Otherlands author Thomas Halliday: ‘Some people have insisted on reading the book backwards’

The paleobiologist and author of Foyles’ nonfiction book of 2022 on Earth’s deep past, the joys of the British Library, and how early four-limbed vertebrates helped him find his feetThomas Halliday was born in 1989 and raised in Rannoch in the Scottish Highlands. He studied zoology at Cambridge before specialising in paleobiology for his master’s and PhD – winning the Linnean Society Medal for the best doctorate in biological studies. His debut book Otherlands: A World in the Making – which comes out in paperback on 2 February – was Foyles’ nonfiction book of 2022, while the historian Tom Holland called it “the best book on the history of life on Earth I have ever read”. Halliday lives in north London with his wife and sons.What is paleobiology?In the late 20th century, we began to realise that we could study far more aspects of past life than simply describing the forms and defining them into taxonomies. Paleobiology encompasses everything from cell biology to genetic relationships to ecology. It’s like any other part of biology, except it happens to be set in the deep past. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2023-01-28 18:00:26 UTC ]
News tagged with: #cell biology #british library #scottish highlands #north london #debut book #nonfiction book

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Major Publishers, Authors Guild Sue Over New Florida Book Banning Law

A major lawsuit challenges Florida's book banning law, SPARE is finally coming out in paperback, and how the NYPL memed its way into saving more than 50 million bucks from being cut from its budget. All in today's top book news. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2024-08-29 16:33:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors guild #finally coming #major publishers


Major Publishers, Authors Guild Sue Over New Florida Book Banning Law

The August 29 complaint over H.B. 1069 argues that the statute is vague and overbroad, and that it has led to the improper removal of hundreds of books from school and classroom libraries in the state. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-08-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors guild #libraries #classroom libraries #major publishers


The 10 Most Interesting Questions in the World of Books and Reading

Some stories come and go, but there are some stories that are part of fundamental questions that the book world is asking and trying to answer. Here are the ten that I find to be the most important at the moment. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2024-08-21 10:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book world #interesting questions


Eight New Books Indie Booksellers Want You to Read

Independent booksellers from across the country highlight eight independently published books they're excited to sell this fall. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-08-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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20 Indie Books to Read for Fall 2024

This season’s noteworthy offerings feature time loops, psychoactive booze, the Big Bang, and a hermit on a mission from God. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-08-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big bang


My weeks of reading hornily: steamy book sales have doubled – and I soon found out why

From fairy porn to romantasy via the Omegaverse, publishing is sexier than ever. The reason? A big shift in gen Z and millennial attitudes to respectability and shame ...I spent a fortnight reading nothing but smut and I don’t need to give you a reason. But since there is one, here it is:... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2024-08-06 04:00:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing world #literary agent #bookshop #recently opened


The first US Book Prize judged entirely by incarcerated people has announced a winner.

The inaugural Inside Prize has named its first recipient—the author Imani Perry. The new book award is “a collaborative project of Freedom Reads, the National Book Foundation, Center for Justice Innovation and Dallas bookstore owner Lori Feathers.” And in a novel move, all the prize judges are... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-08-02 17:05:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book prize #book award #bookstore #incarcerated individuals #prize judges #freedom reads #incarcerated people


A new generation of authors is finally making book merch interesting

Sable Yong’s debut book comes with some unusual marketing merchandise—a perfume to match. Sable Yong always wanted to make a perfume. She calls herself a “frag-head,” having previously written about fragrances for Allure and hosting the podcast Smell Ya Later with Tynan Sinks. Still, producing... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2024-07-22 09:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #debut book


Author Challenges ChatGPT to Writer a Better Beach Read

A bestselling author takes on the bots, Penguin Random House acquires a comics publisher, an epic bookstore roadtrip, and more. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2024-07-11 15:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestselling author #penguin random house #bookstore #comics publisher #beach read


Authors Against Book Bans Officially Launches

The group's 1,500 members from all 50 states aim to provide “support and encouragement for the educators, librarians, parents, and students who are the first line of defense against censorship, and for the authors whose books are under attack.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-06-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #provide support


YA Author Lee Wind Launches Kickstarter to Donate Books to LGBTQ+ Teens

Wind, who is also chief content officer at the Indie Book Publishers Association, is creating a limited collector's edition of his latest YA novel, initially published this spring by Chicago Review Press, as an incentive for donors to his Kickstarter campaign benefitting LGBTQ+ teens. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-06-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #latest ya #donate books


A Book Club of Two: The Time I Started a James Joyce Reading Group in College

I’d bought my copy of James Joyce’s Ulysses at a Barnes and Noble in Manhattan in 1999, the summer before I left for college, along with a stack of other novels that I was convinced my much-smarter classmates would have already read. How I even decided which novels those were, I am still not... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-06-14 08:56:12 UTC ]
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Authors drive boom in US marketing demand as they seek help to plug books

Writers say investments in book promotion to augment publishers’ in-house staff are key to successKatherine Reay has written a dozen novels. When The Berlin Letters, her most recent, hit the shelves earlier this year, she embarked upon a 30-stop promotional book tour.“I love the personal... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2024-06-07 11:30:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookstore #personal connection #book promotion #bookstore events


Authors, Publishers Sign PEN America Letter Protesting New South Carolina School Book Rules

More than 380 authors, publishing houses, and advocacy groups have signed an open letter protesting "vague and overbroad" new South Carolina education standards, slated to take effect on June 25. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-06-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing houses


Ten Books by AAPI Authors We Loved This May

From heartfelt rom-coms to reproductive health primers to middle grade sci-fi, we're rounding up some of our favorite May books by Asian American and Pacific Islander authors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-05-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Critics’ Most Anticipated Summer Reads

NPR critics reveal their summer TBRs, Reese brings back the YA book club, and the sexiest book of summer isn't a rom-com. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2024-05-29 16:17:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ya book #book critics


Do you miss childhood summer reading challenges? The National Book Foundation has one for adults.

If you’re reading Lit Hub, it’s a fair guess that you have fond memories of school reading challenges over summer break, those individual and classroom-wide challenges to log your summer’s reading, show off, and maybe earn a prize in September. I definitely remember logging my books every... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-05-29 14:30:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #national book foundation #fond memories


8 Incredible Books To Read For Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Including a best selling book in Korea and a love story like you’ve never read before. Continue reading at HuffPost

[ HuffPost | 2024-05-23 10:45:08 UTC ]
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Signs, Symbols, and Omens: A Reading List of Books Featuring Superstitions

I have a long and complicated relationship with superstitions. Being raised in an Italian family means you’re schooled early and often in the myriad ways to avoid bad luck, or worse. Never put a hat on a bed, always leave from the same door you entered, do not even think about passing a baby... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2024-05-17 08:52:43 UTC ]
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'Harry Potter' set at an HBCU? LaDarrion Williams wrote the book he always wanted to read

'Blood at the Root,' LaDarrion Williams' first novel in a three-book deal — a series that centers on a Black boy in a YA fantasy saga — is the kind of fiction he wishes existed when he was a kid. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2024-05-03 10:00:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #first novel #harry potter