Writing to Uganda: A Conversation with Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, by Matthew Davis

Interviews Matthew Davis Ugandan novelist and short-story writer Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi’s first novel, Kintu, won the Kwani Manuscript Project in 2013 and was longlisted for the Etisalat Prize in 2014. She was awarded the 2014 Commonwealth Short-Story Prize for her story Lets Tell This Story Properly, published by Granta, and the prestigious Windham-Campbell Prize for Fiction 2018 to support her writing. Her first full story collection, Manchester Happened, was published by Oneworld in May 2019. Retitled Let’s Tell This Story Properly, the collection was published in the US in July 2019. She lives in Manchester with her husband and son and lectures in creative writing at Manchester Metropolitan University. While Makumbi was a fellow at the Alan Cheuse International Writers Center at George Mason University this past spring, she talked with Matthew Davis, the center’s founding director. Here they discuss how westerners and Africans read African literature differently, writing for Ugandans, and how eighteen years in England has changed her. Matthew Davis: Jennifer, welcome. I want to start by discussing your novel, Kintu, which is in many ways a modern classic of world literature. It begins in 1750, when Kintu Kidda sets out for the capital to pledge allegiance to the new leader of the Buganda kingdom. The novel follows the descendants of Kintu as they struggle with a curse he unleashed as he made his way to the capital in the... Continue reading at 'World Literature Today'

[ World Literature Today | 2019-08-06 13:42:31 UTC ]
News tagged with: #short-story form #quickly found #american writers #familiar themes #american literature #short stories

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Writing to Uganda: A Conversation with Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, by Matthew Davis'


How To Write About Your Mother

Mother’s Day was never a real holiday to my mother—more about marketing than raising me. No white carnations or special dinners for her. But that my memoir about her, Irma: The Education of a Mother’s Son, was published just before this Mother’s Day would make her smile. Likewise, that I have... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-05-12 13:21:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #memoir


U.S. Book Show 2023: AAPI Communities in Conversation

AAPI Communities in Conversation will feature a series of panels centered on Asian American and Pacific Islander voices, books, cultures, and experiences, and feature authors, creators, and librarians. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #feature authors #aapi communities #asian american


U.S. Book Show 2023: Debut Authors in Conversation

First-time authors Alice Carrière, Tereh Shelton Harris, and Kelsey James will discuss their forthcoming books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #debut authors #forthcoming books


In a PEN America Lecture, Ta-Nehisi Coates Exercises Freedom to Write

MacArthur Fellow and National Book Award–winning author Ta-Nehisi Coates talked about the war on books, the imbalance of power, and learning as liberation at the PEN America World Voices Festival on May 11. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #macarthur fellow


U.S. Book Show 2023: Authors in Conversation

In a series of intimate discussions, authors, comics creators, and artists will give readers an inside look at their latest titles and forthcoming books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #give readers #latest titles #forthcoming books


U.S. Book Show 2023: Matthew Gray Gubler

Matthew Gray Gubler, whose book 'The Little Kid with the Big Green Hand' hits shelves in September, will deliver the closing children’s and YA keynote on May 24. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hits shelves


Scholastic recognizes 100 years of teen writing.

What do Amanda Gorman, Truman Capote, John Updike, and Joyce Carol Oates have in common? Each won a Scholastic Art & Writing Award as a teen. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards began in 1923 and continue to support young writers thanks to The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-05-08 12:47:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amanda gorman #truman capote #john updike #scholastic


Matt Rowland Hill: ‘My mother says she will sue me if I ever write another book like it’

The author of Original Sins, an account of addiction and shame, on his book’s impact on his evangelical parents, reading the Patrick Melrose series while waiting for drug dealers, and how looking middle class saved him from arrestMatt Rowland Hill, 38, is the author of Original Sins, about... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-29 17:00:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #east london #father told #observer order #delivery charges


Ralph Yarl, Defunding Libraries, and (Re)Writing Kansas City: On Crafting New Narratives in a Divided City

