Will Self: ‘I’m seen as a still-walking dead white man’

The novelist on his new collection of journalism, why he regrets criticising Sally Rooney and how he’s never shaken off the influence of JG Ballard“I’ll see your eidolon next Tuesday,” writes Will Self, 61, when I email to arrange a video call to discuss his new collection of journalism, Why Read: Selected Writings 2001-2021, which is centred on the concern (as he later told me, or my on-screen spirit-image) that “people are dumbing down their entire response to their own culture by their unfettered use of social media”. Self’s 26 previous books include Umbrella, shortlisted for the Booker prize in 2012, and its sequels Shark and Phone, the latter a single 624-page paragraph which the Telegraph called an “epic anti-tweet”. Speaking from his home in south London, he said he liked the description “because the book was a deliberate attempt to call people’s attention to what was being lost by the digital. I don’t think the Umbrella trilogy is that hard to read at all; it’s only hard to read in contrast to a tweet. By Donald Trump!”How did you pick the pieces in Why Read?Until fairly recently, certainly since 2001, I probably wrote an average of 150,000 words of journalism every year, so there’s a vast amount to choose from. My New York editor said that in the age of the web, collections like this need a theme or else readers feel they’re just getting a grab bag they could’ve sourced themselves. So the emphasis fell on the impact on reading and writing of what I choose to call... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2022-11-26 18:00:32 UTC ]
News tagged with: #south london #deliberate attempt #readers feel #grab bag #observer order #delivery charges #books include

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Black & White snaps up vegan lifestyle book from YouTuber Stefanie Moir

Black & White has snapped up YouTube and Instagram influencer Stefanie Moir's debut book.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-31 08:01:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #black white #debut book


Cranachan and Black & White scoop Scots language grants

Indies Cranachan and Black & White are among the publishers awarded funding from the Scots Language Publication Grants.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-28 10:22:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #black white


Man Booker Prize Names 2019 Longlist

The Man Booker Prize announced its 2019 longlist. The post Man Booker Prize Names 2019 Longlist appeared first on The Millions. Continue reading at The Millions

[ The Millions | 2019-07-24 15:19:33 UTC ]
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Barton, Cavanagh and Griffiths win Dead Good Reader Awards

Books by Fiona Barton, Steve Cavanagh and Elly Griffiths are among the winners of this year’s Dead Good Reader Awards for crime and thriller novels. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-22 02:40:27 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fiona barton #steve cavanagh #elly griffiths


Separation of Church and State Is (Mostly) Dead in Media, Execs Say

The age-old sacred barrier that once separated media companies' editorial and sales teams has all but disappeared in the age of branded content and marketing services—and that isn't necessarily a bad thing, a panel of media-company CEOs suggested at a recent Folio:-hosted roundtable in New... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2019-07-18 17:39:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #long term #community building #connection point #tech giants


Announcing the 2019 Whiting Literary Magazine Prizes

This morning, the Whiting Foundation has announced the winners of the second annual Literary Magazine Prizes, which are given “for superb publishing, advocating for writers, and strengthening the literary community.” This year, the number of awards was increased from three to five, with two new... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-07-18 13:00:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #whiting foundation #literary community #literary magazine


Vertebrate signs three-book deal with walking experts

Indie press Vertebrate Publishing has signed a three-book deal with the creators of popular walking website Walkhighlands. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-18 11:06:34 UTC ]
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Expanded Whiting Literary Magazine Prizes Name Second Year of Winners

This year's five honorees, up from three last year, are 'The Common,' 'American Short Fiction,' 'Black Warrior Review,' 'The Margins,' and 'The Offing,' which will receive a combined $144,000 from the Whiting Foundation. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-07-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #whiting foundation #literary magazine


Mairi Kidd celebrates inspirational Scots with Black & White deal

Black & White Publishing has acquired two books about inspirational people from Scotland by Mairi Kidd, head of literature, languages and publishing at Creative Scotland. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-15 23:10:10 UTC ]
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Scholastic Supports New ‘Dog Man’ With International Pilkey Tour

Urging young readers to contribute to their communities, Dav Pilkey's 'Do Good Tour' will open in August with stops in the States, Asia and India. The post Scholastic Supports New ‘Dog Man’ With International Pilkey Tour appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-07-15 05:30:53 UTC ]
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Black & White snaps up wild swimming tale

Black & White will publish Taking the Plunge: The Healing Power of Wild Swimming for Mind, Body & Soul by journalist Vicky Allan and photographer Anna Deacon in November.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-02 08:26:10 UTC ]
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David Nicholls | 'I didn’t want to do another 50-something man fretting and worrying again'

David Nicholls’ latest recalls the life-changing events of one summer as a man looks back on his first love. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-26 00:44:23 UTC ]
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Perks, Griffiths and Koomson make Dead Good Reader Awards shortlists

Heidi Perks, Dorothy Koomson and Elly Griffiths are among 28 writers to make the Dead Good Reader Awards shortlists, following a record number of nominations.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-25 02:16:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #elly griffiths #dorothy koomson #record number


Bestselling Romance Novelist Judith Krantz Dead At 91

The author of the steamy romances "Scruples" and "Princess Daisy" sold more than 85 million books worldwide. Continue reading at The Huffington Post

[ The Huffington Post | 2019-06-24 02:34:35 UTC ]
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White Lion lands Downton Abbey cookbook and cocktail recipes

Quarto imprint White Lion Publishing has snapped up a "Downton Abbey" cookbook and collection of cocktail recipes to coincide with a film version of the hit series. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-19 11:12:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #downton abbey #film version #hit series #quarto #cookbook


Doddie Weir's latest goes to Black & White

Black & White has snapped up rights to rugby legend and motor neurone disease campaigner Doddie Weir's latest book. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-18 21:00:08 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #black white


Hachette Books Ireland snaps up Instagram debut novel from White

Hachette Books Ireland has snapped up an "incredible" debut novel by Irish journalist Sophie White about the world of Instagram influencers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-17 14:38:06 UTC ]
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Impossible Burger shortages hit White Castle and Red Robin

Large restaurant chains Red Robin and White Castle are reporting shortages of Impossible Foods Inc.’s popular meat-free patties, even as the plant-based food producer embarks on a nationwide expansion with Burger King. Calls to a dozen Red Robins and the same number of White Castles on Thursday... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2019-06-14 15:48:17 UTC ]
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A Strong Pulse for Dead Reckoning Graphic Novels

The Naval Institute Press has set a dramatic course for its graphic novel imprint. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-06-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Mostly Dead Things’ captures the humor and strangeness of Florida without the easy stereotypes

Kristen Arnett’s debut follows a woman trying to keep her family’s taxidermy shop afloat. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-06-05 13:50:57 UTC ]
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