Novelist Celeste Ng: ‘There was a period when I thought I’d never write again’

The award-winning author on how Trump, Covid and anti-Asian rhetoric inspired her latest novel, digging her way out of ‘post-book fatigue’, and learning to touch type using UlyssesCeleste Ng, 42, is the award-winning author of three novels, including Little Fires Everywhere, which was made into a miniseries starring and executive-produced by Reese Witherspoon. Her latest, Our Missing Hearts, dramatises the power of art and literature in dark times, unfolding in a nationalistic America riven by anti-Asian violence, where the authorities think nothing of snatching children from dissident parents. At its centre is Bird, a 12-year-old boy searching for his mother, an Asian-American poet who vanished years earlier. Ng lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with her husband and their son.How did Our Missing Hearts begin for you?It came from a very personal place, with me thinking about being a creative parent and that constant fear of just not being present enough if I’m daydreaming about a plot or going on a book tour. I’d had a creative mother in my last novel, Little Fires Everywhere, and her daughter is quite accepting of the art that she makes and of the sacrifices that that requires, but I started thinking: what if that were not the case? Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-22 17:00:15 UTC ]

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10 shiny new books you should pick up this week.

Every week, the TBR pile grows a little bit more. It’s getting precarious. It’s taking up your whole nightstand. It’s threatening to crush you in your sleep. Well, what are you waiting for? Get cracking. What are you reading this week? Colum McCann, Apeirogon (Random House) The latest novel... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-02-25 14:57:43 UTC ]
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This Week's Bestsellers: February 17, 2020

Fashion mogul and onetime pop singer and reality TV star Jessica Simpson has the #1 book in the country with ‘Open Book.’ Plus Reese Witherspoon and Jenna Bush Hager’s new book club picks make their list debuts. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-02-15 05:00:00 UTC ]
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‘American Dirt’: Who gets to tell your story?

The publisher of Jeanine Cummins’ novel “American Dirt” canceled her book tour Wednesday, saying she has received death threats. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2020-01-30 19:02:00 UTC ]
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A writer is holding Patrick deWitt’s website hostage—until he reads their manuscript.

The following post has been updated with a response from the website squatter. There are traditional ways to get a book published—pitches, queries, agents, enduring months and years of soul-crushing work and silence—and then there’s blackmail. A writer is currently squatting on Patrick deWitt’s... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-01-30 16:55:01 UTC ]
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Publisher cancels ‘American Dirt’ book tour: ‘Serious mistakes’ and ‘concerns about safety’

The 13 events left to promote the highly anticipated -- and then, highly-condemned -- novel will instead be replaced by town hall-style discussions between the author, Jeanine Cummins, and critics of the book. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-01-30 12:25:04 UTC ]
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'American Dirt' publisher cancels entire book tour due to 'safety' concerns

'American Dirt' publisher Flatiron Books announced on Wednesday that it was canceling its book tour with Jeanine Cummins. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-01-29 20:47:11 UTC ]
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Myers and SoA condemn pressure on authors to 'perform'

Award-winning author Benjamin Myers and the Society of Authors (SoA) have criticised the pressure on writers to become “personalities” rather than be judged on their work as literary events increase. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-01-09 07:55:03 UTC ]
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PW Notable: Reese Witherspoon

A new book club queen has emerged—and she's almost as good at selling books as she is on the silver screen. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-12-23 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Viper snaps up Kate Simants' thriller

Serpent’s Tail's new crime imprint Viper will publish the second novel from former investigative undercover journalist and award-winning author Kate Simants. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-05 16:54:04 UTC ]
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Hutchinson snaps up Carys Bray's climate change novel

Hutchinson has signed the new novel from award-winning author Carys Bray about the impact of climate change on mental health. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-28 15:45:29 UTC ]
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Atwood takes book tour to Australia and New Zealand

Margaret Atwood is taking her book tour to Australia and New Zealand next year in celebration of the global publication of The Testaments (Vintage). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-18 00:57:59 UTC ]
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Lessons in worldbuilding from N. K. Jemisin (plus a preview of her next book).

At the WIRED25 Festival in San Francisco last weekend, author N.K. Jemisin gave attendees a real treat: a two-hour crash course in imagining and building future worlds. Jemisin is the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, etc. Award-winning author of the Broken Earth series and the Inheritance Trilogy. (Literary... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-11-13 16:55:20 UTC ]
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Obituary: Ernest J. Gaines, Novelist of the Black South, Dies at 86

Ernest J. Gaines, award-winning author of the acclaimed novel 'The Autobiography of Jane Pittman,' and a MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant recipient, died of a heart attack at his home in Oscar, La. He was 86. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-06 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Dark Books for Dark Times

Read these spine-tingling works of science fiction and fantasy at your own risk. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2019-10-18 19:00:09 UTC ]
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3 Books to Read by Indigenous Writers

Tommy Orange, the award-winning author of “There, There,” recommends his favorite books by Native writers. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2019-10-14 22:12:55 UTC ]
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Scottish schools tour for YA author Non Pratt

Young Adult author Non Pratt is to visit 10 Scottish schools this autumn in a book tour organised by Scottish Book Trust and supported by investment organisation Scottish Friendly. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-14 17:17:47 UTC ]
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Dav Pilkey credits his ADHD for his massive success. Now he wants kids to find their own ‘superpower’

The “Captain Underpants” author has launched a “Do Good” book tour for his latest “Dog Man” release. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-10-11 19:01:19 UTC ]
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We’re in a Rough Place in History Right Now: The Millions Interviews Carmen Maria Machado

The award-winning author of ‘Her Body and Other Parties’ on writing fiction for today, the tyranny of genre, and reading outside of our comfort zones. The post We’re in a Rough Place in History Right Now: The Millions Interviews Carmen Maria Machado appeared first on The Millions. Continue reading at The Millions

[ The Millions | 2019-10-08 16:00:06 UTC ]
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Jacqueline Woodson Transformed Children’s Literature. Now She’s Writing for Herself.

The award-winning author on her mission to diversify publishing — and why she turned back to adult readers with her new novel, “Red at the Bone.” Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2019-09-19 09:00:02 UTC ]
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