'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

Other Publishing stories related to: ''I've never felt less festive': the art of writing Christmas novels, 365 days a year'


Foyles unveils latest Christmas campaign

Foyles has unveiled its latest Christmas campaign this week (3rd November) targeting “book givers” and “celebrating thoughtfulness”. The campaign was rolled out across the chain’s bookshops and website and will be supported by 16-sheet and four-sheet adverts on the London Underground from 1st... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #london underground #1st december


Slightly Foxed wins Vintage Indie of the Year

London’s Slightly Foxed has been named Vintage Independent Bookshop of the Year for 2014, winning £1,000. The shop, in Gloucester Road SW7, impressed judges with its “brilliantly conceived events”, including a vintage wine and Vintage literature evening, and a phantom book group, where people... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fourth year #slightly foxed #impressed judges #audio recording #independent bookshop


Library Campaign attacks CMS Arts Council report

The Library Campaign has termed the new report from the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee into the activities of Arts Council England a "damp squib". In the report, released yesterday (5th November), the CMS Committee criticised ACE for its bias in funding projects in the capital, but... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #library campaign #commons culture #sport committee #arts council


Dulwich Books holds its first literary festival

Dulwich Books hosted its first literary festival over half-term, using the money it received as the winner of the Independent Bookshop of the Year award at the Bookseller Industry Awards in May. The south London bookshop won a £5,000 prize sponsored by Gardners for winning the award, and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary festival #independent bookshop


SMP Buys 'Times' Journo's Debut Novel for Seven Figures

St. Martin's Press has acquired the debut novel 'Everybody Rise,' by Stephanie Clifford, in a seven-figure book deal. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #smp buys #stephanie clifford


Igloo 'will reach £50m turnover in under five years', says Johnson

Igloo Books will achieve turnover of £50m in less than five years after its acquisition by Bonnier Publishing, according to Bonnier c.e.o. Richard Johnson.   Bonnier announced its acquisition of Igloo, which currently has annual turnover of £35m, on Friday (31st October).     Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #igloo books #richard johnson #bonnier publishing #bonnier announced


C&W holds competition for 'must-read' novels

Literary agency Conville and Walsh has launched a competition to find new novels "that people just can't stop talking about". The agency is offering a prize of £1,000 and possible representation to an unpublished work in its new Word of Mouth competition, which will be judged by author Matt... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #conville walsh #stop talking #unpublished work #joint head #translation rights #alexandra mcnicoll #sophie lambert #longtime reader


Brazil: A Year After the Guest of Honor in Frankfurt

Brazilian publishers, agents and associations reflect on how Brazil's Guest of Honor Program at the Frankfurt Book Fair impacts their business today. The post Brazil: A Year After the Guest of Honor in Frankfurt appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #honor program #post brazil #frankfurt appeared #brazilian publishers #business today


What Are Your Writing Habits?

How do successful authors keep their writing on track? Twenty-three client authors of the The Andrew Lownie Literary Agency outline their writing habits. The post What Are Your Writing Habits? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HC and BFI to hold virtual sci-fi festival

HarperCollins and the BFI are collaborating to hold a virtual sci-fi festival on 15th and 16th November.   The festival will take place as part of the BFI’s three month celebration of sci-fi, "Days of Fear and Wonder", which takes place at BFI Southbank and venues across the UK until... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #takes place #16th november


Cheltenham festival sees 7% ticket sale rise

Cheltenham Literature Festival had a “record-breaking” 2014, with almost 140,000 tickets sold, up 7% from the year before. People from all bar three UK postcodes attended the festival, and both Saturdays of the 10-day event saw more than 20,000 in attendance. Meanwhile Waterstones, the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #7% year #sales increase


Race to Christmas Number One wide open

The race for the Christmas number one title is wide open this year, with no outstanding contender for the top spot. Seven national retailers, along with prominent indies, have told The Bookseller their predicted top five titles for Christmas across all genres, with many maintaining it is still... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #christmas number #wide open #national retailers #autobiography hodder


Manning moves to Sphere for historical novels

Sarra Manning is to move from Transworld to Little, Brown’s Sphere for her next two adult novels. Manning’s move brings her  adult publishing into the same house as her most recent YA publishing – her last two YA novels The Worst Girlfriend in the World and Adorkable were published by Atom,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #manning moves #sarra manning #move brings #historical novels #adult novels #adult publishing #ya novels #karolina sutton


H&S acquires debut from 15-year-old

Hodder & Stoughton has acquired The Catalyst, the first novel in a fantasy crossover series from 15-year-old debut author Helena Coggan.   The book, which Coggan started writing when she was just 13, is about teenager Rose Elmsworth, who lives in a world divided into the Gifted (who have... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hodder stoughton


There will be a lot of Marvel and DC Comics movies in the next few years

Earlier this month, Warner Bros. announced its roadmap for DC Comics movies through 2020, and today, Marvel Studios revealed its plans as well. Basically, if you're into superhero/comic book movies, you're set for the next seven years. Need a quick... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #warner bros


Watch time at YouTube 'growing 50% a year'

Publishers who do not have a strategy related to YouTube are missing an opportunity, publicists and marketeers were told at a YouTube conference held yesterday (27th October) in association with The Bookseller. The event, held at the YouTube offices in St Giles High Street, and aimed at giving... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #strategy related #giving advice #promote books


Kobo Adds Marvel Digital Graphic Novels

E-book retailer Kobo has reached an agreement with Marvel Comics to sell digital editions of its collected graphic novels. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #marvel comics


A Stellar New Fantasy Novel and 4 Other Books We’re Reading This Month

This month, we’re balancing some quick reads---a Jonathan Franzen-blessed debut and a slim companion volume from one of our favorite new(-ish) fantasy writers---with Walter Isaacson’s latest blockbuster on the history of technological innovation, along with a few other selections. Attention,... Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2014-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #month appeared #walter isaacson


Fulcrum Publishing Adds Nonfiction Graphic Novels

Fulcrum has plans to publish at least three nonfiction graphic novels a year for the foreseeable future, marketing not only to the general trade but also to comics specialty shops, libraries, and especially, schools. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #foreseeable future #general trade


HC signs O'Porter in six-figure deal for adult novels

HarperCollins has signed a six-figure deal for two novels by TV presenter Dawn O'Porter. Commercial women's fiction director Kimberley Young signed a deal for world rights in all languages with Adrian Sington at Sington & Co Ltd. The books will be O'Porter's first adult novels. She has... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #six-figure deal #adult novels #hc signs #commercial women #world rights