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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Beautiful bookstores, finalists for the NYPL's Young Lions Award, and more of the day's most interesting bookish news. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-04-19 16:41:47 UTC ]
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The bookstore proprietors of today are putting inclusivity first, building communities, and opening up shop in unexpected places. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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PEN's new report shows that book bans continue to rise and continue to target books by or about queer people and people of color. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-04-16 12:05:00 UTC ]
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The publishers and booksellers of Germany are developing a special 2024 World Book Day campaign for April 23. The post World Book Day: German Publishers Expect to Give Books to 1.1 Million Kids appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-04-08 20:04:30 UTC ]
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The genre has departed from classic themes, with new books dealing with war, politics and powerlessness – and sales have risen 54% year-on-yearHorror fiction is having a moment, according to data showing 2023 was a record-breaking year for book sales in the genre.Between 2022 and 2023, sales of... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2024-04-04 13:22:32 UTC ]
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By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University) I’m often surprised by how little serious critical attention some of the work of J. G. Ballard (1930-2009) has received. ‘Having a Wonderful Time’ is a good example. Like many of the short stories from the 1982 collection Myths of the Near Future,... Continue reading at Interesting Literature
[ Interesting Literature | 2024-04-03 14:00:45 UTC ]
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Last week, Diane Goettel was on vacation in Florida when she saw an alarming email on her phone. After 55 years, Small Press Distribution (SPD)—one of the last remaining independent book distributors in the US—was shutting down immediately, with no advance notice or transitional support. Its... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2024-04-03 08:54:49 UTC ]
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I was balancing a plate of honeydew in the green room of a book festival when I walked by a white man bemoaning the state of the publishing industry. The man wore a suit, and he spoke to a white woman; both of them looked to be in their 40s. As the man speared a […] The post I Don’t Have To... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2024-03-27 11:05:00 UTC ]
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The Bologna Children’s Book Fair expands its global reach while remaining focused on its flagship program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Jury comments about the Sunday Times Young Writer-winning debut, 'The New Life,' call Tom Crewe's book, a 'tenderly sensual account of masculine sexuality.' The post London: Tom Crewe Wins the Sunday Times’ Young Writer Award appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-03-20 12:50:02 UTC ]
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Gerald Levin, who led Time Warner Media into a disastrous $182 billion merger with the internet provider America Online, has died at the age of 84 Continue reading at ABC News
[ ABC News | 2024-03-15 09:02:35 UTC ]
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Using clever camera methods, a new photo book illuminates how honeybees see plants and flowers. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2024-03-08 10:00:27 UTC ]
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Praising 'their attentiveness to the world,' the 2024 Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year jury names four authors to its shortlist. The post UK: The Sunday Times Young Writer 2024 Shortlist appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-02-27 17:20:22 UTC ]
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A look at the publication process for the latest novel from the acclaimed author and poet. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-23 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The Many Worlds of Anna May Wong: A Conversation with Katie Gee Salisbury, by Susan Blumberg-Kason Interviews [email protected] Wed, 02/21/2024 - 15:24 Katie Gee Salisbury first came across Anna May Wong when she was doing a college internship and... Continue reading at World Literature Today
[ World Literature Today | 2024-02-21 21:24:15 UTC ]
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The L.A. Times Book Prizes honor 66 works in 13 categories celebrating exceptional writing from authors at all stages of their careers. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2024-02-21 13:00:41 UTC ]
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“Vulnerability is not weakness, it is our greatest measure of courage.” * “Stressed is being in the weeds, overwhelmed is being blown.” * “Disappointment is unmet expectations.” * These are the sort of catchy aphorisms you will find in the pages of self-help guru and corporate leadership trainer... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2024-02-21 09:55:40 UTC ]
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CEO Ben Mandrell tells PW the turnaround strategy was to refocus on the original mission—serving pastors and church leaders. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-20 05:00:00 UTC ]
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‘What Happens Next,’ coming from Thomas Nelson in August, is the first book on the biblical end times by bestselling author and pastor Max Lucado. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-20 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Private equity investor James Rhee, author of 'Red Helicopter,' suggested ways to amplify a bookstore or brand’s intangible qualities, and conflict resolution specialist William Ury, author of 'Possible,' advised booksellers on how to deal with people's differences "constructively." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-13 05:00:00 UTC ]
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