'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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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 ]
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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


Michel Faber: 'This is my last novel'

Writer Michel Faber has said he believes his latest novel The Book of Strange New Things  (Canongate), published today (23rd October), will be his last one, saying: "I think I have written the things I was put on earth to write. I think I've reached the limit." Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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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


Midson made Port Eliot festival associate director

Colin Midson is joining The Port Eliot Festival as associate director, with immediate effect.   Midson will be working alongside Port Eliot Festival Directors Catherine St Germans and Simon Prosser. As well as overseeing the festival's marketing and PR campaigns, and its website and social... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #colin midson #associate director #simon prosser #pr campaigns


Icon signs Vintage Years columnist

Icon Books has signed a book from the anonymous Guardian columnist behind 'The Vintage Years'. The author of the column, who was known in the newspaper only as 'The Invisible Woman', was revealed last year as Helen Walmsley-Johnson, a former PA for the Guardian's editor Alan Rusbridger, who... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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W&N signs gothic novel from O'Donnell

Weidenfeld & Nicolson has acquired a gothic literary novel by Irish writer Paraic O’Donnell. Deputy publishing director Arzu Tahssin bought UK and Commonwealth rights to The Maker of Swans, O’Donnell’s debut, from Lucy Luck at Aitken Alexander. Described as “both a dark, lyrical thriller... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kinsella YA Novel Coming

Random House Children’s Books imprint Delacorte Press has acquired U.S. rights to 'Finding Audrey,' the first young adult novel from the author of the bestselling Shopaholic series, Sophie Kinsella Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Feiwel and Friends to Publish Cecelia Ahern YA Novels

Macmillan’s Feiwel and Friends imprint has acquired U.S. and Canadian rights to Cecelia Ahern's debut YA books, 'Flawed' and its sequel, 'Perfect.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #canadian rights #cecelia ahern


Rembrandt novel for Atlantic

Atlantic publishing director Margaret Stead has signed a debut novel chronicling the life of the painter Rembrandt. Rembrandt's Mirror, by Kim Devereux, charts the later years of the artist, who suffered the deaths of his wife and three children, while producing some of his most famous works. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Début graphic novel for Myriad

Myriad has bought a debut graphic novel by William Volley, following the life of a door-to-door salesman. The Opportunity follows Colin, a salesman on the verge of making it as a regional manager, when his bosses change the terms of his promotion, challenging his grasp on reality. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pan Mac signs Twin Peaks novel from co-creator Frost

Pan Macmillan is to publish The Secret Lives of Twin Peaks, a novel by Mark Frost, the co-creator of television show “Twin Peaks”. Adult publisher Jeremy Trevathan and editorial director Julie Crisp bought the novel as a pre-empt from agent Ed Victor during this year’s Frankfurt Book... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pan macmillan #secret lives #twin peaks #mark frost #flatiron books


Manchester Literature Festival 2014: Emma Jane Unsworth at Canongate Lates

No one chronicles a Manuncian night out like her, says Helen Pidd (who also enjoyed Zoe Pilger, Anneliese Mackintosh and Karima Francis at the book fest)I loved Animals by Emma Jane Unsworth so much that I read it twice in a week.Picking it up for the first time over the summer, I binged on it,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-10-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Short story of a writing life

Author Emily Perkins about imaginary worlds, acting and the ebooks v print debate. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2014-10-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Gone Girl': Parts of the 'Amazing Amy' books from the novel are available as a sample

In 'Gone Girl,' character Amy's parents write a book series titled 'Amazing Amy.' Fans can now download a preview of the book 'The Complete Amazing Amy' on iTunes.  Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-10-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Frankfurt Book Fair 2014: Spanish Author’s Short Novel Causes Stir

Amid a flurry of seven-figure deals igniting this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair—many for books by first-time American authors—a short Spanish novel has generated buzz, and some hefty advances. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dover Plans Line of Graphic Novel Reprints

In spring 2015, Dover Publications, which is best known for paperback reprints of classics and out-of-print titles, is launching Dover Graphic Novel, a new line of graphic novels and nonfiction comics. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #graphic novels #dover publications #out-of-print titles


Curtis Brown Ltd. Celebrates 100 Years

History is something Curtis Brown Ltd. has been reveling in of late, as the agency turns 100 this year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Visiting the Tbilisi International Literature Festival

Literary agents Geraldine Rose and Sridhar Gowda of Kadalu recount their experience visiting the leading literary event in Georgia, which was full of surprises. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-10-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Random House Offers 2-Day Transit for the Holidays

For the third year in a row, Random House (but not its Penguin side, because the warehouses aren't integrated yet) will provide express shipping, starting November 1. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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