The BBC’s Fergal Keane: ‘The breakdowns get harder to recover from each time’

The former BBC war reporter, now special correspondent, on the terror of PTSD, his tips for living with it day to day, and the people and poets he admiresDuring a career spanning more than 30 years, BBC special correspondent Fergal Keane has covered brutal conflicts in South Africa, Rwanda and Bosnia. It’s taken a lasting toll on his mental health, and in 2020 he stepped back from frontline reporting, revealing that he’s suffering from acute PTSD. In his memoir The Madness, newly published in paperback, he goes into greater detail, powerfully describing multiple breakdowns, alcoholism, and the inherited trauma that shaped his Irish childhood, as well as the resilience he’s found in himself. He will be talking at the Edinburgh International book festival on 17 August.What part of The Madness was hardest to write?Most difficult was what it was like to be in a psychiatric hospital. People talk about going mad and it conjures up all kinds of stereotypical images, but it’s terrifying, it’s this implosion. I’ve never been so afraid in my life. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2023-08-06 08:30:06 UTC ]

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Skyhorse Moves Up Mandela Book

In light of Nelson Mandela's passing, Skyhose Publishing has moved up the publication schedule for Bob Crew's biography of the former South African president, Mandela: His Life and Legacy for South Africa and the World. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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AUDIO: Roeg reflects on 60-year career

Veteran filmmaker Nicolas Roeg has published a book of memoirs, featuring insights from a career spanning six decades. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2013-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Distribution: RH and Beacon Press Renew

Beacon will continue to utilize the full portfolio of Random House's sales and distribution services for both their newly published and backlist physical and digital titles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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These Grey Cupcakes Could Take A Bite Out Of Depression

Baking may fight depression. So one pastry chef is raising awareness for mental health through a worldwide bake sale frosted in grey icing. Maybe it’s the sugar. Maybe it’s the chocolate. Maybe it’s the satisfaction that’s inherent to working with your hands. But baking seems to keep many of... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why I Publish Ebooks on Paper for South Africans

Arthur Attwell, founder of Paperight, explains why his company has leveraged the network of photocopy shops throughout South Africa to cater to hard-to-reach readers. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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ePubDirect to Manage Random House’s Int’l Ebook Distribution

Random House has appointed ePubDirect to manage distribution of ebook assets and provide retail support for the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Snapplify: Custom Publishing Apps Out of Africa

South Africa is making itself known as a home for digital startups. Among the hottest is Snapplify, a digital publishing solutions provider with a growing global profile. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Incredible' shortlist for Green Carnation

A debut novel from South Africa has joined the shortlist for this year's Green Carnation... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kobo to launch in South Africa

Kobo is to launch in South Africa in partnership with Pick n Pay hyperstores and supermarkets.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lindles: Jeremy Lin, Amazon Kindle, And The Rise Of Insta-Authors

Jeremy Lin has inspired a lot of rabid fans, magazine features, and six-figure book deal offers. But he's also fueled a new breed of lightning-fast ebook authors. Alan Goldsher, author of "Linsanity: The Improbable Rise of Jeremy Lin," is one of the fastest (and slickest). In the days before... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2012-02-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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International Bestsellers, November 2011: Literary Novels Hit in Germany, Italy

The top three fiction titles in Germany were all debuts in October, led by In Times of Fading Light, which recently won the 2011 German Book Prize and is set for publication in the U.S. by Graywolf Press in fall 2013. Umberto Eco’s newest book, The Prague Cemetery, which debuted at #3, is newly... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-11-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Virgin Books goes wild for David Essex

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Mon, 24/10/2011 - 09:15 Virgin Books has acquired actor and 1970s heartthrob David Essex's autobiography. The as-yet-untitled book will be published in March 2012 and will chart Essex's career spanning four decades as a drummer, singer, theatre star,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Headline preempts debut about child abduction

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Mon, 18/07/2011 - 12:15 Headline has pre-empted a debut novel about a man's whose nine month old daughter is abducted by carjackers in South Africa. Publisher at large Martin Fletcher bought world rights to Held Up by Christopher Radmann from Juliet... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Elliott & Thompson to link with Faber and Frances Lincoln

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Wed, 06/07/2011 - 15:29 Independent publisher Elliott & Thompson has appointed Frances Lincoln to be its sales representative in the UK and Ireland, with MDL continuing to handle all distribution. In another new appointment, Faber is to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Biteback acquires Peter Hain memoir

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Mon, 04/04/2011 - 15:00 Biteback has bought the memoir of former Northern Ireland secretary of state and anti-apartheid campaigner Peter Hain. Managing director Iain Dale bought UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Guam and South Africa) from... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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