Jamie Byng: ‘Listening to letters being read out is quite something’

The Canongate Books boss on the success of Letters Live, performances of notable correspondence by leading lights of stage and screenJamie Byng, 46, son of the 8th Earl of Strafford, grew up in Hampshire and studied at the University of Edinburgh. After graduating he joined Canongate Books as an intern and bought out the struggling Edinburgh publishing house two years later, aged just 25. His successes include the UK publication of Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, which won the Man Booker prize in 2002 and sold more than 3m copies. In 2013 he set up Letters Live, “a celebration of the enduring power of literary correspondence” based in part on Shaun Usher’s Letters of Note books. Letters Live returns to London’s Freemasons’ Hall on Thursday 10 March.How did Letters Live come about?In 2013 we published two books about letters on the same day. One was Simon Garfield’s To the Letter, which is a history of letter-writing. The other, Letters of Note, grew out of Shaun Usher’s website, which compiles great correspondence throughout history. We decided to promote both books by getting people to read out letters in a live setting. Nick Cave had a letter in Shaun’s book and he’s a good friend, so it was very straightforward to call him up and say “How’s about it?” Gillian Anderson went totally nuts for a Katharine Hepburn letter to Spencer Tracy. Everyone I asked who was around – Benedict Cumberbatch, Matt Berry, Neil Gaiman, Bruce Robinson – said yes. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #nick cave #good friend #gillian anderson #benedict cumberbatch #neil gaiman

Other news stories related to: "Jamie Byng: ‘Listening to letters being read out is quite something’"


Five thrives: Jamie Oliver makes it six weeks at the top

Jamie Oliver’s 5 Ingredients—Quick & Easy Food (Michael Joseph) has breezed into a sixth week as the UK Official Top 50 number one. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #sixth week #jamie oliver


The “How Does a Comic Book Letterer Work?” Transcript

This is a transcript of the Sept. 24 edition of Working. These transcripts are lightly edited and may contain errors. For the definitive record, consult the podcast. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2017-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #definitive record #lightly edited


Koomson, de Waal and Billingham among Quick Reads authors

Titles by Dorothy Koomson, Kit de Waal and Mark Billingham are among the "enticing" Quick Reads books for next year's campaign. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #de waal #mark billingham #dorothy koomson


From the Archive: Read Folio:’s Exclusive 1979 Interview with Hugh Hefner

Our feature interview with Hefner from the pages of the magazine nearly 39 years ago. The post From the Archive: Read Folio:’s Exclusive 1979 Interview with Hugh Hefner appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2017-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #hugh hefner


Reading's the thing

World Book Day director Kirsten Grant says it is imperative the organisation represents its audience in its books and activity. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


From Satya Nadella’s Must-Reads To Resume Lies: September’s Top Leadership Stories

This month we peeked at the Microsoft CEO’s reading list, picked up a few ways to work smarter, and learned how to spot lies on resumes. In September we learned which books have helped Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella shape his leadership style, why one former Trader Joe’s employee preferred the... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2017-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #grocery chain #leadership style #microsoft ceo


How Does a Comic Book Letterer Work?

This season on Working, we’re talking to the people who make Batman comics, leading you through the artistic production process. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2017-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


‘Perfect Holiday Read’ Author Victoria Hislop Given Four Specsavers Citations

Three gold certifications and one platinum go to big-selling UK novelist Victoria Hislop by the Specsavers optical companyand Nielsen Book. The post ‘Perfect Holiday Read’ Author Victoria Hislop Given Four Specsavers Citations appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


NBF Names Annie Proulx Winner of Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters

The author of such works of fiction as 'The Shipping News' and 'Barkskins' is the 30th recipient of the medal, which has writers including Robert A. Caro, Judy Blume, and Toni Morrison. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #toni morrison #judy blume #american letters #distinguished contribution


Five goes fourth: Jamie Oliver serves up 60th number one

Jamie Oliver’s 5 Ingredients (Michael Joseph) has once again claimed the UK Official Top 50 number one spot, selling 54,605 copies for £648,673, according to Nielsen BookScan’s Total Consumer Market. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #nielsen bookscan #jamie oliver


At Frankfurt Book Fair: A First ‘Buchmesse Kickoff Run’ Benefits Room To Read

Organized by publishing running enthusiasts, the 5K run will start the week with a good look at the Main River before the rights trading takes over.  The post At Frankfurt Book Fair: A First ‘Buchmesse Kickoff Run’ Benefits Room To Read appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #read appeared


Five alive: Jamie Oliver spends third week at number one

Jamie Oliver’s 5 Ingredients: Quick & Easy Food (Michael Joseph) has rustled up another week in the UK Official Top 50 number one spot, selling 56,966 copies for £675,321 according to Nielsen BookScan’s Total Consumer Market. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #nielsen bookscan #jamie oliver


High 5: Jamie tops the chart again

Jamie Oliver has continued his blistering return to form, shifting 52,211 copies of 5 Ingredients: Quick and Easy Food (Michael Joseph) last week through Nielsen BookScan's Total Consumer Market to take the Official UK number one by almost 40,000 units.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #nielsen bookscan #jamie oliver


Read Barack Obama’s heartfelt Facebook denouncement of Trump’s DACA decision

Barack Obama published a Facebook post calling the White house out on its decision to rescind the Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Act. “To target these young people is wrong–because they have done nothing wrong,” Obama writes. “It is self-defeating–because they want to start new... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2017-09-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #white house


Mark Zuckerberg cares so much about DACA that he’s actually reading the comments

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg supports the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. He published a note late Wednesday, joining other business leaders in asking President Trump and Congress to protect from deportation those qualified undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2017-09-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #president trump #business leaders


A famous 5: Jamie roars back to number one

The starting pistol for the race to Christmas number one has sounded and Jamie Oliver is out of the blocks early, with his 5 Ingredients: Quick and Easy Food (Michael Joseph) shifting just under 37,000 units through Nielsen BookScan's Total Consumer Market in its first two days on sale. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #nielsen bookscan #jamie oliver #christmas number


Livres Hebdo’s Fabrice Piault on Politics and France’s Reading Culture

Ahead of France's program as Guest of Honor at Frankfurt in October, a Parisian editor talks about how political distractions may be slowing book sales. The post Livres Hebdo’s Fabrice Piault on Politics and France’s Reading Culture appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #political distractions #reading culture #fabrice piault #livres hebdo


Livre Hebdo’s Fabrice Piault on Politics and France’s Reading Culture

Ahead of France's program as Guest of Honor at Frankfurt in October, the Parisian editor talks about how political distractions may be slowing book sales. The post Livre Hebdo’s Fabrice Piault on Politics and France’s Reading Culture appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #political distractions #reading culture #fabrice piault


Cambridge University Press censorship attacks are misguided| Letters

All societies limit free speech in varying detail, writes Roger van Zwanenberg, founder of the radical publisher Zed. The censorship is by the customer – the Chinese government – not CUP, says Jessica LaganI refer to Paul Mason’s important, but mistaken argument about Cambridge University... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-08-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #political sensitivities #chinese authorities #paul mason #chinese government


The ‘New York Times’ Books Desk Will Make You Read Again

Its chief critic took a buy-out. It's consolidating like crazy. But the Gray Lady's books team is neither flailing nor failing. Here's what it is doing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #gray lady #chief critic