Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond's Blog, page 13
March 11, 2015
Harper Lee's Reply to a Skeptical Journalist
If you’ve been following the news of Harper Lee’s recently discovered and soon-to-be released novel Go Set a Watchman, you know that the notoriously reclusive, 88-year-old author’s mental capacity to sign-off on the new publication has been called into question. Birmingham News reporter Connor Sheets got an answer straight from Lee after writing her. In... Read more.
Diversity Up in Children's Books, By Not By Much
2014 was a better year than 2013 for books that told stories of black, Asian, Latino, Native American, and queer youth. The number of children’s books featuring��African-Americans and Asians almost doubled last year to 179 and 112 books, respectively, along with a small uptick in titles about Latino and Native American subjects, according to the... Read more.
Instead of Money, New Writing Contest Will Award Winner an Inn
In 1993, Janice Sage won ownership of the Center Lovell Inn and Restaurant in an essay contest. Now, she’s offering the bed and breakfast, valued at an estimated $900,000, to the winning writer of a 200-word essay about ‘Why I would like to own and operate a country inn.’ The entry fee is $125 and... Read more.
Cover Love: Jo Knowles' "Read Between the Lines"
From the cover of��Jo Knowles’ Read Between the Lines, you immediately get that the book’s protagonist is working through some issues (like we all are), is probably young, and has a lesson to teach that has nothing to do with what’s in the common core curriculum. Her nail polish is faded. Her cuticles are overgrown.... Read more.
March 2, 2015
Write As If No One Will Ever Read Your Work, Former MFA Professor Advises
“We’ve been trained to turn to our phones to inform our followers of our somewhat witty observations. I think the instant validation of our apps is an enemy to producing the kind of writing that takes years to complete. That’s why I advise anyone serious about writing books to spend at least a few years... Read more.
Self-Publishing Pioneer Says Amazon is Directing Customers Away from Her Books
By 2012, Tina Engler was making upwards of $10 million a year in sales of��titles��published by her erotic literature imprint��Ellora’s Cave. “But in 2013,” New York Magazine reports, “revenue dropped by more than $2 million, a trend that continued in 2014 and seems destined to continue this year.” Engler, who goes by the pseudonym Jaid... Read more.
Extremist Group Burns Iraqi Library, Destroys Rare Manuscripts
According to a report by The Independent, ISIS militants burned “as many as 112,709 manuscripts and books, some of which were registered on a UNESCO rarities list”, then “demolished the [Mosul Library] building using explosive devices.” It is believed that��Iraqi newspapers dating back to the beginning of the 20 century, maps, books and collections from... Read more.
Jill Abramson is Writing a Book About the Future of News Media
The New York Post reports ousted New York Times��Executive Editor Jill Abramson, who learned her male predecessor was earning more than she was, is not writing a “score-settling book”. Rather, according to the statement Abramson sent to the Post, the book will follow ���news media���s battles to remain the bedrock of an informed society.��� Abramson... Read more.
Former White House Press Secretary Heads to Amazon
Today is Jay Carney’s first day at Amazon where he will fill the newly created post��of Senior Vice President for Worldwide Corporate Affairs.��Politico.com reports, “The new position brings the e-commerce giant���s worldwide public relations and public policy shops into one department under Carney. He���ll split his time between Seattle HQ and the D.C. office, where... Read more.
2015 Windham Campbell Prizewinners Announced
Nine writers hailing from the U.S., U.K., Nigeria, and South Africa have been awarded the 2015 Donald Windham-Sandy M. Campbell Literature Prizes at Yale��which comes with a $150,000 cash prize to support their work. The winners are: FICTION Teju Cole, Helon Habila, and Ivan Vladislavi�� NON-FICTION Edmund de Waal, Geoff Dyer, and John Jeremiah Sullivan... Read more.
