Matt Rowland Hill: ‘My mother says she will sue me if I ever write another book like it’

The author of Original Sins, an account of addiction and shame, on his book’s impact on his evangelical parents, reading the Patrick Melrose series while waiting for drug dealers, and how looking middle class saved him from arrestMatt Rowland Hill, 38, is the author of Original Sins, about growing up as the son of a baptist minister before falling into a decade-long addiction to heroin while studying at Oxford. Out in paperback, it was longlisted for last year’s Baillie Gifford prize for nonfiction while being praised by Geoff Dyer for its “novelistic virtues of vivid scene-making, fully realised characterisation and psychological subtlety”. Hill and I sat in a park near his home in east London.I might have read this as a novel had it not been subtitled “a memoir”.The subtitle wasn’t my choice: I was open to it being published as fiction if my publisher had wanted that. I approached it like a novel, thinking about point of view and how I’d produce moments of irony and humour, which maybe liberated me to write with an emotional distance that paradoxically allowed me to be more honest. Nothing is fabricated. I did go to psychiatric units. I was a heroin addict for all that time. I used my imagination to make vivid the bits of dialogue or details about what we were wearing, although it’s surprising how detailed your recollections are once you dig in; what my father told my mother on that car ride to Guernsey – “If you died tonight, I’d dance on your grave” – was scored into... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-29 17:00:41 UTC ]
News tagged with: #east london #father told #observer order #delivery charges

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Matt Haig pens children’s Christmas book

Canongate has acquired a children’s book by Matt Haig about the early life of Father Christmas. Set in 18th-century Finland, A Boy Called Christmas is about elves, reindeer, a kidnapping, and an 11-year-old boy called Nikolas who isn't afraid to believe in magic. It will be illustrated... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #christmas book #matt haig #early life #father christmas #chris mould


When Reporters Write Books, Does The Times Win, Too?

WRITING books must be in the DNA of Times journalists. Even the paper’s founding editor, Henry J. Raymond, cranked them out, including his “History of the Administration of President Lincoln” in 1864. The next year, he r ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #writing books #founding editor


Matt Haig 'crucified' on Twitter for planning book about masculinity

‘If a man wants to write about gender and the pitfalls of masculinity, they’re met with sneers,’ says the bestselling author, who disputes criticism that he is antifeministThe author Matt Haig found himself “crucified” online after suggesting that his next non-fiction title could be a book... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestselling author #non-fiction title #won awards #bestselling novels #recent memoir #stay alive #kamila shamsie


Ig Plans Series on Books That Inspired Writers to Write

We all know how certain books, read at key moments in our lives, remain memorable and influential for years afterward. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #key moments


AWP 2015: The Art and Business of Writing Children's Books

Although AWP 2015 focused on literature written for and by adults, children's authors held their own at the conference and presented their ideas about how to best publish for Middle Grade and YA readers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #writing children #middle grade #ya readers


Keys to Writing Books for Very Young Readers

The cherished French children’s book author and editor of hundreds of books Grégoire Solotareff offers his tips for creating books fore very young readers. The post Keys to Writing Books for Very Young Readers appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #writing books #young readers #book author


Divergent author Veronica Roth is writing TWO new books

Newsflash! Divergent fans, sit down, take a deep breath and get ready to read Veronica Roth’s new duologyAttention all you Divergent fans! Put down your books, pick up your calendars and rejoice at some really exciting news.It has been announced that Veronica Roth, author of the bestselling... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Beyoncé writes foreword for 22-Day Revolution diet book

Yellow Kite is to publish The 22-Day Revolution, a book about the benefits of a plant-based diet, with a foreword written by Beyoncé. Founded on the principle that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit, The 22-Day Revolution by exercise physiologist and nutrition expert Marco Borges is a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #yellow kite #foreword written #practical guide #lose weight #health concerns


'Into the Wild' author Jon Krakauer will write a book about sexual assaults on campus

Jon Krakauer's upcoming book 'Missoula' will center on stories he was told by those who said they experienced sexual assault at the University of Montana. Krakauer is also the author of 'Into Thin Air.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Murdered Lee Rigby's mother signs book deal

The mother of murdered soldier Lee Rigby has written a book, to be published by Simon & Schuster. Senior commissioning editor Kerri Sharp bought UK and Commonwealth rights to Lee Rigby: A Mother’s Story by Lyn Rigby from Robert Smith of Robert Smith Literary Agency. Lee Rigby was killed in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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James Patterson Launches Self-Destructing Book With Help of Mother N.Y.

To promote his new book "Private Vegas," author James Patterson has teamed up with Mother New York to help the novel blow up -- literally.Launching today, for the low price of $294,038, the campaign gives one avid fan the chance to read a hard copy of the book in a mere 24 hours before it... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-01-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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David Gregory slated to write a book about Judaism and his 'spiritual journey'

Gregory's book will be released sometime in 2015, according to publisher Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HC signs book on golden age of crime writing

HarperCollins has signed a book exploring the golden age of crime writing by author Martin... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Here's a book about people tweeting about writing their novels

Sorry guys, I can't tweet this picture of a cat wearing a party hat right now, because I'm #amwriting. I'm in a coffee shop, you see, with my laptop and notebook proudly displayed so that anyone who walks past will know that I'm #amwriting a novel.... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-07-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Iowa's Hill Avenue Books Sold

Jill Krebs, who has owned Hill Avenue Books, a full-service general bookstore in Spirit Lake, Iowa, for the past 15 years, has sold the bookstore to Rachael Tinker, a long-time customer. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Five-year-old writes book about fairies for British charity

Five-year-old Lydia Port-Burke has self-published a fairy tale now available in the UK. Proceeds for the book will go to BBC Children in Need. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #writes book #fairy tale #bbc children


New Mary Book Launches for Mother's Day

On May 3 at St. Mary’s Bookstore and Church Supply in Nashville, Tenn., Franciscan Media author Julie Dortch Cragon, whose new book, "Visiting Mary: Her U.S. Shrines and Their Graces," is out for Mother's Day, signed books for some 100 attendees. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How to Write a Good Non-fiction Book Proposal for Submission

Veteran author Christian Jennings offers tips, techniques and strategies on how to write a good non-fiction proposal for submission. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jane Lynch will co-write a children's book on bullying

Lynch, who stars on the TV series 'Glee,' will co-write a story about a little girl who enjoys bullying others until someone takes her on. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mindy Kaling will reportedly write follow-up to her bestselling book 'Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?'

During a panel at Austin's South by Southwest conference, Kaling said she is writing another book. Kaling's show 'The Mindy Project' was recently renewed for a third season. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mindy kaling #bestselling book