Authors who write about marginalised communities are facing abuse, boycotts and even death threats. What is cancel culture doing to young adult fiction?Earlier this month, the author and screenwriter Gareth Roberts announced that his story was being removed from a forthcoming Doctor Who anthology. Having been shown Roberts’s past tweets about transgender people, BBC Books said that his views “conflict with our values as a publisher”. At least one of the book’s other contributors, Susie Day, had promised to withdraw from the project if Roberts were included. “I raised my concerns, and said if he was in, I was out,” Day said.A few days before, at the Hay festival, the Irish author John Boyne had described a campaign against his own book, My Brother’s Name Is Jessica, about a boy and his trans sister. He was insulted on Twitter for his appearance and his sexuality. (Like Roberts, he is gay but not trans.) Some critics proposed a boycott of Boyne’s novel, which was not withdrawn. Others made veiled threats to his safety. “I don’t feel it’s my job as a reader or a writer to tell anyone what they can or can’t write,” Boyne said. “We are supposed to use our imaginations, to put ourselves into the minds and the bodies of others.”I've heard of publishers cancelling books and asking their authors to apologise, fearing the consequences if they didn’tThe wars may even spread – there have been two campaigns against adult novels on the basis of identity this year Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2019-06-15 08:00:15 UTC ]
The Hay Festival and the Women's Prize are some of the literature organisations to have benefitted from the latest round of the government’s Culture Recovery Fund administered through Arts Council England. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-22 05:55:21 UTC ]
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It’s been a while since we’ve heard any news from Amy Hennig, but now we know what the former Naughty Dog and Visceral Games writer and creative director has been working away at since going indie in 2018. On Friday, Marvel announced its working with Hennig’s Skydance New Media studio on a new... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2021-10-29 17:27:14 UTC ]
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The Irish author of "Beautiful World, Where Are You" has been open about her opposition to Israeli government policies. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2021-10-12 11:46:18 UTC ]
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Hay Festival has unveiled its free autumn programme for schools including a dedicated Winter Weekend, in-person Beacons Project and Welsh Scribblers Tour events. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-13 22:26:58 UTC ]
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In writing his new novel, the Irish author spent years tracing the secret yearnings of Mann—who, he says, played a lifelong “game between what was revealed and what was concealed.” Continue reading at New Yorker
[ New Yorker | 2021-09-13 10:00:00 UTC ]
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In her third novel, “Beautiful World, Where Are You,” the Irish author observes her unhappy young protagonists from a notable distance. Continue reading at New Yorker
[ New Yorker | 2021-09-10 10:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC Books is releasing Match of the Day: Top 10 of Everything by Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards, to accompany a new 30-episode series of the hit BBC Sounds podcast. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-10 02:05:35 UTC ]
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Many shops plan to open early for the arrival of Sally Rooney’s latest novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You next monthWhen they were children they lined the streets in their witch hats and capes, keen to pick up the latest Harry Potter title as bookshops opened their doors at midnight. Now they... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2021-08-28 15:00:00 UTC ]
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Bestselling Irish author Lucinda Riley, best known for the Seven Sisters series, has died after battling cancer for four years. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-12 03:14:18 UTC ]
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Writers love being invited to the Hay Festival. Sales will rocket into double figures, you get into the green room with a free coffee and a chance to smile flirtatiously at Germaine Greer and listen to Stephen Fry talk about his bunions. The festival was sponsored by the Times, then the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-24 21:25:18 UTC ]
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Irish author Edna O’Brien is to be named Commander in the French “Ordre des Arts et Lettres” by the French minister of culture, in recognition of her body of work. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-03-05 01:15:23 UTC ]
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HarperVoyager has snared YA writer Juno Dawson's first three adult novels, a trilogy set around a government agency for witches, at auction in a six-figure deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-27 18:39:44 UTC ]
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Nobody has a human right to a lucrative book contract without regard for whether their opinions are sound or valuableJordan Peterson, the Canadian psychology professor and lobster-loving life coach who came to public attention after refusing to use the preferred pronouns of transgender people,... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-12-02 13:56:38 UTC ]
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In two unresolved cases that have come to light recently, the highly regarded Hay Festival finds itself dealing with sensitive allegations from within its ranks. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson Challenging Developments rom many vantage points, no international literary... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-10-29 17:32:33 UTC ]
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The Hay Festival has said it will not return to Abu Dhabi while Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the Emirates minister of tolerance, remains in his post. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-18 17:10:59 UTC ]
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The Northern Irish author was best known for his story of Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare, which sold more than 50m copiesSam McBratney, the author of the bestselling picture book Guess How Much I Love You, has died at the age of 77.The Northern Irish author died on 18 September, his... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-09-21 14:12:28 UTC ]
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Transworld has pre-empted The Playdate from Irish author Andrea Mara, as well as a second title. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-10 16:51:45 UTC ]
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BBC Books has picked up Behind the Sequins, a book by dance star and “Strictly” head judge Shirley Ballas detailing her “dramatic and determined” life. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-08-27 09:09:12 UTC ]
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Picador has picked up the first novel in eight years from award-winning Irish author Keith Ridgway. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-08-24 11:52:26 UTC ]
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Hay Festival has launched a series of Book of the Month live Q&A sessions with authors, to expand its digital offering. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-16 02:44:44 UTC ]
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