'I've never felt less festive': the art of writing Christmas novels, 365 days a year

Drinking sherry, bingeing Downton Abbey ... how authors keep up the spirit of the season, even when writing during heatwaves and a nightmarish ChristmasChristmas novels are not a new phenomenon. Charles Dickens sold out of his first print run of A Christmas Carol in days in December 1843, while Agatha Christie played on seasonal stresses with titles including The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding in 1923 and Hercule Poirot’s Christmas in 1938. But these days, there are acres of festive crime and rags-to-riches romances under the mistletoe to choose from. All tastes are catered for, whether it’s a love of trains (Edward Marston’s Victorian railway detective story A Christmas Railway Mystery), religion (Unlikely Santa: An Amish Christmas Story) or even festive erotica. Ebook retailer Smashwords stocks romance titles including The Old Dragon of the Mountain’s Christmas, and the inventive-sounding A Cyborg’s Old Terran Christmas. (“Interstellar bride Nell and her three children are forced to enter space-sleep capsules in the hope of surviving a calamity. She wakes over 700 years later on a ship of cyborg warriors. In this strange environment, Nell can’t imagine what their future will hold, but she is determined to keep her promise and make Christmas for her children.”)It may sound futuristic, but it is part of a long tradition beloved by readers. As Christina Storey at Allison & Busby, an independent publisher whose titles this year range from Anna Jacobs’ Christmas in... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2020-12-17 15:22:04 UTC ]
News tagged with: #print run #allison busby #wonderful time #independent publisher

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Tiffany D. Jackson is Writing a YA Novel About the Marvel Superhero Storm

Tiffany D. Jackson's newest book is YA novel about the Marvel superhero Storm, titled Storm: Dawn of a Goddess. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-10-17 15:40:54 UTC ]
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Why Tim O'Brien's first novel in 20 years is about America's 'mythomania'

Tim O'Brien, author of the great novel 'The Things They Carried,' explains how COVID and Trump spawned 'America Fantastica,' his first novel in 20 years. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-10-13 10:00:10 UTC ]
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Spirited New Titles for a Year of Holy Days

Religion presses offer children and their families meaningful—and playful—stories for Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter, and Passover. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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When Writing a Novel Bridges a Gap Between Mother and Daughter

I was deep in the throes of a slow-moving depression, feeling frustrated with a job I had held for seven years, and reeling from the disappointment of a first novel that debuted without the critical and commercial acclaim I was afraid to admit I desired. So I called my mother. “I think I need a […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-08-09 09:10:27 UTC ]
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So you’ve decided to implement a 4-day workweek. Now what?

When this media company tried out a shorter workweek, it saw a boost in morale and productivity. The CEO explains the careful advanced planning this required. In early 2022, business was booming for digital publisher Alpha Brand Media, and staff were struggling to keep up with demand.Read Full... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2023-08-06 05:00:00 UTC ]
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In Lorrie Moore's first novel in 14 years, 2016's chaos becomes a wild metaphysical trip

Lorrie Moore's fourth novel, 'I Am Homeless If This is Not My Home,' follows a grieving man through the chaos of 2016 and some wondrous metaphysical byways. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-06-14 13:00:25 UTC ]
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Literary Concertos: A Reading List of Novels Inspired by Other Art Forms

I’ve always loved art that leans into its medium: literature that resists film or television adaptation, theater that breaks the fourth wall. The economy delights me, no piece out of place, not only structure but form a major pillar of the work. What can one art form do that another cannot? How... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-06-13 08:52:52 UTC ]
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U.S. Book Show 2023: Comics and Graphic Novels Day in Photos

A who's who of comics writers and graphic novelists—and a surprising number of hip hop legends—joined the U.S. Book Show on May 23 to discuss this year's most exciting forthcoming books in the comics format. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Scholastic recognizes 100 years of teen writing.

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[ Literrary Hub | 2023-05-08 12:47:48 UTC ]
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Unseen Gabriel García Márquez novel to be published next year

Colombian author’s En Agosto Now Vemos (We’ll See Each Other in August) had been just a rumour but now fans will get to read itRumours had long circulated that an entire literary masterpiece, never seen by the public, could still be lying in a dusty safe held by the late author’s family or under... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-28 21:10:15 UTC ]
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Never too late: over-50s urged to write fiction with prize for debut novel

Award launched at London book fair aims to help older authors take the plunge and submit a first workLondon book fair, which concluded earlier this month, always brings with it a flurry of headlines about debut authors signing six-figure publishing deals. Most of these have at least one thing in... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-23 09:00:35 UTC ]
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Haruki Murakami’s first novel in six years will be published this spring.

It’s true: a new Haruki Murakami novel—his first since 2017’s Killing Commendatore—will be published on April 13th . . . but only in Japan. Sorry to tease you, English-speaking readers! Still, not to fret: I’m sure this means that translations are forthcoming. In the meantime, here’s everything... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-03-02 15:32:49 UTC ]
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After 66 Years, 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas' Gets A Sequel

“How the Grinch Lost Christmas!” is not based on a Dr. Seuss manuscript, but was written and illustrated by an author and artist with previous experience with his work Continue reading at HuffPost

[ HuffPost | 2023-02-23 18:03:49 UTC ]
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Eleanor Shearer on Writing a Post-Slavery West Indian Novel Celebrating Motherhood and Resilience

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode, Andrew talks to River Sing Me Home author Eleanor Shearer about her hotly... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-02-01 09:53:21 UTC ]
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CES 2023 Day 1 recap: Catch up on the biggest news from the year's biggest tech show

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[ Engadget | 2023-01-05 19:50:52 UTC ]
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Top Shelf: 25 Years of Acclaimed Graphic Novels

Top Shelf Productions, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, has been a leading force in the expansion of the graphic novel market since it was founded by Chris Staros and Brett Warnock in 1997. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-21 05:00:00 UTC ]
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November Religion Bestsellers: Fox’s Faulkner Tops; Christmas Novels Dominate

‘Faith Still Moves Mountains’ by Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner takes the number-one spot on PW’s Religion Nonfiction bestsellers list; holiday-themed romances and mysteries take over the PW Religion Fiction list. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-14 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Writing the Historical Mystery Novel: Jane Smiley Explains Her Process

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[ Literrary Hub | 2022-12-06 09:53:58 UTC ]
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Deck the Shelves with Holiday Fiction: Christmas-Themed Novels

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