Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond's Blog, page 21

Authors Take Their Case to Amazon's Board

Authors United, a group of now 1,078 American writers that has banded together to pressure Amazon to stop “refusing orders” of books published by Hachette, is elevating their complaint. In a letter posted on the group’s website, the listed writers ask the etailer’s Board of Directors: “Do you as an Amazon director approve of this policy of sanctioning books?”... Read more.

MacArthur Foundation Grants Four Writers 'Genius' Award

The MacArthur Foundation has honored “21 Extraordinarily Creative People Who Inspire Us All” with their 2014 “genius grant”, four of whom are writers. Terrance Hayes, Professor of Writing at the University of Pittsburgh, and New York playwright Samuel D. Hunter were recognized for “refreshing traditional templates to create distinctive and innovative work.” Poet and translator... Read more.

The People Who Write Questionnaire: Janet Fitch

If your life (so far) were a book, what would the title be? Go Your Own Way What is the greatest story ever told? That God kicked us out of the Garden because Eve ate the apple of the Tree of Knowledge. Who is the greatest literary character ever created? Captain Ahab Which living or... Read more.

Bridgett M. Davis: "It takes the time it takes."

It took Bridgett Davis nine years to write her sophomore novel Into the Go-Slow, and in the process she’s learned some things. Perhaps most poignant (to me, anyway) is her submission to the fact that writing a book “takes the time it takes.” Forget bragging rights (of what a genius you are for writing the book... Read more.

HBO Presents New York Review of Books Documentary

“Magazines don’t change the world, but they shape a certain climate of ideas.” – from the forthcoming HBO Doc The 50 Year Argument about the New York Review of Books which suggests discussion of the climate in which editors Robert Silvers and Barbara Epstein founded it (during the publishing strike of 1963). The publication’s “About”... Read more.

Margaret Atwood is Working on a Book that Won't Be Released till 2114

Margaret Atwood is the first author to sign on for the The Future Library project. Created by artist Kate Paterson, The Guardian writes, “Each year, the Future Library trust, made up of literary experts–and Paterson, while she’s alive–will name another ‘outstanding’ writer who will be contributing to the artwork.” The trust is banking on readers... Read more.

Eleanor Catton, Eimear McBride on Dylan Thomas Prize Shortlist

The 2014 Dylan Thomas Prize Shortlist boasts an emergent literati. Contender Eleanor Catton’s much lauded novel The Luminaries won the 2013 Man Booker Prize. Eimear McBride’s A Girl Is A Half-Formed Thing took the 2014 Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction. Kseniya Melnik‘s debut Snow in May earned a longlist nod for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story... Read more.

The 2014 Man Booker Shortlist is Here

The 2014 Man Booker longlist has been whittled down from 13 to the six titles on the shortlist. 2014 is the first year authors of any title written in English are eligible–a change that was received with fear that Commonwealth writers would be edged out. Three Brits, two Americans, and one Australian made the cut... Read more.

The People Who Write Questionnaire: Tope Folarin

If your life (so far) were a book, what would the title be? Identity What is the greatest story ever told? What a great question. I’m not sure if I can decide on one. Can I cheat and mention an entire category of stories? If so, I would say creation stories. They are usually the... Read more.

Writer Rufi Thorpe: Talent, Yes. But Perversity, Love, and a Handkerchief Are Critical.