What Is Autobiography? A Conversation with Debut Memoirist Victoria Chang, by Amy Wright

Interviews Victoria Chang’s new collection, Dear Memory, expands the field of the memoir for readers to explore a full-color archive of family photos and historical documents collaged between lines of poetry and letters. It prompts us to ask, with her, What composes a life and what makes of life art? What makes of memory history, and whose history, and how do we survive loss? We might expect the author of five books of poetry and two children’s books to incorporate the lyric in her first book of nonfiction, but Chang goes further. If her memories arrive at times as poetry, she denies them the protection of a poem. For instance, at the end of a letter that begins, “Do you remember those Fridays in gym class . . . ,” she realizes that memory may be “the exit wound of joy.” Such insights pierce us before we can register surprise. Elsewhere, she covers her mother’s mouth with three Mandarin characters in the photo on her certificate of naturalization, inserting her reservation into the official record along with her daughter’s grief. I reached out to Chang, moved by this book’s innovative form. “It was always my goal as a writer to be able to make whatever I want,” she told me via Zoom video hosted by the low-residency MFA program at Antioch University, which she directs. The winner of a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, the PEN Voelcker Award, a Sustainable Arts Foundation... Continue reading at 'World Literature Today'

[ World Literature Today | 2022-01-05 19:50:39 UTC ]
News tagged with: #human emotions #toxic masculinity #daily basis #curly hair #times book #memoir

Other Publishing stories related to: 'What Is Autobiography? A Conversation with Debut Memoirist Victoria Chang, by Amy Wright'


Staffing Changes at UC Press

The University of California Press has announced changes to three primary positions--editorial director, marketing director, and deputy director--resulting in promotions for long-time staff members. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #california press #marketing director


Thrillbent 3.0 Debuts Subscription, iPad App

Thrillbent, the digital comics platform launched by comics writers Mark Waid and John Rogers, has been upgraded to Thrillbent 3.0, introducing a new subscription plan for $3.99 per month as well as an integrated iPad app. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ipad app #john rogers #subscription plan


Blurb Debuts Amazon Distribution

The self-publishing platform is expanding its services, adding broader distribution through Amazon.com, a new set of free online design tools, and offset printing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #self-publishing platform


BEA 2014: BookCon’s Debut

With the advent of BookCon, Day 3 at BEA has shed its image of empty aisles and vacant-eyed exhibitors scheming to pack up early. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. Debuts ‘Korak’ Web Comic

Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc., the company that oversees the works of the iconic American adventure and sci-fi writer, has launched "Korak The Killer," a weekly digital comics strip devoted to Korak, the son of Tarzan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #web comic #sci-fi writer


Southland newspaper publisher expands with debut of L.A. Register

The L.A. Register's debut reflects a belief by the owner of Freedom Communications that print still sells well in the modern era of digital media.Commuters at Union Station in downtown L.A. got an early look Wednesday at the first edition of the Los Angeles Register. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2014-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #freedom communications #modern era #union station


PubMatch Debuts Transactional Rights System

PubMatch, the book publishing and international rights database founded by Publishers Weekly and Combined Book Exhibit, is introducing a new upgrade at this year’s London Book Fair--Rights@PubMatch. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publishing


Walker buys Byrne debut

Walker Books has acquired a middle-grade title from debut author Michael Byrne.   Lottery... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #walker books #middle-grade title


Literary debut for Myriad Editions

Myriad Editions has signed a debut novel, discovered during the publisher's annual Writer... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary debut #myriad editions


Jet City Comics Debuts Cover Art for 'Wool: The Graphic Novel'

Jet City Comics, Amazon Publishing’s graphic novel and comics imprint, has released the cover art for the first three issues of "Wool: The Graphic Novel," the comics adaptation of author Hugh Howey’s bestselling, self-published science-fiction novel. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon publishing #comics imprint #cover art #comics adaptation


Humanoids Debuts Comics App for Apple and Android

Humanoids, the famed French comics house now based in Los Angeles, has released the Humanoids Comics app for iOS and Android. The app offers retail access to more than 60 Humanoids titles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


BookCon to Make Debut at BEA

Reed Exhibitions has made no secret about its interest in drawing more members of the general reading public to BookExpo America and, today, released details about its new consumer-focused event at the trade show. BookCon is set for the final day of BEA and promises to be, Reed said, a "show... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #trade show #reed exhibitions #bookexpo america #released details #final day


Tax change for music and ebooks

The UK government is bringing in new laws that will mean some downloads become subject to UK tax rates. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2014-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk government


Hodder buys Hawdon debut

Hodder has acquired world rights in an “astonishing” debut novel by a journalist and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #astonishing debut


Quercus signs Revell debut

Quercus Children's books has signed Stonebird, a middle-grade novel from debut author Mike... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #quercus children


The Changing Korean Book Retail Industry: Digital Publishing in Korea 2014

When online bookstores came on the scene back in 1999, there were around 5,000 brick-and-mortar bookstores in Korea. Today, there are barely 1,500 nationwide. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital publishing #online bookstores


Picture book debut to HarperCollins

HarperCollins Children’s Books has acquired three books by debut picture book author Rob... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harpercollins children


Daily Express and Daily Star websites make ABC debuts – at the bottom

Owner Richard Desmond agrees to officially audited figures for monthly visitors to dailystar.co.uk and express.co.ukOfficially audited traffic figures for the Daily Star and Daily Express websites have been published for the first time – ranking them bottom in the national newspaper online... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #david pemsel #digital growth #global brand #held steady


Sceptre buys musical debut

Sceptre editorial director Drummond Moir has acquired a literary debut by 34-year-old poet and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary debut


Small publishers are benefiting from changes in the industry

The advent of digital publishing technology and ebooks has created opportunities for home-based publishersThe world of publishing was once the preserve of very large organisations, huge publishing houses with massive production infrastructures and costs, that kept smaller niche publishers on the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #important tool #biggest difference #practice direct