‘It’s quite galling’: children’s authors frustrated by rise in celebrity-penned titles

Keira Knightley is latest star to publish a children’s book, but some say trend pushes aside genuine writers and makes it harder to find great children’s fiction“A modern classic by Keira Knightley” reads the provisional cover of the actor’s debut children’s book, I Love You Just the Same. Set to be published next October, the 80-page volume, written and illustrated by Knightley, is about a girl navigating the changing dynamics that come with the arrival of a sibling.The Pirates of the Caribbean star is the latest in a long list of celebrities to have turned to writing children’s books. McFly’s Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter have been hovering at the top of the bestseller chart since the publication last month of their latest book The Dinosaur that Pooped Halloween!. Earlier in the year, David Walliams dominated with his newest book Astrochimp. The entertainer has sold 25m copies of his children’s titles in the UK alone, according to Nielsen BookData. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2024-10-20 13:00:48 UTC ]
News tagged with: #authors frustrated #trend pushes #genuine writers #provisional cover #80-page volume #girl navigating #changing dynamics #caribbean star #long list #tom fletcher #dougie poynter #bestseller chart #pooped halloween #nielsen bookdata #nielsen #latest book

Other Publishing stories related to: '‘It’s quite galling’: children’s authors frustrated by rise in celebrity-penned titles'


Denwood looks to the next generation in new post at S&S Children’s Books

Rachel Denwood, who spent a decade helping to build HarperCollins Children’s Books into a big-brand kids’ giant, is looking to build a broader base of hits in her new role at Simon & Schuster Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-27 05:21:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rachel denwood #ss children #simon schuster #harpercollins


Author Anna James launches virtual bookclub

Pages & Co author Anna James has created an online and interactive middle-grade book club called The Bookwanderers Club, supported by her publisher HarperCollins Children's Books.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-26 10:05:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harpercollins #book club


Avon to hold virtual festival for authors

Avon is putting on a virtual festival to showcase its authors during the Covid-19 crackdown. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-26 01:10:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #virtual festival


Los Angeles Times Book Club is back, virtually, with L.A. noir authors

Join author Steph Cha and Joe Ide for a streaming conversation about new L.A. noir. The March 30 event will be live. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-03-25 19:15:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #joe ide #times book


Huq hosts videos to entertain home schooling children

Former “Blue Peter” presenter turned children's writer Konnie Huq is hosting a series of videos called "Science, Scribbles and Stories" to keep children entertained and educated over the coming weeks. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-25 17:40:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #coming weeks


Tales of a Library Unicorn: In Which the Children Misunderstand Libraries

A librarian recounts giving an education on libraries and the book check out process to a young library patron. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-03-25 10:33:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #libraries


Two Indie Bookstores In Chicago Closed Their Doors Right After They Opened—and These Authors Are Trying to Help

Chicago authors are spotlighting the unique plight of two local indies that both closed to walk-in traffic on March 16: one bookstore that was only officially open for one day, and another that had changed ownership two weeks earlier. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #indie bookstores #officially open #weeks earlier #bookstore


Judge Allows PEN America Suit Against Trump to Proceed

The suit was first filed in October of 2018, after President Trump made numerous threats against journalists and organizations whose coverage he disliked. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Head of Zeus bags romantic comedy by debut author Nicole Kennedy

Head of Zeus is to publish the debut novel of Nicole Kennedy, a former city lawyer.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-23 14:35:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #debut novel #debut author


With Kids Stuck at Home, Authors Bring Stories to Instagram

As schools close, parents are turning to children’s book writers and illustrators on social media to help with teaching kids stuck inside. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2020-03-23 13:30:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kids stuck #schools close #book writers #children’s book


Egmont to launch three-book children’s series by Aisha Bushby

Egmont is to publish a three-book middle-grade children’s series by Aisha Bushby, author of A Pocket of Stars.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-23 07:32:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #egmont


Avon Books to publish two more titles by Tess Stimson

Avon Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, has struck a deal to publish two more psychological suspense novels from Sunday Times bestselling author Tess Stimson.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-23 01:26:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #avon books


Cowell launches BookTrust Home Time for children during school closures

Waterstones Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell has launched a digital hub with reading charity BookTrust to keep youngsters busy while schools are closed. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-22 17:38:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #waterstones children #school closures #digital hub


Audible Launches Audible Stories for Children and Teens While School is Out

Looking for ways to entertain kids and teens at home? Audible has launched Audible Stories, a free service that offers family-friendly educational and entertaining audiobook content. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-03-19 19:24:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #free service #audiobook


Trade rallies to launch emergency hardship funds for authors and booksellers

The trade has pulled together to launch a series of emergency measures to support authors and booksellers affected financially as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-19 17:45:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #support authors #coronavirus outbreak


English PEN calls for release of Ahdaf Soueif after coronavirus protest arrest

English PEN has called for the release of Egyptian author Ahdaf Soueif, who was arrested during a protest about the treatment of prisoners during the coronavirus outbreak. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-18 19:53:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #english pen #coronavirus outbreak


Authors and publishers get creative as book launches are moved online

In response to the coronavirus outbreak and government advice to socially distance, authors, readers and booksellers are thinking of new, exciting and creative ways to launch their books and keep readers engaged after in-person-events get cancelled.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-18 11:27:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #creative ways #book launches #moved online #coronavirus outbreak


Independent bookstores survived the rise of online retail. Coronavirus poses bigger challenges.

Indie bookstores thrive on being part of a community. Now, they’re taking desperate action to stay in business amid “social distancing.” Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-03-17 15:49:08 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online retail


Nosy Crow acquires 10 children’s books by Pamela Butchart

Independent publisher Nosy Crow has acquired 10 new titles from the award-winning author and schoolteacher Pamela Butchart. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-17 11:26:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pamela butchart #award-winning author #independent publisher


The Ghost Writer: An Author Imagines a Letter From Her Late Grandmother

“Nobody Will Tell You This but Me,” a memoir by Bess Kalb, traces her family history from the Russian pogroms to the American dream. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-03-17 09:00:08 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ghost writer #family history #american dream #memoir