'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 ]
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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 ]
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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 ]
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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 ]
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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 ]
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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 ]
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Rickman's Merrily Watkins novels set for TV

ITV has commissioned a drama series based on the Merrily Watkins novels by Phil Rickman. Following a country vicar with a sideline in exorcism, the latest in the series of cult novels, The Magus of Hay, was published by Corvus in 2013. The next in the series, Friends of the Dusk, will be... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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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 ]
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You’ve sold 17 million albums and you want to pay me nothing? Pat Pope’s row with Garbage

When the managers of indie giants Garbage asked photographer Pat Pope to use his pictures for no fee, he made a standA professional photographer for more than 20 years, and published in Q, Melody Maker and Rolling Stone, Pat Pope has worked with many of the biggest names in pop and rock music,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ig Plans Series on Books That Inspired Writers to Write

We all know how certain books, read at key moments in our lives, remain memorable and influential for years afterward. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Radio Times launches book-centric festival

Radio Times magazine will host an annual festival celebrating the links between books, radio and television. The inaugural festival will take place at Hampton Court Palace from 24th–27th September. The festival aims to raise awareness of the fact that many TV and radio programmes are based on... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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London book fair excited by Erica Jong's new novel

Fear of Flying author’s latest book causes a stir alongside major deals for self-published authors and the first book from Blue Peter star Janet EllisMore than 40 years after Erica Jong coined the term “zipless fuck” in Fear of Flying, her feminist novel of a young woman’s quest for sex with no... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Value of the creative writing degree defended at the Comic-Con of MFAs

Amid debate over its usefulness, teachers and students who attended the enormous AWP conference in Minneapolis had only good things to sayMore than 11,000 writers, publishers, students, teachers and dreamers thronged the Minneapolis convention center last week for the annual conference of the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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MoCCA Festival Must Move Again After Successful 2015 Event

Despite having to find new digs for 2016, this year's show was upbeat and crowded, featuring appearances by comics legends Scott McCloud and Aline Kominsky-Crumb, alongside a younger generation that included Jillian Tamaki, Michel Fiffe and Noelle Stevenson. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon and HarperCollins renew friendship with multi-year contract

Amazon started mending its tattered relationship with the big five publishers last year, signing deals with Macmillan, Simon & Schuster and even Hachette. Now it's HarperCollins' turn to make peace with the e-commerce giant, according to The Wall Str... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Janet Ellis novels among raft of pre-Fair deals

Two Roads has acquired two novels by actress and ex-"Blue Peter" presenter Janet Ellis in a deal done just before the London Book Fair. Meanwhile Chatto & Windus, Hodder & Stoughton, Serpent's Tail and Penguin Press are among the other publishers announcing pre-LBF deals. Lisa Highton,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Firefly buys new Kat Ellis novel

Penny Thomas, publisher at Wales-based Firefly Press, has acquired world English rights to Purge, a YA novel by author Kat Ellis. The novel, described as a powerful and romantic excursion into futuristic fantasy, is about a 17-year-old called Mason who is kicked out of his community. Forced to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Open Road Acquires Sillitoe Backlist, Unpublished Novel

Open Road Integrated Media has secured rights to a large body of British writer Alan Sillitoe’s work, as well as the rights to his last, unpublished novel, 'Moggerhanger.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ward joins HarperCollins as fiction art director

HarperCollins has hired Claire Ward as fiction art director, joining from Transworld where she has worked for 25 years. Ward, who will begin at HarperCollins in July, has designed covers for titles such as Before I Go to Sleep, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, The Book Thief and The Girl... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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5 Writing Tips: Ann Packer

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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