‘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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Why Bitter Is Better: PW Talks with Jennifer McLagan

In her new cookbook, 'Bitter,' Jennifer McLagan looks at the complexity and balance that bitter flavors can bring to a dish, as well as our how experience of bitterness changes as we age. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bestselling authors write to Amazon's board over 'ugly' Hachette sales dispute

Group representing Donna Tartt, Stephen King and others says Amazon tactics have driven sales down by at least 50%Some of the worlds most famous authors escalated their heated dispute with Amazon on Monday, publishing a letter to retailers board warning of the ugly history of blocking book... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fan fiction: how to write it

Start with One Direction and see where they take you your daydreams could snare you a book dealHow to write a bestselling novelHow to write a killer scriptShare pictures of where you writeThis article is a preview from the September issue of the Guardians monthly activities magazine, Do... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-09-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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iBooks Bestsellers: Child Ousts Forman

'Personal,' the latest Jack Reacher novel from Lee Child, was the top selling title in Apple’s iBooks store last week. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Want to Open Your Own Independent UK Bookstore?

Richard Kemp has opened 3 independent UK bookstores and wants to help others open 1,000 more. Here are his top tips for getting started. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Two Novelists Launch Brash Books, New Crime House

Launched by veteran crime novelists, Lee Goldberg and Joel Goldman, Brash Books is a new publishing venture that offers a new vision of publishing in the digital era. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW Talks with Joel Hoffman: Restoring the Whole Bible

In ‘The Bible’s Cutting Room Floor’, Joel Hoffman makes accessible the books left out of the Bible as we know it today, showing how they can enlighten reading of the Bible and be the source of surprising insight into modern lives. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For the Love of Loaves: PW Talks with Samuel Fromartz

Samuel Fromartz ('In Search of the Perfect Loaf') explains what makes a great baguette, why he’s hot on German bread, and why working in a boulangerie is a total workout. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Restoring the Whole Bible: PW Talks with Joel Hoffman

In ‘The Bible’s Cutting Room Floor,’ Joel Hoffman makes accessible the books left out of the Bible as we know it today, showing how they can enlighten reading of the Bible and be the source of surprising insight into modern lives. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #joel hoffman #books left #enlighten reading #surprising insight #modern lives


Widdecombe's self-published 'crime and dancing' tale

Ann Widdecombe has self-published her first detective novel via Amazon's KDP and CreateSpace... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW Talks with Mark Nepo: Doing Soul Work

It doesn’t hurt to be endorsed by Oprah: After she smiled on him, inspirational philosopher and poet Mark Nepo’s 2000 book hit #1 on the 'Times' list. Nepo talked with PW about his newest, 'The Endless Practice: Becoming Who You Were Born to Be,' before joining Oprah’s The Life You Want tour... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Julie Kagawa Talks Talon, Dragons and Bookselling

Former bookseller Julie Kagawa always had a “thing,” as she puts it, for dragons. Now, with her new series, Talon, due out October 28, the bestselling author of The Iron Fey books got the chance to explore her childhood obsessions. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New book by classic children's author Richard Scarry will be released

Scarry's son Richard Scarry Jr. recently found a manuscript by his father and completed the illustrations. The book will be released on Aug. 26. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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David Gregory slated to write a book about Judaism and his 'spiritual journey'

Gregory's book will be released sometime in 2015, according to publisher Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Speed Reading Secrets of a Book Critic

How is it professional book critics can pump out scores of reviews a year when many of us struggle just to read one book a week? They are told what to say. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-08-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Guardian view on Amazon v Hachette: reading and writing | Editorial

Can a one-size-fits-all, low-price, consumer-dominated sales model support a diverse, innovative, challenging literary output?It is either an existential threat to intellectual freedom or a rustbelt media industry meeting its comeuppance at the hands of disruptive technology. The battle between... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Virtuous Path to Flavor: PW Talks with Eugenia Bone

Don't toss out those carrot tops and corncobs! Eugenia Bone, author of 'The Kitchen Ecosystem,' explains why a seemingly parsimonious approach to cooking is actually the key to richer, fuller flavors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Giving Hungry Fans What They Want: Four Big Web-to-Cookbook Releases for Fall

PW spoke to the creators of How Sweet Eats, The Kitchn, Skinnytaste, and 100 Days of Real Food, as well as their editors, about what went into building their popular sites and their new cookbooks. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cleary Wolters, the basis for an 'Orange Is the New Black' character, will write a memoir

The character of Alex Vause, portrayed by actress Laura Prepon on the show, is based on Wolters. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Richard Desmonds magazines OK!, New and Star suffer big circulation falls

Northern and Shells Star reports 19% drop in print sales the biggest faller in the womens weekly market Continue reading... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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