I'm the first black author to win book of the year. I'm proud, but not completely happy

Instead of celebrating myself, I’m going to celebrate the books by black authors that came before meI have a funny thing about winning. I find it overwhelming. I don’t know how to cope or act when things are meant to be “good”. What do I do? Should I be happy? What is that? How many ways can I genuinely and meaningfully thank people who congratulate me? Do they understand that if I don’t reply to their kind messages, I’m not being rude – it’s just that I don’t know what to say?It’s not that I’m not grateful when things go well, it’s more that I need to talk to a therapist about them. Anyway, imagine my discomfort when I was told that my book Queenie had won debut of the year at the British Book awards. Actually, my first feeling was relief that instead of having to attend a ceremony and have my picture taken, and get up on a stage and be looked at, I could just pre-record an acceptance speech on Zoom then go back to watching music videos all day. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2020-07-02 07:00:46 UTC ]
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Other Publishing stories related to: 'I'm the first black author to win book of the year. I'm proud, but not completely happy'


E-books can pose health risks

Using tablets and backlit e-readers at night can lead to sleep deficiency and damage health, an academic study has claimed. According to findings published in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, blue light, the wavelength common in smartphones, tablets and LED... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Edicola: Bringing New Chilean and Italian Authors to the World

Founded in 2012, Chile's Edicola publishes new Chilean and Italian authors in Spanish, Italian, and English in both print and ebook formats. The post Edicola: Bringing New Chilean and Italian Authors to the World appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-12-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Critics select 'Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?' for best-of-the-year lists

'Pleasant' is a graphic novel by Roz Chast that explores caring for aging parents. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Argentina’s La Bestia Revives English Authors in Spanish

Argentina's La Bestia publishing house brings previously untranslated top English titles, from authors such as Kurt Vonnegut, into Spanish translations. The post Argentina’s La Bestia Revives English Authors in Spanish appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-12-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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On French and German Attitudes to Book Prices

The French and German attitudes toward book prices originate in their long-standing cultural view on the importance of books as a bastion of culture. The post On French and German Attitudes to Book Prices appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury Completes Purchase of Osprey

Bloomsbury Publishing has completed its purchase of Osprey Publishing for 4.6 million pounds. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing Sales Execs Consider the Future of Book Pricing

A trio of international publishing sales executives reflect on the different attitudes toward book pricing across the world, wondering what the future holds. The post Publishing Sales Execs Consider the Future of Book Pricing appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Debut author will give grants to six independent bookstores

Author Jeffrey Stayton, whose first book is being published this February, recently sponsored a competition to select six independent bookstores as recipients of $250 grants. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hodder wins auction for Marsh debut

Hodder & Stoughton has acquired two books by a debut novelist at auction. Francesca Best, commissioning editor at Hodder, bought world rights to My Everything and one other novel by Katie Marsh from Hannah Ferguson at the Hardman & Swainson Agency. My Everything is about Hannah, an... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The publisher’s year: hits and misses of 2014

Which books took off and which failed to sell? Publishers choose their books of the year, and the ones that slipped through the netThe book that made my year: The commercial publication of Picador’s year was The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton, which has just been crowned Waterstones book of the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Open Letter Book’s Chad Post on the State of Translation

Three Percent and Open Letter Books publisher Chad Post talks with Caitlyn Christensen at Sampsonia Way about the contemporary literary scene, publishing and translation. The post Open Letter Book’s Chad Post on the State of Translation appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PRH: 'year of implementation' ahead

2015 will be a “year of implementation” for Penguin Random House, with the work ahead allowing PRH to “fully realise the potential of our new company”, c.e.o. Markus Dohle has told employees. In a letter to PRH staff worldwide, Dohle said that it was “incredible what our company has been able... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Second Story Press Celebrates 25 Years of Feminist and Social Justice Publishing

When Toronto-based Second Story Press celebrated its 25th anniversary this month, the room at a community center in downtown Toronto was filled with authors and illustrators who have helped the press pursue its goal of publishing important feminist and social justice books for young readers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Local authority budgets cut again

Local authorities will see their spending power reduced by 1.8% on average in 2015/16, following cuts to funding by the government, but some councils could face a 6.4% reduction. The announcement comes on the same day that the funding of libraries has come under the spotlight with the release... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Books Rule In November

David Foenkinos’s "Charlotte," the story of a German painter who died at Auschwitz at the age of 26, rose six spots to hit #1 on France’s fiction list in November. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Review: What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions

Here is a book review of Randall Munroe's What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Questions. Overall, a great book. I recommend it. The post Book Review: What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2014-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Want You Dead named Sainsbury's ebook of the year

Peter James’ Want You Dead (Pan Macmillan) has been named eBooks by Sainsbury’s eBook of the Year 2014. The award, which aims to let readers decide their stand-out “screen turner” of the year, is in its second year. Want You Dead was chosen from a longlist of more than 150 titles from a range... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Clubs Boost Scholastic in Q2

Led by a 14% increase in its children’s book publishing and distribution business, revenue at Scholastic rose 7% in the second quarter ended November 30, 2014 compared to the same period last year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dohle Reflects On a Year 'Combining Two Great Legacies'

In his annual year-end letter, Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle cited the merger and thanked the PRH staff for the “impressive feat” of “combining two great legacies.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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James Patterson completes $1 million in donations to independent bookstores

'Here's to local governments waking up to the fact that bookstores and libraries are essential to our way of life,' Patterson said in a statement. 'Here's to media coverage of books, booksellers, and publishers, and to a wiser, more literate America.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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