Julian Assange's ghost writer breaks silence on failed autobiography

WikiLeaks founder a mercurial character who could not bear his own secrets, according to writer Andrew O'HaganThe ghostwriter who collaborated with Julian Assange on his abortive 2011 autobiography has broken his silence to describe his months working with the WikiLeaks founder, which culminated in the acrimonious collapse of one of the highest profile and most lucrative book deals of recent times.Three years after he was first introduced to the Australian, Andrew O'Hagan has now spoken out about how he worked with Assange on the book, which he said the publishers Canongate had sold in more than 40 countries for a total of US$2.5m before the deal dramatically imploded. In a lengthy, nuanced essay for the London Review of Books, a version of which he delivered in a lecture in London on Friday, O'Hagan describes working with a mercurial character who was, by turns, passionate, funny, lazy, courageous, vain, paranoid, moral and manipulative.The book deal ultimately collapsed, O'Hagan writes, because "the man who put himself in charge of disclosing the world's secrets simply couldn't bear his own. The story of his life mortified him and sent him scurrying for excuses. He didn't want to do the book. He hadn't from the beginning."Assange, he writes, was persuaded to agree to the autobiography by his lawyers who said the huge sums on offer would cover his mounting legal costs. He had initially been enthusiastic about the project, telling his ghostwriter that he "hoped to have... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Julian Assange's ghost writer breaks silence on failed autobiography"


London: Tom Crewe Wins the Sunday Times’ Young Writer Award

Jury comments about the Sunday Times Young Writer-winning debut, 'The New Life,' call Tom Crewe's book, a 'tenderly sensual account of masculine sexuality.' The post London: Tom Crewe Wins the Sunday Times’ Young Writer Award appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-03-20 12:50:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #young writer #sunday times #post london


Writers and Artists Across the Country

Two authors discuss their experience doing school visits through the nationwide literacy nonprofit. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #school visits #authors discuss


At London Book Fair: Writers’ Prize Names Its Winners

At London Book Fair, the top honor from the Writers' Prize, formerly the Rathbones, goes to Liz Berry for 'The Home Child.' The post At London Book Fair: Writers’ Prize Names Its Winners appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-03-14 05:01:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #london book #top honor #winners appeared


Three Questions You Need to Answer as a Children’s Book Writer

One of my duties every single day as an author, journalist, and constituent, is to read. I study the written word the way a football coach studies football games. I don’t read for pleasure just like a football coach doesn’t attend games to zone out. As much as I’d like to avoid it, I have […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-03-11 11:48:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #children’s book #written word #single day #book writer


Brandon Sanderson Raises $16 Million, Breaking Records Again

Brandon Sanderson raised more than $16 million from 55,000 people to fund a leatherbound edition of 'Words of Radiance.' The total is the most ever raised on the crowdfunding platform BackerKit. The campaign, launched earlier this week, ends March 30. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #launched earlier #$16 million


Hundreds of KidLit authors are calling out the SCBWI for its Gaza silence.

Over 500 members of the KidLit community—including Sabaa Tahir, Angie Thomas, and Jason Reynolds—have signed an open letter to the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, calling for the organization to break its silence on the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which has so far claimed the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-03-04 19:00:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #children’s book #book writers #open letter #angie thomas #gaza silence


RuPaul has launched an online bookshop that will share its profits with writers.

There’s a new online bookstore in town—and this time it’s helmed by RuPaul. Yes, that RuPaul. (Reading being, after all, fundamental.) Allstora, announced today*, is a membership-based bookstore that offers a profit-split to authors. RuPaul serves as Allstora’s Chief Creative Officer and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-03-04 16:45:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #bookshop #bookstore #bestselling author #online bookstore


UK: The Sunday Times Young Writer 2024 Shortlist

Praising 'their attentiveness to the world,' the 2024 Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year jury names four authors to its shortlist. The post UK: The Sunday Times Young Writer 2024 Shortlist appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-02-27 17:20:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #young writer #post uk


12 Brilliant Short Stories by Black Writers to Read Year-Round

From one girl’s aspiration to Olympic gymnastics glory, to a boy’s stint living in the Idaho wilderness in hopes of fixing his unruly behavior, something that remains a guiding principle in Black storytelling is the breadth of our lives. These stories, a collection of some of EL’s most-loved... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2024-02-22 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #short stories #electric literature #guiding principle #black writers


3 New Biographies of Visionary Writers

Probing the lives and work Barbara Comyns, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Carson McCullers, these literary biographies, out this week, take a fresh look at three of our most visionary writers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-22 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with:


Why Brené Brown’s Gospel of Vulnerability Fails the World’s Most Vulnerable

“Vulnerability is not weakness, it is our greatest measure of courage.” * “Stressed is being in the weeds, overwhelmed is being blown.” * “Disappointment is unmet expectations.” * These are the sort of catchy aphorisms you will find in the pages of self-help guru and corporate leadership trainer... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-02-21 09:55:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #recent book #bren brown


Super Bowl 58 Breaks Viewership Records With Swift Rise in Ratings

Super Bowl 58 was Taylor-made for ratings gold. Thanks to multiple telecasts and streams, the power of live sports and even a Taylor Swift bump, Sunday's Super Bowl matchup showcasing the Kansas City Chiefs' overtime win against the San Fransisco 49ers smashed viewership... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2024-02-13 02:47:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #nielsen #adobe analytics #live sports


Toronto breaks 86-year temperature record as unseasonable warmth hits

Temperatures are soaring across Ontario, with Toronto breaking a daily record and other cities poised to follow suit. The temperature cracked 11 C by 10 a.m. Friday at Toronto Pearson International Airport, busting a daily record set on the same day in 1938. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2024-02-09 17:27:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #pearson #follow suit


Breaking Traditions: Gen Z and Millennial Women Transform Super Bowl

Women have always watched the Super Bowl, with Nielsen reporting that in 2018, women made up nearly half of Super Bowl viewers--surpassing the combined female viewership of the Oscars, Grammys and Emmys. Brands, marketers and the NFL have begun to embrace female... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2024-02-08 21:53:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #nielsen #super bowl #women made


Palestinian-American writer Randa Jarrar was dragged out of a PEN event.

Despite mounting objections from within the American literary community (as well as public condemnation from two prominent novelists who recently cut ties with the organization), on Wednesday evening PEN America’s Los Angeles branch went ahead with its hosting of a conversation between stand-up... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-02-02 19:14:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #literary community #novelists #prominent novelists


Two novelists have cut ties with PEN over its Mayim Bialik event and Gaza silence.

Two prominent novelists have broken with PEN America over the organization’s decision to platform controversial actor and outspoken ceasefire opponent Mayim Bialik, as well as its relative silence on the unfolding genocide in Gaza (which so far has claimed the lives of at least 120 writers,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-01-31 20:56:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #novelists #national book award #cut ties #pen america #prominent novelists #gaza silence


Texas Spurs Interest in Spanish Women Writers

The state is home to a podcast focusing on Spanish women writers and Phd program for Spanish-language authors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-01-26 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with:


Endnotes: ‘Feeding Ghosts’ by Tessa Hulls

An inside look at the publication process for the author and artist’s debut graphic novel. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-01-19 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #debut graphic #publication process #tessa hulls #feeding ghosts


Four New Books on Overlooked Writers

In their lifetimes, these authors’ work went largely unappreciated. These books honor their literary legacies. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-01-04 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


A sense of place: Brooklyn writers on why they love the borough

Novelists in Brooklyn draw inspiration from the New York borough’s cast of thousands, and particularly from its idiosyncratic neighborhoods. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2023-12-21 19:46:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #novelists