Bryan Collins's Blog, page 39
May 5, 2023
Fourth Grader Releases Book On Entrepreneurship
Are you ever too young to become an innovative and successful entrepreneur? The answer to that question is ‘no’ if you are listening to Rymer J. Strauss.
His book is entitled ‘The Big Money Squeeze’ and is a business guru. He also just so happens to only be in fourth grade. Forbes Book has published the South Carolina native’s book and it’s available on Amazon for children of all ages.
This book came about when Strauss and his father were looking for business books for kids and were disappointed...
May 4, 2023
Whoopi Goldberg Writing Comic Book Where Main Character Gets Powers Through Menopause
Actress Whoopi Goldberg is co-writing a comic book where the central character gains powers when going through menopause.
The 67-year-old Sister Act star is creating the work of fiction alongside Jaime Paglia, who is most widely known for working on The CW’s The Flash.
The comic is called ‘The Change.’
The central character, Isabel Frost, has a life that is saturated with routine. However, she starts to notice that the onset of menopause is bringing with it another change; the addition of superp...
Matilda’s Tim Minchin Believes Editing of Roald Dahl’s Work Is Wrong
The comedian behind the Matilda musical has spoken out about the contemporary edits of Roald Dahl’s work.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Puffin would be publishing works with edits made to suit more sensitive readers, with the idea that this would allow books to “continue to be enjoyed by all today.”
Speaking to The Guardian, Tim Minchin described the removal and replacement of language that some people deemed offensive as ‘a slippery slope’. Minchin wrote the music for the Matilda mus...
May 3, 2023
Survey Shows Third of UK Librarians Asked To Remove Or Censor Books
A third of librarians in the UK have been asked to censor or remove books, according to a report by a leading association in the field.
The report was carried out by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (Cilip). According to a statement by the association, there has been a noticeable increase in such requests in recent years.
Books about race and LGBTQ+ themes are the titles with the most requests, according to the research. The research also revealed that over 80 per...
May 2, 2023
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s Beloved Book ‘Le Petit Prince’ Turns 80
The beloved children’s book ‘Le Petit Prince’ by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry has just turned 80.
The novella, which has been a vital part of so many people’s lives, was first published in 1943. Reynal & Hitchcock first published the book in the United States in April 1943, with it then published in France after World War II. Saint-Exupéry actually drew all the illustrations for the Le Petit Prince himself, using some of the sketching skills he gained while studying architecture.
The t...
Hollywood Writers Strike – Issues Over Pay And Artificial Intelligence
Hollywood writers have gone on strike for the first time in 15 years after failing to secure an agreement for higher pay.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has called for a strike after they failed to reach an improved agreement with studios such as Netflix and Walt Disney. The last strike happened in 2007/08 and lasted 100 days, with an estimated cost of over $2b to the industry. Approximately 11,500 writers are represented by WGA, with picketing due to begin outside of Hollywood studios.
A WG...
Three Debut Novels Nominated for 2023 Women’s Prize For Fiction
The finalists for the 2023 Women’s Prize For Fiction have been announced.
Amongst the six finalists are three debut novels, a reworking of a Dickens classic, a book set in Renaissance Italy, and an interesting take on the life of a sea mammal.
The prize rewards the best of the year’s fiction from female authors writing in the English language. It began in the 90s in response to the 1991 all-male Booker Prize shortlist. The Women’s Prize for Fiction gives the authors exposure, as well as a top pr...
May 1, 2023
Previously Undiscovered Terry Pratchett Stories To Be Published
Sir Terry Pratchett fans may have feared that there would be no ‘new’ work for readers after he died in 2015.
However, an eagle-eyed fan has discovered 20 works written by the beloved author under a pseudonym. This work is now set to be published as the final collection from the Good Omen’s author.
Pratchett died aged 66 in 2015 after an astonishing career where he wrote over 70 books and sold over 100 million copies. The 41-book Discworld series was arguably his masterpiece, but readers will st...
April 28, 2023
Rapper Stormzy Puts Together Literary Festival For Diverse Storytelling
Stormzy is considered a pioneer in the UK rap industry, but his latest project is more readily associated with the literary charts than the billboard ones.
The ‘Shut Up’ star has just put together the first #Merky Books two-day literature festival in Camden, London. For those of you who don’t know, #Merky Books was launched by the rapper and Penguin Random House UK in 2018 with the intention of telling diverse stories.
The festival took place on the 22nd and 23rd of April. It was headlined by No...
10 Authors Like Yaa Gyasi: Dive Into Your Next Favorite Historical Novel
Discover our guide to the best historical authors like Yaa Gyasi, and pick up your next favorite novel today.
Yaa Gyasi is a Ghanaian-American novelist who has received critical acclaim and several prominent awards for her impressive contributions to the historical genre through her written work, including Homegoing, Transcendent Kingdom, and No Home. As a famous Black author and woman, Gyasi’s work emphasizes the modern themes of racism, oppression, heritage, and identity. She’s inspired m...
