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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35 Books Every Designer Should Read

We asked some of the world's top design schools to share their favorite books. Here's what they recommend for your summer reading list.It doesn't matter if you're a student of design, or just someone who hears the term "design thinking" and stays quiet at meetings while noting to Google it... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2015-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #design thinking


Iran memoir is reading group choice

The Temporary Bride by Jennifer Klinec (Virago) has been voted reading groups’ favourite read by a debut author following a poll to celebrate National Reading Group Day. The Reading Agency and The Booksellers Association revealed on Saturday (20th June), National Reading Group Day, that Klinec... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #reading agency #debut author


Amazon will pay some authors based on how many pages you read

Authors are normally paid a consistent amount for every ebook you download, no matter how much of a page-turner it is. Amazon might just shake up that model before long, though. As of July 1st, the internet giant will pay Kindle Unlimited and Kindle... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #internet giant #july 1st #authors based


Great Reads: The vacation edition

Hi there, I'm on vacation this week, enjoying the countryside and making my way through a book a day. (Current read: a vintage paperback of the feel-good "Mrs. Miniver," bought at a wonderful used bookstore on the Maine coast.) I'll be back next week with the Great Reads newsletter. In the... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A reading from the Book of Desmond: and lo, Richard created the Beckhams

Media mogul Richard Desmond’s typically self-effacing new autobiography shows how he took virtual unknowns David and Victoria and made it all OK!A rival emerges to the claim that Al Gore invented the internet. It turns out that Richard Desmond invented the Beckhams. Please adjust your records... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #real deal #richard created


Bugging Out: The Must-Read Insect Books of the Summer

A preview of some great fiction and non-fiction books published this summer. The post Bugging Out: The Must-Read Insect Books of the Summer appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2015-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Oyster Debuts Lumin to Ease E-Reading Eyestrain

E-book subscription service Oyster has developed Lumin, a new feature available via its app that automatically adjusts the light emitted from mobile screens to ease eyestrain and prevent sleep disruption. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #mobile screens


Romania’s Ebook Developer Read Forward Opens in London

Read Forward, a Romanian startup which developed the first digital textbook in the Romanian market, launched its first international office in London. The post Romania’s Ebook Developer Read Forward Opens in London appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Would You Pay to Read Entertainment News Online? Time Inc. Sure Hopes So

Since Time Inc. became an indepedent publicly traded company last June, executives at the nation's large magazine publisher have tried to convince Wall Street investors that it's quickly transforming into a digital-first media company. It's certainly made strides, introducing video series,... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #entertainment weekly #advertising sales #increasing traffic #made strides #media company


Hardbacks lead summer reading line-up

Publishers and booksellers are expecting this year’s summer reading to be driven by key hardback releases, contrasting sharply to the focus in recent years on paperback and backlist. Nearly all retailers contacted by The Bookseller heavily tipped two of the most hyped books of the year to top... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #27th august #millennium trilogy #stieg larsson #david lagercrantz #14th july #harper lee


BEA 2015: Listen to Buddha

In the middle of all that chaos on the convention floor, you can find an oasis of calm. New Harbinger (2951) is offering everyone a chance to take a Buddha break. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How The Onion Gets People to Read Sponsored Content: Make Fun of It

About a month ago, The Onion posted an article to its Facebook page with the headline, "Complete Idiot Forgot to Shave Area Between Nose and Mouth." The complete idiot, you might have guessed, sports a mustache. The Facebook post has more than 13,000 "likes," nearly 2,200 shares and reams of... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-05-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #sponsored post #scott donaton #increasingly relying #complete idiot


Gender gap widens for children reading for pleasure

The number of children who enjoy reading for pleasure has increased but the gender gap between girls and boys has widened, according to a new report from the National Literacy Trust (NLT). For this year’s ‘Children’s and Young People’s Reading’, an annual report into children’s reading habits,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #gender gap #reading habits #enjoy reading #annual report #children reading


Girls like digital media while boys prefer print, finds study on reading habits

National Literacy Trust report also says girls continue to outpace boys in their enthusiasm for reading for pleasureGirls have more firmly embraced digital literacy and formats such as Facebook, email and text message, while boys are more comfortable with traditional printed media such as... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #study published #text message #finds study #black girls


New Jamie Oliver to focus on healthy eating

Jamie Oliver’s new book will focus on healthy eating, following a “personal journey” taken by the TV chef. Penguin Random House’s Michael Joseph division will publish Everyday Super Food in August this year, to tie in with a new six-part Channel 4 series. The book will contain recipes for 30... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #tv chef #personal journey #healthy eating #jamie oliver


Jessica Hopper: 'I can't mute my moral self when listening to a record'

Music critic Jessica Hopper’s work has been anthologised in a new book – still a rare accolade in the macho world of rock writingThe first essay reprinted in Jessica Hopper’s new book, The First Collection Of Criticism by a Living Female Rock Critic, sees her in 2002, imagining “what a REAL... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-05-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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National Book Foundation Announces Innovations in Reading Prize

The National Book Foundation has awarded $10,000 to Reach Incorporated for its annual Innovations in Reading Prize. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pubs Partner with White House on E-reading Initiative

President Obama announced today digital reading initiatives for low income students that include major ebook donations from corporate publishers, and a commitment to ensuring all students have access to a library card. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #library card #corporate publishers #white house


New Mobile Ads Recommend Videos Based on the News You're Reading

Nailing mobile video is a major goal for marketers this year, as exemplified at this week's Digital Content NewFronts presentations. And as Snapchat and Facebook lure advertising dollars away from TV with new video options, smaller ad companies are following suit. A GIF showing the new video... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2015-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How Much Should Children Read? World Book Day Infographic

In honor of World Book Day, the International Publishers Association has an infographic on how much children should read and why literacy is important. The post How Much Should Children Read? World Book Day Infographic appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #children read