‘I wanted to write a suburban Reacher’: Richard Osman talks to Lee Child about class, success and the secret to great crime writing

The two bestselling authors who both started in TV discuss writing as a second career, natural justice – and what they really think of literary fictionIn the four years since Richard Osman published his first Thursday Murder Club novel he has consistently topped the bestseller lists, and now his quartet of retirement-age detectives will be portrayed on screen by a cast including Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan. Having grown up in Sussex, Osman started out in TV, where he created and co-hosted the gameshow Pointless. His forthcoming novel We Solve Murders – the start of a new series – features a writer billed as the world’s bestselling novelist, “if you don’t count Lee Child”. Child, the creator of former military police officer Jack Reacher, has enjoyed phenomenal popularity since he left his career – also in TV, where he worked on shows including Brideshead Revisited, The Jewel in the Crown and Cracker – and started writing, with his first novel published in 1997. Raised in Birmingham, he moved to the US in 1998 and now lives between Manhattan and rural Wyoming. He wrote 24 Reacher novels before announcing in 2020 that he would be handing the series to his brother Andrew.Lee Child I feel that writing is always a second-phase career, or at least should be. It’s that rare thing that not only can you do it when you’re older, but you should do it when you’re older. Pick your cliche: your gas tank is full, your database is compiled. You are a person. You are ready to write.... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2024-09-14 09:00:23 UTC ]
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Secret Garden colouring-in book sells 3m copies in China

Bestseller in global craze for adult versions of children’s favourites scores dazzling success in the People’s RepublicThree million copies of Johanna Basford’s adult colouring book Secret Garden have been sold in China in less than three months, its publisher has announced, dubbing Beijing the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Story Behind (and Tips From) the Most Successful Crowdfunding Campaign in the History of Journalism

A simple WordPress blog named #NoHaceFaltaPapel didn’t exist a year ago. Well now it’s a publishing company whose El Español is responsible for the largest crowdfunding campaign for journalism to date. ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Behind the Dutch Bestseller, 'The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen'

This week we look at the Dutch hit, 'The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen,' which has been making headlines—thanks in part to the mysteries surrounding its author—since it was released last summer. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Failing with Confidence: PW Talks to 'Fail, Fail Again, Fail Better' Publisher Tami Simon

The founder and publisher of Sounds True points out how Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön's newest book helps to instill an "unconditional confidence" in readers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sample New Writing from Indonesia at Words Without Borders

Words Without Borders featured nine new translations from Indonesia in advance of Indonesia's turn as Guest of Honor at the 2015 Frankfurt Book Fair. The post Sample New Writing from Indonesia at Words Without Borders appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Making of 'All That Followed': Gabriel Urza Talks with His Editor

Gabriel Urza, author of 'All That Followed,' talks to his editor, Sarah Bowlin, about the editing process. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authonomy writing community closed by HarperCollins

The peer-review site for budding authors, which generated publishing contracts for some of its members, is to close at the end of SeptemberAuthors are mourning the closure of Authonomy, the online community for would-be writers set up by HarperCollins seven years ago as a way to source new... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online community #cory doctorow #including works #miranda dickinson #steven dunne #kat french


Steinberger Details Perseus' Successful Fiscal 2015

After the sale to the Hachette Book Group was called off last year, employees at the Perseus Books Group rallied to deliver record sales, CEO David Steinberger wrote in its annual letter. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep children's book tops best seller list

An insomniac rabbit is the hero of a book which has become a surprise best seller. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep is surely the stuff of nightmares | Imogen Russell Williams

Carl-Johan Forssén Ehrlin’s self-published book claims to cure young insomniacs, but should bedtime stories be about tricking children to conk out? Related: Can an app really persuade children to go to sleep? I am the parent of a child whose nightly requests for more stories, more songs, a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Better Together: SparkPoint, She Writes Press

Almost one year after SparkPoint Studio acquired the hybrid publisher She Writes Press, the purchase is providing the type of synergy that SparkPoint CEO Crystal Patriarche had hoped for. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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E L James wrestles number one spot from Harper Lee

E L James has retaken the Official Top 50 number one from Harper Lee, as Grey (Arrow) sold 17,171 copies to Go Set a Watchman's (William Heinemann) 15,476 in the chart this week.  Grey’s sales were down 25.8% week on week, but Watchman dropped further, with a 42% decrease in volume. Despite... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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First Look: David Petersen Talks ‘The Art of Mouse Guard’

Mouse Guard creator David Petersen talks about his evolution as an artist, as seen in this exclusive excerpt from 'The Art of Mouse Guard.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Robots that write fiction? You couldn’t make it up

Computer-generated fiction might seem a tipping point for artificial intelligence, but it could help us to understand the world we live inIn 1983, William Chamberlain and Thomas Etter released a book called The Policeman’s Beard Is Half Constructed, described as the “early fiction” of a computer... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Can digital community support writing, really?

Not unlike climate change, it's something that digital-age writers worry about, but can't nail down. I'm not sure what effect the accepting warmth of digital communities has on our literature. I don't think encouraging people can make bad writing suddenly appeal to the masses. Are the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why one bookstore is offering refunds on Harper Lee's 'Go Set a Watchman'

Brilliant Books in Traverse City, Mich., is offering customers who bought the newly released Harper Lee novel 'Go Set a Watchman' refunds because it says marketing for the highly anticipated volume was misleading. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mike Richards leaves Egmont

Egmont Books’ marketing director Mike Richards has left the company following a reorganisation of the marketing team. Richards has been in marketing at Egmont for 15 years, promoting authors and brands such as Michael Grant, Lemony Snicket, Jim Smith, Winnie-the-Pooh and Star Wars. He would... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Four Questions for...Immigrant Writing Prize Creator Ilan Stavans

The Restless Books publisher, and creator of the just-announced Prize for New Immigrant Writing, said he hopes the literary honor will help dispel negative stereotypes of immigrants. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Some Disappointed Readers Get Refunds for Harper Lee Novel

Readers feeling duped by HarperCollins' promotion of Harper Lee's new novel are getting refunds for their trouble from at least one bookseller in Michigan. The post Some Disappointed Readers Get Refunds for Harper Lee Novel appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Binders Full of Women Writers: can a secret Facebook group claim to be inclusive?

Can an online ‘safe space’ be both selective and preoccupied with inclusivity? That’s a question that Binders Full of Women Writers is trying to sort out after a member published an article about the Facebook groupThe first rule of Binders Full of Women Writers is: you do not talk about Binders... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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