February 18 2025

World Book Day 2025

World Book Day is on the 6th of March.

World Book Day will mark 30 years of literary fun in 2025.

Unesco, which promotes global education, culture and heritage, created the annual event on April 23, 1995. Since then, it has become a worldwide movement celebrating books and encouraging children to read.

When is World Book Day 2025? Date, £1 books, and fun ways to celebrate 30 years

The news article lists books that will cost just £1 during this event. Or you can look on the World Book Day website. Here’s all the books.

World Book Day 2025 falls on Thursday, March 6. Many UK schools encourage children to dress as their favourite character and bring the accompanying book.

In schools that celebrate World Book Day, children share their favourite books, discuss the stories, and explain why they chose their characters. Some schools even hold competitions for the most authentic costumes.

When is World Book Day 2025? Date, £1 books, and fun ways to celebrate 30 years
Category: bookish news | LEAVE A COMMENT
January 22 2025

Joseph Kugelmass: We Can’t Save Neil Gaiman; And he doesn’t deserve it.

Neil Gaiman has now been accused on record, by multiple women, of serious acts of sexual misconduct. Instead of creating the right conditions for a legal proceeding against Gaiman, however, these allegations have merely torpedoed his ersatz second career as the presiding genius of media based on his writing. Only a few months ago, Gaiman’s graphic novel Sandman was a popular live-action series on Netflix and the hottest new ensemble performance on Audible.com for fans of cerebral fantasy. Those projects have now been shuttered. Good Omens, Gaiman’s so-so television series on Amazon Prime, is dead as well. One of Gaiman’s two publishers has dropped him. His name is on everyone’s lips. He’ll never get clear of this.

Joseph Kugelmass: We Can’t Save Neil Gaiman; And he doesn’t deserve it.
Category: Author news | 1 Comment on Joseph Kugelmass: We Can’t Save Neil Gaiman; And he doesn’t deserve it.
January 22 2025

Author Neil Gaiman denies sexual assault allegations (BBC)

Sandman author Neil Gaiman has denied allegations of sexual misconduct, saying he has “never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone. Ever”.

The 64-year-old was accused on Monday of sexual misconduct by eight women, including four who had previously spoken out.

Author Neil Gaiman denies sexual assault allegations, BBC News
Category: Author news | 3 Comments on Author Neil Gaiman denies sexual assault allegations (BBC)
December 7 2023

Benjamin Zephaniah: Writer, poet and Peaky Blinders actor dies aged 65

Writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah has been remembered as a “titan of British literature” after his death aged 65.

He died early on Thursday with his wife by his side after being diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago, a statement on his Instagram said.

Benjamin Zephaniah: Writer, poet and Peaky Blinders actor dies aged 65, Steven McIntosh, BBC News

One of Britain’s most prolific literary voices, Zephaniah was credited with creating “dub poetry”, with the words recited over the beats of reggae music. An outspoken political activist, his work dealt with themes of racism, poverty, and social injustice.

Born in Birmingham on 15 April 1958, Zephaniah was the son of a postman from Barbados and his mother was a nurse from Jamaica. Diagnosed with dyslexia at an early age, he left an approved school unable to read or write at the age of 13.

Benjamin Zephaniah death: British writer and poet known for his work on race and racism dies, aged 65, Maanya Sachdeva, Independent

Benjamin was a hero to millions of people all over the world. His mix of poetry, novels, wisdom, humour and sheer presence grabbed us and delighted us. I first saw him when he was starting out in the poetry clubs, dancing a poem about his mother, voicing his poetry in a voice I hadn’t heard before: Brummie-Caribbean. It was an honour and treat to work with him many times over the years, on videos, radio programmes, and when he MC’d an award ceremony run by the British Council for the best examples of English teaching. Then and often elsewhere, he loved reflecting on his journey from being a semi-literate teenager, getting into trouble, to someone feted at the highest levels for his literary achievements and force of personality.

‘A hero to millions’: Benjamin Zephaniah remembered by Michael Rosen, Kae Tempest and more, Michael Rosen, The Guardian
Category: general news | 1 Comment on Benjamin Zephaniah: Writer, poet and Peaky Blinders actor dies aged 65
November 17 2023

AS Byatt: Author, critic and poet dies aged 87

Novelist, critic and poet Dame AS Byatt has died at the age of 87, her publisher has announced.

The renowned writer, whose full name was Antonia Susan Byatt, won the Booker Prize for her 1990 novel Possession.

In a statement, Penguin Random House said they were “deeply saddened” to announce her death.

They described her as “one of the most significant writers and critics of our time”.

AS Byatt: Author, critic and poet dies aged 87, Steven McIntosh, BBC News
Category: general news | LEAVE A COMMENT
October 17 2023

Reading Agency launches fundraising campaign to help address the adult literacy crisis

The Reading Agency has today launched a new fundraising campaign, Reading Power, focused on improving adult reading confidence across the UK.

It aims to raise funds to deliver vital reading programmes and resources to the 8.5 million adults in the UK with low literacy skills. Funds raised will support The Reading Agency’s schemes such as Quick Reads and Reading Ahead which provide accessible reads, tools and encouragement to help adults improve their reading confidence and ability.

Reading Agency launches fundraising campaign to help address the adult literacy crisis, HELOISE WOOD, thebookseller.com

See Also: The Reading Agency announcement post

Category: general news | LEAVE A COMMENT
October 15 2023

Defunded theatre has lost its way, says writer Roger Williams

Wales’ national theatre has not produced enough engaging work and lost a meaningful connection with artists, a writer has said.

National Theatre Wales was told in September its annual £1.6m funding was being cut to nothing by Arts Council of Wales (ACW).

Roger Williams, among other members of the artistic community, said the theatre had “lost its way”.

Defunded theatre has lost its way, says writer, Stephen Fairclough, BBC News
Category: general news | LEAVE A COMMENT
October 11 2023

The Society of Authors demands transparency on publishers’ streaming deals with Spotify

The Society of Authors was deeply concerned last week to learn from press reports that ‘all major book publishers’ have agreed new limited streaming deals with Spotify. Under these agreements, subscribers to the Spotify Premium service in the UK and Australia will gain access to up to 15 hours of audiobook content per month through the Spotify app, from a catalogue of more than 150,000 audiobooks.

As far as we are aware, no authors or agents have been approached for permission for such licences, and authors have not been consulted on licence or payment terms. Publishing contracts differ but in our view most licences given to publishers for licensing of audio do not include streaming. In fact, it is likely that streaming was not a use that had been invented when many such contracts were entered into.

SoA demands transparency and action on publishers’ streaming deals with Spotify, The Society of Authors
Category: general news | LEAVE A COMMENT
October 11 2023

Author and playwright David Benedictus dies aged 85

Author and playwright David Benedictus has died suddenly at the age of 85, his family has said.

The writer was best known for novels including the Eton-set The Fourth Of June, which he adapted into a West End play, and You’re A Big Boy Now, which was turned into a 1966 film directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

He also wrote the 2009 Winnie The Pooh book Return To The Hundred Acre Wood, a sequel to The House at Pooh Corner and the first Pooh book since 1928.

Author and playwright David Benedictus dies aged 85, Laura Harding, Independent
Category: general news | LEAVE A COMMENT