book

“A book is a living thing. It is a bird; it has a voice. The pages of a book are wings. Books have heartbeats. When readers read they feel them; they listen.” Suzy Davies

One of my more precocious students is heading into form one next year (year 7; he is 12 to 13 years old). We have just finished reading Grenade by Alan Gratz and, honestly, it was not good. Started in a promising note, ended with a squib. He was not impressed. I reckon I have one last chance to...

“How can 5 judges decide the best book of the year without reading every book of the year? While some lucky authors can enter the contest, others may never get the chance to do so due to the tough nomination and selection processes. And how can the judges’ decision be right when we know that...

BIBF international director Sean Xie said Chinese publishers are taking a practical approach to experimentation. "We’re cautious about AI," he said, "but in China, the speed of development is so fast that we have to make decisions quickly. We try things, and if they don’t work, we stop and try...

A Review: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/jun/22/the-reverse-centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai-by-cory-doctorow-review-the-real-price-of-artificial-intelligence

The first paragraph of my book must get me my reader. The last paragraph of a chapter must compel my reader to turn the page. The last paragraph of my book must ensure that my reader looks out for my next book. Ashwin Sanghi

“Book collecting is an obsession, an occupation, a disease, an addiction, a fascination, an absurdity, a fate. It is not a hobby. Those who do it must do it. Those who do not do it think of it as a cousin of stamp collecting, a sister of the trophy cabinet, bastard of a sound bank account and a...

“Seeking book reviews from friends and family is like walking your cat on a leash – theoretically possible, but count on sharp claws and a lot of hissing!” Caroline Hurry

True confession time: I never know where a book is going. I get a gut feeling the story is there, then pursue it with the enthusiasm of a hunting tiger on a trail. If I knew where I was going, I'd get bored out of my mind and stop writing. Jane Lindskold

I live my life like an open book, even though it's open on the wrong page. Sebastian Horsley

I like the idea that every page in every book can have a gem on it. It's probably what I love most about writing - that words can be used in a way that's like a child playing in a sandpit, rearranging things, swapping them around. Markus Zusak

So just a crazy shoutout that my first book in The Correction series is born today! https://www.amazon.com/Correction-Vol-Old-Earth-ebook/dp/B0G7W So the ebook is live on amazon, while the soft cover is coming in 3 days. I don't really know what to expect, but I'm just so relieved this is out...

Very pleased to say that after some useful feedback from @Robinne Weiss, we’ve now added the ability for you to sort your bibliography entries into whatever order of appearance you want. The “featured’ book will now automatically be the book that you’ve put into the first position. More info...

“When we read a story, we inhabit it. The covers of the book are like a roof and four walls. What is to happen next will take place within the four walls of the story. And this is possible because the story's voice makes everything its own.” John Berger

“In order to write the book you want to write, in the end you have to become the person you need to become to write that book.” Junot Diaz

A couple of years back, Litopian Annie Summerlee started workshopping and Huddling a new writing project. If you've ever watched Litopia’s Pop-Up Submissions on YouTube, you’ll immediately recognize Annie – her brilliant manuscript crits were incisive, helpful and often very funny! Well, fast...

Like many Irish publishers they will accept unagented manuscripts. Books they published are on long lists for international prizes for which they are justly proud. https://www.littleisland.ie/collections/teen-ya Dear...

Today’s Book News Tuesday, 23rd December 2025 Book industry M&A in 2025: key deals and trends A Publishers Weekly report on mergers and acquisitions noted that 2025 saw significant deals such as Lakeside Book Company’s purchase of Baker & Taylor Publisher Services after ReaderLink abandoned...

Today’s Book News Monday, 22nd December 2025 Mary Anne Carter returns to lead the National Endowment for the Arts The U.S. Senate confirmed Mary Anne Carter to a second term as chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. Carter previously led the NEA and championed programs such as Big Read...

Today’s Book News Sunday, 21st December 2025 Unseen Tennessee Williams radio play published in literary magazine Tennessee Williams wrote a horror radio play called **The Strangers** during his college years; the tale is filled with stormy weather and spectral figures. The play has been...