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Tue, 07/06/2011 - 15:17 New Waterstone's children's laureate Julia Donaldson has vowed to make libraries one of the areas she concentrates on during her two years in the role. "I care very much about libraries and I'm looking for more opportunities... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-06-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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