'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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What You Should Pick Up on Free Comic Book Day

Want to know what to look out for during today's Free Comic Book Day? We've got you covered. The post What You Should Pick Up on Free Comic Book Day appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2015-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: Bookstore of the Year: Books & Books

In the late 1970s, Mitchell Kaplan dropped out of law school in Washington, D.C., with the dream of opening an independent bookstore in South Florida, where he grew up. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #independent bookstore #books books #late 1970s


BEA 2015: Rep of the Year: Jennifer Sheridan

For the first time since Publishers Weekly began singling out outstanding sales representatives more than 15 years ago, a children’s rep has been named PW Rep of the Year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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LéaLA Showcase of Spanish Lit in the USA Adds Professional Day

LéaLA, the Spanish-language Book Fair of Los Angeles, taking place May 15-17, has added a professional day and will feature more than 100 authors. The post LéaLA Showcase of Spanish Lit in the USA Adds Professional Day appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #taking place


Independent Bookstore Day will be held all over the country in May

After the success of the 2014 California Bookstore Day, bookstores all over the country will be taking part in Independent Bookstore Day on May 2. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #taking part


Hodder signs Avit novel

Hodder has acquired a book by Le Prix Nouveau Talent winner Clélie Avit. Suzie Dooré at Hodder and Emily Griffin at Grand Central bought world English rights to I’m Still Here (Je Suis Là) from Eva Bredin at JC Lattès. The book is a modern-day Sleeping Beauty story about a man who falls in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #suzie door #british readers


Latest Wimpy Kid novel revealed

Jeff Kinney's 10th Wimpy Kid novel will be called Old School, and will be published simultaneously around the world. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School, will be published on 3rd November in the UK, US, Canada and Australia, as well as foreign-language markets such as Germany, Japan, Turkey and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #published simultaneously #jeff kinney #wimpy kid #3rd november #field trip


Self-Publishing Day: German Indie Authors Unite

The second annual Self-Publishing Day in Münster, Germany, brought together authors, distributors and bestselling self-publishers like Poppy J. Anderson. The post Self-Publishing Day: German Indie Authors Unite appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sales soar for Graham novels

The BBC’s highly successful adaptation of Winston Graham’s Poldark series has given a major boost to print sales of the series. The TV drama, starring Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson in the title roles of Ross and Demelza Poldark, finished its first run last night (Sunday 26th April). Pan... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #poldark series #sales soar #major boost #print sales #tv drama #12th february


WSJ now has a 40-person video team cranking out 40 videos a day

Like other traditional publishers, The Wall Street Journal is trying to promote digital video viewing on its own site rather than distribute video widely to other platforms that it can't monetize. On the eve of its third NewFronts presentation, the Journal described how it uses interactive... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post wsj #day appeared #traditional publishers #newfronts presentation #interactive video #boost engagement


Retailers Prep to Kick Off Independent Bookstore Day

Aside from simply celebrating small bookstores, one objective of the forthcoming Independent Bookstore Day, on May 2, is to bury a long-running narrative that the indies are dying. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sphere signs Felicia Day memoir

Sphere has acquired a memoir by American actress and web entrepreneur Felicia Day, titled You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost). Sphere’s non-fiction editorial director Hannah Boursnell bought UK and Commonwealth rights from Cathryn Summerhayes on behalf of Erin Malone at WME. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #american actress #cathryn summerhayes #erin malone


Third Cormoran Strike novel for the autumn

A third "Robert Galbraith" novel featuring detective Cormoran Strike, Career of Evil, will be published by Little, Brown this autumn, it has been confirmed. No precise publication date has yet been revealed.   The first in the series authored by J K Rowling, The Cuckoo's Calling, was published... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #robert galbraith #nielsen bookscan


New Novels Ruled in March

All three titles at the top of France’s fiction bestseller list for March are new to the chart. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Catalonia Celebrates Biggest Book-Giving Holiday of the Year

April 23, Dia de Sant Jordi, the Catalan festival dedicated to books and roses, accounts for 5–8% of annual book sales in Catalonia. The post Catalonia Celebrates Biggest Book-Giving Holiday of the Year appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #year appeared


DC Debuts Line of Super Hero Graphic Novels, Merchandise for Girls

In a new venture targeting girls ages 6-12, DC Comics is teaming with Random House, Mattel and Lego to release a multifaceted line of print and digital content and merchandise based on its female superheroes. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dc comics #random house #digital content #female superheroes


How Much Should Children Read? World Book Day Infographic

In honor of World Book Day, the International Publishers Association has an infographic on how much children should read and why literacy is important. The post How Much Should Children Read? World Book Day Infographic appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #children read


Litro Magazine Presents Diversity of New Mexican Writing

The latest issue of the UK literary journal Litro Magazine, released at the London Book Fair, highlights the diversity and character of new Mexican writing. The post Litro Magazine Presents Diversity of New Mexican Writing appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #latest issue


Slew of second novels set for this summer

This summer sees the release of a slew of second novels with reactions to débuts informing publishers’ strategies for that tricky second book.   Editorial director at Picador Francesca Main has several second novels coming out this year: “I think the key is to build on the success you already... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #novels set #novels coming #feel connected #important step


Sherman Alexie Novel is Most Challenged, says ALA

Sherman Alexie again leads the American Library Association's annual list of the 10 books receiving the most complaints from parents, teachers and others. The post Sherman Alexie Novel is Most Challenged, says ALA appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sherman alexie #annual list