J.K. Rowling’s two-part play Harry Potter and The Cursed Child is now officially described as “the eighth story in the Harry Potter series.” In a posting on Pottermore, Rowling provides a synopsis of the story, which picks up 19 years after the books ended (at the time of the epilogue on the characters’ as adults). “It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest […]
Authors
People, Awards, Etc.
Hanya Yanagihara‘s A Little Life earned its first big award win on Thursday, recipient of the Kirkus Prize for fiction, as Ta-Nehisi Coates won the nonfiction prize for Between the World and Me — and both are in contention for National Book Awards. Pam Muñoz Ryan‘s middle-grade novel Echo won the young readers’ literature prize. Longtime executive director of the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association Hut Landon was feted this week as he retires from that position. Bookselling This Week has some testimonials from colleagues and friends reflect on his passion for, and many contributions to, the bookselling community. At Zondervan, Robyn Burwell has […]
People, Etc.
The Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction was awarded to Stalin’s Daughter by Rosemary Sullivan (Harper Canada). Following the Giller Prize shortlist earlier in the week, finalists were announced for Canada Governor General’s Awards. Rachel Cusk‘s Outline is now a contender for both awards. Joining her on the Governor General’s nominees for English-language fiction are: How You Were Born, Kate Cayley (Pedlar Press) The Evening Chorus, Helen Humphreys (Harper Canada) The Winter Family, Clifford Jackman (Random House Canada) Daddy Lenin and Other Stories, Guy Vanderhaeghe (McClelland & Stewart) Kathrin Scheel has started a new foreign rights agency based in Hamburg, […]
People: Henning Mankell Dies, and More
Henning Mankell, 67, author of Kurt Wallander series of detective novels and over 40 works of fiction and theater, died Monday from complications of neck and lung cancer. Mankell’s crime novels sold more than 40 million copies around the world and were filmed as series for Swedish TV and the BBC (the latter starring Kenneth Branagh.) A spokeperson for his UK publishers Harvill Secker said in a statement: “Beloved by readers across the world, especially for his Kurt Wallander series, it was a privilege to have worked with a man of such talent and passion, and to have been his […]
Awards: 5 Under 35; Kirkus Prize Shortlists; No Folio Prize in 2016; and More
1. The National Book Foundation announced its latest roster of 5 Under 35 honorees Wednesday morning on BuzzFeed, including Angela Flournoy, whose debut novel The Turner House (HMH) is also on the current National Book Awards fiction longlist. The other honorees are: Colin Barrett, Young Skins (Black Cat) Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi, Fra Keeler (Dorothy Project) Tracy O’Neill, The Hopeful (Ig Publishing) Megan Kruse, Call Me Home (Hawthorne Books) 2. The Kirkus Prize announced shortlists in fiction, nonfiction, and various children’s book categories, with the winners to be announced at a ceremony in Austin, TX on October 15. In fiction, […]
People, Etc.: A New Trump Book for Threshold
Donald Trump will publish a new book, currently untitled, with Threshold Editions on October 27. Consistent with his presidential campaign, “Trump will outline how a crippled America could be restored to greatness,” the publisher reports. “The book will explore Trump’s view on key issues including the economy, big CEO salaries and taxes, healthcare, education, national security, and social issues. Of particular interest will be his vision for complete immigration reform, beginning with securing the borders and putting American workers first.” Trump adds, “I am excited to announce that work on my new bestseller is almost done…. Not since The Art of the Deal have […]