Visual artist and poet José Faus, journalist C.J. Janovy, and writer Desideria Mesa, join host Whitney Terrell live from the Unbound Book Festival in Columbia, Missouri, to discuss Kansas City’s literary legacy and its future. The group focuses on new book ban legislation, as well a white... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-04-27 08:53:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #visual artist #literary legacy #book festival


Dawn Davis Resigns as Bon Appétit Editor to Rejoin Simon & Schuster

Ms. Davis, who took charge of the food magazine at a time of turmoil, will head the publishing imprint she founded. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-04-25 21:59:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing imprint


Jennifer Egan on the Fascinating Interactions Between Technology and Inner Life

Illustration by Krishna Bala Shenoi. Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso is a weekly series of intimate conversations with artists, authors, and politicians. It’s a podcast where people sound like people. New episodes air every Sunday, distributed by Pushkin Industries.  * In this episode from May 2022,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-04-25 08:53:29 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #people sound #jennifer egan #talk easy #sam fragoso #weekly series #intimate conversations #episodes air #pushkin industries #prize-winning author


Dawn Davis Returns to Simon & Schuster

After a three-year stint at 'Bon Appetit,' the founder of 37 Ink will return to the imprint as senior v-p and publisher, and will also serve as an executive editor at the S&S trade imprint. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simon schuster #three-year stint #bon appetit


Never too late: over-50s urged to write fiction with prize for debut novel

Award launched at London book fair aims to help older authors take the plunge and submit a first workLondon book fair, which concluded earlier this month, always brings with it a flurry of headlines about debut authors signing six-figure publishing deals. Most of these have at least one thing in... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-23 09:00:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #write fiction #london book fair


Novelist Celeste Ng: ‘There was a period when I thought I’d never write again’

The award-winning author on how Trump, Covid and anti-Asian rhetoric inspired her latest novel, digging her way out of ‘post-book fatigue’, and learning to touch type using UlyssesCeleste Ng, 42, is the award-winning author of three novels, including Little Fires Everywhere, which was made into... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-22 17:00:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reese witherspoon #missing hearts #dark times #anti-asian violence #book tour #award-winning author


Live from New York: Curtis Sittenfeld on Dating Up, Writing Funny, and How SNL and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop Are Alike

Bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld joins co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to discuss her new novel, Romantic Comedy, which begins behind the scenes at a television show similar to Saturday Night Live, where a female comedy writer is gobsmacked that her schlubby straight male... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-04-20 08:53:29 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #curtis sittenfeld #iowa writers #whitney terrell #romantic comedy #bestselling author


Lydia Davis refuses to sell her next book on Amazon

The garlanded short story author will release her next collection solely in bookshops and select independent online outlets to coincide with Bookshop DayPrize-winning author Lydia Davis’ new collection of short stories will not be sold on Amazon, with the author saying she does not “believe... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-19 10:05:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #single book #man booker international prize #short stories #bookshop


For teens who like to write: Miami Book Fair is offering a virtual summer camp.

First of all, if you’re a teen who likes to write, keep at it, and don’t let anyone tell you different. (And if you’re the parent of a teen who likes to write, please encourage them.) With the above in mind, the Miami Book Fair is offering a virtual summer camp for teens who like […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-04-18 14:26:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book fair


Matthew Gray Gubler to Wrap Up Children’s Program at U.S. Book Show

The actor, director, and author-illustrator will give the closing keynote presentation at the U.S. Book Show children’s book program on May 24. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book program #book show #children’s book


On Writing ‘Blind Bitter Happiness’

‘When I was put on Granta’s first Best of Young British Novelists list in 1983, no novel of mine had been published.’ The post On Writing ‘Blind Bitter Happiness’ appeared first on Granta. Continue reading at Granta

[ Granta | 2023-04-12 15:52:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #novelists


Brittney Griner Is Writing a Memoir About Her Detention in Russia

The basketball star, who was detained for 10 months, said she hoped her book would raise awareness about other Americans who had been wrongfully detained abroad. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-04-12 14:16:29 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #brittney griner #raise awareness #memoir