Breaking news on authors, publishers, and book-related topics

Stinky Cheese Man to be National Ambassador for Young People's Literature

Jan 04 2008: The Washington Post reports that Jon Scieszka, author of The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales and the Time Warp Trio series is to be the first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature.

"We think it's very important to have an evangelist for ...

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Costa award winners announced

Jan 03 2008: The individual Costa Award winners have been announced. They are:

• First novel: What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn.  Published as a paperback original in the UK in May 2007, not yet scheduled for release in the USA, info at Amazon.co.uk.
• Novel: Day by...

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George MacDonald Fraser dies

Jan 03 2008: Author George MacDonald Fraser died Wednesday following a battle with cancer. Born April 2, 1925, the author was best known for his Flashman series of historical novels. His most recent novel, The Reavers, was published in the UK last Fall and will be published in the ...

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This Year in History - 1907

Jan 01 2008: In 1907:

• Robert Baden-Powell led the first scout camp on Brownsea Island, England; the RMS Lusitania made its maiden voyage; a major financial crisis in the USA was narrowly avoided when J.P. Morgan and others set up a $25 million pool to invest in shares ...

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This Year in History - 1807

Dec 28 2007: In 1807:

• Napoleon attacked Russia and the slave trade was abolished throughout the British Empire.
• The American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was born.
• Publishing house, John Wiley & Sons was founded.
• Charles and Mary Lamb published Tales from ...

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This year in history - 1707

Dec 23 2007: In 1707.....

• Isaac Newton's Arithmetica Universalis is first published but Newton is so unhappy with the work that he refuses to have his name appear as author and considered purchasing all the copies so he could have them destroyed.
• The Act of Union joining ...

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This year in history - 1607

Dec 21 2007: With the year coming to a close, let's take a look back in time to see what was happening this year in previous centuries, starting with 1607.

• Jamestown, Virginia, is settled, becoming the first permanent English colony in North America.
• John Hall marries Susanna,...

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J.K. Rowling answers questions such as who Malfoy and Neville marry?

Dec 20 2007: In a Q&A in Time magazine, J.K. Rowling answers in-depth questions such as what did Dumbledore really see in the Mirror of Erised? Who do Draco Malfoy and Neville marry? And what jobs do the key characters hold as adults?

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