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 ]
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Header-bidding tech should be free. An open letter to publishers

by Andrew Rutledge, VP Sales, Publisher Technology Group, AppNexus Dear Readers: If you’re a digital publisher or app developer, chances are you’ve been approached by numerous ad tech sales teams in recent months, each extolling the virtues of header bidding. How do I know this? Well, I run... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2016-04-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why Is It So Expensive to Read Academic Research?

The aphorism “information wants to be free,” coined by entrepreneur Stewart Brand in 1984 at the inaugural Hackers Conference, has come to serve as a shorthand justification for an ideology that would remove all unjust barriers to information access. And information has rarely been more... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2016-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PA plans to recruit 10,000 'Reading Ambassadors'

The Publishers Association is urging members of the public to "share their love of reading" by volunteering to become Reading Ambassadors in their local communities. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After you've seen Batman v Superman, read these books (they're better than the movie)

Whether you come away from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice thrilled or disgusted, there are always more (and often better) stories about DC's icons in your neighbourhood comic book store. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2016-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Access to books and reading should be a right

Barrington Stoke' Mairi Kidd asks whether children's publishers operate on assumptions that 'other' some young people. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Remembering the Indy and C&A | Letters

The Independent | Asa Briggs | English National Opera | C&A | Selfish geneAll thinking people will agree that the print world is a poorer place without what you call the “class act” of the Independent (Editorial, 26 March). It simply doesn’t suffice to “regret its fate” as you say and move... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling offers rejection letters as lesson in perseverence

When fans struggling with literary rejection reached out to J.K. Rowling on Twitter, the best-selling author responded with words of inspiration and examples of some of her own rejection letters. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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JK Rowling posts letters of rejection on Twitter to help budding authors

Harry Potter writer shares publishers’ brush-offs for first Robert Galbraith novel in attempt to to inspire other authorsThe Harry Potter author JK Rowling has shared some withering rebuffs publishers sent to her alter ego Robert Galbraith, in an effort to comfort aspiring authors.Rowling posted... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Staff Pick: 'Latest Readings' by Clive James

Senior reviews editor Peter Cannon recommends 'Latest Readings' by Clive James, a collection of short literary essays written after James was diagnosed with terminal leukemia. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fond memories of Jackie and dead tortoises | Letters

Ah, fond memories of Jackie magazine in the Guardian (‘Girls sent us urine samples in Charlie perfume bottles’, G2, 22 March). Jackie was where I (and dozens of other writers) learned the writing trade. I sold my first short story to Jackie in December 1973 and earned £14. Flushed with success,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Read wisely,' Sceptre urges as it marks 30th year

Hodder & Stoughton literary imprint Sceptre will mark its 30th anniversary this year with a series of events and promotions, branded with a motto that says "Read wisely. Read Sceptre." Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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NLT report urges fathers to read with children

The National Literacy Trust is urging more fathers to get involved with their children’s reading, after a survey revealed that only a third of dads said they have the most influence over their child’s literacy development. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Magazine Channel Launches Reading App

Inkworthy debuts with more than 450 publishers on board. The post The Magazine Channel Launches Reading App appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2016-03-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kobo’s Michael Tamblyn on the Age of E-Reading

Ebook sales are driven by people over 50, according to Kobo CEO Michael Tamblyn. Here he talks about designing better ebooks and e-readers to encourage sales. The post Kobo’s Michael Tamblyn on the Age of E-Reading appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A Letter from PW on the Cuban Book Embargo

Ending the embargo on books and educational materials would be an important first step in improving relations between the U.S. and Cuba. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Study: More than half of all ad blocker users would disable them to read content

The IAB and YouGov has found that 22 percent of U.K. adults have installed ad blockers, up from 18 percent in October. Although a silver lining for publishers is that 54 percent of users would turn off blockers in order to read content. Martin Ashplant, digital director at the Metro, points out... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2016-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scholastic Collaborates with WNDB on Reading Club Flyers

Scholastic is partnering with We Need Diverse Books to create monthly flyers that will spotlight books with diverse characters and themes. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster’s Salaam Reads Focuses on Muslim Characters and Stories

Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing has announced the launch of Salaam Reads, focusing on Muslim characters and stories. The post Simon & Schuster’s Salaam Reads Focuses on Muslim Characters and Stories appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-02-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Want an Ivy League education? Read these books.

What are Ivy League students reading that the rest of us aren't? More British literature and more philosophy. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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