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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Wilson event will mark 20 years of the Children's Book Tour

Scottish Book Trust will mark 20 years of its Children’s Book Tour this year with an event featuring Jacqueline Wilson and Pamela Butchart. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hillary Clinton praises NHS after broken toe prevents interviews

Former US presidential candidate says she received ‘excellent care’ from health service after having to rearrange three bookingsHillary Clinton has paid tribute to the NHS after she was forced to rearrange a series of interviews because she fell and broke her toe.The former US presidential... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hillary Clinton to kick off book tour for 'What Happened'

Clinton's new book is a personal memoir about her campaign as well as a 'cautionary tale' about Russian interference in the election. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2017-09-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Philip Pullman leads writers condemning 'pernicious' book discounts

His Dark Materials novelist says today’s steep price cuts devalue authors’ work and cheapen the experience of readingWith more than two months to go before Philip Pullman’s long-awaited new novel from the world of His Dark Materials is published, pre-orders have sent La Belle Sauvage flying up... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-08-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sherman Alexie, suffering from depression, cancels his post-California book tour

Sherman Alexie, the author whose recent memoir "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" chronicles his stormy relationship with his late mother, is canceling much of his book tour, citing a struggle with depression. Alexie will make appearances this week in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Menlo Park... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Southern Novelist Plans Bourbon Soaked Book Tour

Decatur Book Festival executive director Daren Wang's book tour for his debut novel has also become an excuse to seek out the best bourbon cocktail in the South. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Celebrity book clubs: Page turner or dust collector?

Reese Witherspoon has one, so does Emma Watson, but are celebrity book clubs a great thing for reading? Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2017-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HBO’s Sheila Nevins Is Loving Every Minute of Her Book Tour

From the looks of the crowd at Michael's today, I suspect there were plenty of big doings being finalized in betweeen bites of Cobb salad. Attorney Bob Barnett was with Huma Abedin, Charlie Rose was huddled in conversation with Marie Josee Kravis on Table Four while CBS 48 Hours Mystery's Susan... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2017-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mahey-Morgan: Diverse stories important in current 'dark times'

Diverse stories in today’s “dark times” have never been more important, Crystal Mahey-Morgan, founder of OWN IT! said at the launch of No Place To Call Home. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lauren Child on being the new children’s laureate

Award-winning author and illustrator Lauren Child has been named as the next Waterstones Children’s Laureate, an honour she says she “wasn’t expecting”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Oliver Jeffers turns to non-fiction

Award-winning author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers is publishing a new book with HarperCollins at the end of this year and has signed a new two-book deal with the publisher for future publishing. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-05-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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You Can Write a Best-Seller and Still Go Broke

In 2012, a month after the publication of her memoir, Wild, Cheryl Strayed was on a book tour, soaking up the wonder of her first big success as an author, when her husband texted her to say that their rent check had bounced. “We couldn’t complain to anyone,” Strayed told Manjula Martin, editor... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2017-01-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Radio presenter Jay-Jay Harvey cancels her book tour outright

The Edge presenter Jay-Jay Harvey has cancelled the rest of her book tour after walking out during a broadcast last month. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2016-11-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jay-Jay Harvey disappears from radio show and cancels book tour for two weeks

Radio star Jay-Jay Harvey has cancelled the next two weeks of her book tour after walking out on her show live on air. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2016-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Witherspoon and Kidman option Moriarty novel for film

Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman have optioned the film rights to Liane Moriarty's novel Truly Madly Guilty (Michael Joseph). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Obituary: Joyce Carol Thomas

Award-winning author, poet, and playwright Joyce Carol Thomas, whose works largely focused on family and the African-American experience, died on August 17. She was 79. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Good News for Dark Times: Lisa Sharon Harper’s ‘Very Good’ Gospel

In her new book ‘The Very Good Gospel,’ Harper examines the first three chapters of Genesis to reveal readings from the gospel that speak to today’s anxious minds, racial divisions, and threats of violence. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-07-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2016: Fredrik Backman: Getting to Know His Characters

Voted Sweden’s most successful author in 2013, Fredrik Backman has traveled to Chicago from Sweden for his first U.S. book tour to promote his latest novel, "Britt-Marie Was Here" (Atria, May). Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How do I love thee? Let me Instagram it

Mobbed at signings, followed by millions and topping the bestseller lists: Instapoets such as Lang Leav, Rupi Kaur and Tyler Knott Gregson are poetry’s new superstars, publishing their love poems and haiku on social media. But are they any good? In 2013, Lang Leav self-published a small debut... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-11-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ingrid Law's 'Switch' Book Tour: A Photo Essay

To celebrate her new book, 'Switch,' Ingrid Law criss-crossed the country on a book tour that spanned Colorado to Georgia. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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