Many people attempt to break in to the literary world, but few are able to break into the industry. Whether your goals are to make writing into a vocation, or write to tickle your creativity, Jamie Ford gives his two cents on how to become an author in this article. In another interview, Jamie Ford describes his own writing process and journey from start to finish his novels.
Gearing up for your next Common Reads selection? For most event coordinators, this means winnowing down a long list of titles to a short list of authors, who often write on wildly different topics. How do you choose? Incorporating a theme can play an integral role in meeting your program’s goals. Instead of considering thousands of books, using a theme can narrow down your choices with titles that help focus the important goals you’d like to achieve with the program. Themes also offer a fresh perspective on your program, additional marketing opportunities, and chances for collaboration with new partners.
As the number of children crossing the border alone increases dramatically, Sonia Nazario has been discussing the reasons they travel into the US. She explains the situation in Central America is filled with gang violence and threats of murder which is causing the wave of children crossing the border to surge.
Michael Hingson, author of Thunder Dog, blogged advice to parents of blind children. Michael drew from his own parent’s experience, of denying doctor advice and instead treating him as any child, allowing him to make mistakes, explore and believe he can accomplish anything. It’s his confidence in himself that has allowed him to persevere through the September 11th attacks and escape the World Trade Center with his dog.
Anthony Marra author of, A Constellation of a Vital Phenomena: A Novel, was recently announced as the 2014 Adult Debut Book of the Year by the Indies Choice Book Awards. A Constellation of a Vital Phenomena, is set in contemporary Chechnya, and follows three people as their pasts are revealed and the power of love is presented.
Summer is around the corner which means there are some amazing opportunities to listen to your favorite author. Here are a couple June events coordinated with Books in Common.
Yesterday, both Karen Joy Fowler, author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, and Anthony Marra, author of A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, received California Book Awards. Karen Joy Fowler won Gold in Fiction while Anthony Marra won Gold in First Fiction.
Here at Books in Common, we strive to keep current on new books and authors that will be popular in Common and All Campus Reads programs. Finding a book that whole communities can relate to, as well as has themes that can create dynamic discussions, can be difficult for event coordinators.
Like the variety of the books on the shelves, authors find their stories in their own unique way. It takes an idea from any part of their life to spark the creative wheels, and for the story to take shape. Whether it is taken purely from a random thought, the use of a family story molded into a narrative, or bits of history spun together into a work of fiction, each story has a moment when the author decides to take it to the next level.
