In a society that often glorifies youthful achievement, the stories of older first-time authors stand as powerful reminders that creativity and personal growth know no age limits. At 92, Sheila Baslaw published her debut children’s book, The Light Keeper, co-authored with Karen Levine. The book is a tribute to Baslaw’s father’s life, set in a small Russian village during the … [Read more...] about Older First-Time Authors and Their Creative Journeys
writers
South Korea’s Han Kang wins Nobel Prize in Literature
South Korean novelist Han Kang has won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature. This is a historic achievement, as the first South Korean to receive the award. Han was recognized for her “intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life”. Her work spans novels, poetry, and short stories, with a particular focus on the connect points … [Read more...] about South Korea’s Han Kang wins Nobel Prize in Literature
Reese Witherspoon to write thriller with Harlan Coben
Reese Witherspoon is expanding her trailblazing career by co-writing her first thriller novel with Harlan Coben, set for release in fall 2025. Known for her achievements as an Oscar-winning actor, director, and producer, Witherspoon has been a champion for women’s stories through her production company, Hello Sunshine. On her new venture into fiction, she shared, “I’m … [Read more...] about Reese Witherspoon to write thriller with Harlan Coben
2024 Booker Prize Shortlist: Women Lead the Way
The 2024 Booker Prize shortlist features a diverse array of themes and storytelling styles, with women making history as the dominant force on the list. Of the six shortlisted novels, five are by female authors, marking the highest number of women ever shortlisted in the prize's 55-year history. This year’s selected books tackle major contemporary issues such as race, identity, … [Read more...] about 2024 Booker Prize Shortlist: Women Lead the Way
Casting For New Harry Potter TV Show Focuses on Diversity
The casting call for the new Harry Potter TV series was just announced, by Warner Bros. The series aims to deliver a more detailed and faithful adaptation of the books compared to the original films, spanning multiple seasons in order to dive deeper into the source material. This new show introduces a fresh cast and casting agencies are specifically seeking talent for lead … [Read more...] about Casting For New Harry Potter TV Show Focuses on Diversity
The Third Door: A New Path in Publishing
For decades, writers have faced limited choices: go the traditional route with a publishing house or self-publish. Both paths come with their pros and cons. Traditional publishers offer prestige, marketing, and distribution power but often take control over an author’s creative work, and only pay a fraction of the royalties. Self-publishing offers full creative control and … [Read more...] about The Third Door: A New Path in Publishing
PubSmartcon: Reenvisioning the Writer’s Conference
Writers' conferences have long been a source of networking and support for authors looking to hone their crafts and develop their business acumen for life in the publishing industry. One of the biggest lures to attract writers to conferences has always been well-known keynote speakers selected from top literary agents and publishers. Even better, many conferences offer authors … [Read more...] about PubSmartcon: Reenvisioning the Writer’s Conference
Self-Publishers Should Not Be Called Authors
The landscape of publishing has dramatically changed over the last five years. In the past, if you wanted to publish a book you had to do it from a vanity press or land a deal with a traditional publisher. Now, anyone can write a book and submit it to Smashwords, Kindle, Kobo or Nook. So the question is, should we quantify a distinction between an writer and a professional … [Read more...] about Self-Publishers Should Not Be Called Authors