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Dear Memory, expands the field of the memoir for readers to explore a full-color archive of family photos and historical documents collaged between lines of poetry and letters.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 ]
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Meet the Champion of Debut Authors

If you are a debut author or a literary fiction and nonfiction stan, you’ve likely heard of Debutiful. Adam Vitcavage launched the podcast and website dedicated to highlighting the work of debut authors in January 2019. It has since become a beacon in the literary community, helping over 100,000... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2023-01-18 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Media Agencies Call on Marketers to Change Their Digital Strategies

Most senior media agency professionals want their clients to invest in emerging media and explore new digital channels this year. With global advertising spend forecast to slow this year from record levels of spend and the rising cost of digital media spend, marketers will be scrutinizing where... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2023-01-11 13:54:14 UTC ]
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Prince Harry’s autobiography Spare is UK’s fastest-selling nonfiction book

The memoir, which includes claims Prince William attacked him, records figures of 400,000 on its first day Prince Harry’s autobiography has become the UK’s fastest-selling nonfiction book ever, recording figures of 400,000 on its first day on sale.The controversial memoir Spare has made... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-01-10 19:17:17 UTC ]
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New Year, New You: Major Book Biz Job Changes This Week

A series of notable position changes in the industry this week at Anime NYC, Chicago Distribution Center, Henry Holt, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-10 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Why Travel Writing is a Form of Memoir and How Covid Has Changed How We See the World

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Pico Iyer, the author of The Half Known Life: In Search... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-01-06 09:52:43 UTC ]
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LibLearnX Set to Debut In-Person Event In New Orleans

The library community is set to gather for the first-ever in-person edition of the ALA’s nascent winter event, LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience, set for January 27–30, 2023, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-09 05:00:00 UTC ]
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LibLearnX Set to Debut In-Person Event in New Orleans

The library community is set to gather for the first-ever in-person edition of the ALA’s nascent winter event, LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience, set for January 27–30, 2023, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-09 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Exclusive Cover Reveal: Here’s the cover for Elysha Chang’s A Quitter’s Paradise

Literary Hub is pleased to reveal the cover for Elysha Chang’s A Quitter’s Paradise, the first book on Sarah Jessica Parker’s imprint at Zando, forthcoming in June 2023. This debut novel examines the grief of a young woman desperate to detach from the reality of her mother’s death and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-12-08 14:30:46 UTC ]
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Register Today for AAPI Communities in Conversation #12 with Elizabeth Miki Brina, Author of 'Speak, Okinawa'

Brina will appear in conversation with Elizabeth Joseph of New Rochelle Public Library. The live stream is set for Tuesday, December 6th at 1 p.m. ET. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-02 05:00:00 UTC ]
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A Summary and Analysis of Richard Wright’s ‘The Man Who Was Almost a Man’

‘The Man Who Was Almost a Man’ is a short story by the American author Richard Wright (1908-60), originally published as ‘Almos’ a Man’ in Harper’s Bazaar in 1940 before being revised by Wright later in his life. The final version was published in 1960. In the story, a black […] Continue reading at Interesting Literature

[ Interesting Literature | 2022-11-11 15:00:28 UTC ]
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Shanghai’s Children’s Book Fair Changes Venue Amid COVID Constraints

Moving its dates for a third time this year, the Shanghai Children's Book Fair is changing venue in an effort to host the event in December. The post Shanghai’s Children’s Book Fair Changes Venue Amid COVID Constraints appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-11-09 18:16:05 UTC ]
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Diamond Retailer Summit Surveys Changing Comics Industry

Comics industry publishers and retailers gathered in person for the 2022 Diamond Retailer Summit, held October 26-28 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic Con. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Louise Kennedy’s Debut Novel Taps Into Her Childhood Amid the Troubles

The book, “Trespasses,” captures the texture of life in Northern Ireland — details, objects and images that carry “incredible emotional weight.” Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-10-31 16:21:50 UTC ]
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Register Today for AAPI Communities in Conversation #11 with Malinda Lo, author of 'Last Night at the Telegraph Club'

Lo will appear in conversation with Cristina Mitra of the San Francisco Public Library. The live stream is set for Tuesday, November 1, at 1 p.m ET. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-28 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Open letter to top publisher condemns $2m Amy Coney Barrett book deal

More than 250 literary figures rail against acquisition by Penguin Random House of book by conservative US supreme court justiceMore than 250 figures from the US literary world have signed an open letter protesting the acquisition by Penguin Random House of a book by the conservative supreme... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-10-27 06:00:22 UTC ]
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Publishing professionals are calling for PRH to reconsider Amy Coney Barrett’s book.

The Big Five publishers have a history of both publishing and distributing books by people who not only hold abhorrent beliefs, but who wield those beliefs to destroy the rights of people across the world—so it’s no surprise that Sentinel, the conservative Penguin Random House imprint, is... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-10-25 14:43:59 UTC ]
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Open Letter Condemns Amy Coney Barrett Book Deal

An open letter protesting the acquisition of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s forthcoming memoir by Penguin Random House, first reported in 2021, has begun circulating in publishing circles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Review: A "mixed" memoirist's Silk Road travelogue becomes a road map to sanctuary

Sofia Samatar's "The White Mosque," a singular memoir about a journey through Asia on the trail of a Mennonite sect, tracks a personal search as well. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-10-24 13:00:39 UTC ]
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Frankfurter Buchmesse Stages Its Debut ‘Frankfurt Kids’ Conference

'You have to be what you want to be,' Scholastic's Peter Warwick tells the new Frankfurt Kids program. The post Frankfurter Buchmesse Stages Its Debut ‘Frankfurt Kids’ Conference appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-10-20 03:56:50 UTC ]
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Amazon Changes Kindle eBook Return Policy, Ends Lending Between Kindle Users, and More

What's going on with Kindle? See what changes are coming to return policies, file formats, and ebook lending at Amazon. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-10-19 10:40:00 UTC ]
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