All posts tagged: author

Bestselling author Barbara Taylor Bradford’s estate goes to auction reflecting ‘life of elegance, intellect, and artistry’

Bestselling author Barbara Taylor Bradford’s estate goes to auction reflecting ‘life of elegance, intellect, and artistry’

Published by skeptic

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter The estate of bestselling author Barbara Taylor Bradford is to go on auction next month in New York. The British-American novelist, who sold over 90 million books in her lifetime, died peacefully at her home in November, following a short illness. She was a prolific writer, completing a total of 40 novels during her lifetime. All of her books – often centred on the lives of the glamorous and wealthy – went on to become worldwide bestsellers. Her debut novel, A Woman of Substance, was released in 1979 and sold over 30 million copies. Over 200 lots are up for sale at the auction set to be held in New York by Doyle. Her writing desk, typewriter, pens and paintings from her luxurious Manhattan apartment will also be available to purchase. Other personal items include pictures of her beloved pet dogs. Among the collection are pieces …

Royal author reveals real reason Prince Harry and King Charles didn’t meet in UK ahead of court appearance

Royal author reveals real reason Prince Harry and King Charles didn’t meet in UK ahead of court appearance

Published by skeptic

Challenge against the Home Office over UK security arrangements In 2024, a High Court judge dismissed Harry’s claim against the Home Office over security arrangements for himself and his family when they are in the UK. The Duke challenged a February 2020 decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), which falls under the remit of the department, after being told he would no longer be given the “same degree” of personal protective security when visiting. Harry’s lawyers said he was “singled out” and treated “less favourably” in the decision, arguing a failure to carry out a risk analysis and fully consider the impact of a “successful attack” on him meant the approach to his protection was “unlawful and unfair”. The Government argued Ravec was entitled to conclude the Duke’s protection should be “bespoke” and considered on a “case-by-case” basis. Retired High Court judge Sir Peter Lane ruled that Ravec’s approach was not irrational nor procedurally unfair, claiming Harry’s lawyers had taken “an inappropriate, formalist interpretation of the Ravec …

VAMPIRE DIARIES Author L.J. Smith Has Died

VAMPIRE DIARIES Author L.J. Smith Has Died

Published by skeptic

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Author L.J. Smith, best known for her popular vampire series Vampire Diaries and Night World, died at the age of 66 after a long illness. Smith began her writing career in the 1980s after leaving her job as a kindergarten special education teacher. She wrote her first published book, The Night of the Solstice, in high school and college. Her second book, Heart of Valor, published in 1990. While neither of those first efforts became the successes she’d hoped for, her third novel set her career on fire. The Vampire Diaries was a write-for-hire project commissioned by Alloy Entertainment, one of the largest book packaging companies in the world. Smith published the first entry into the series in 1991, The Awakening, and she went on to write the next six volumes for the series. Three more series from Smith followed, including The Secret Circle, published in 1992; The Forbidden Game, published in 1994; and Night World, published in …

“Lying sack of s**t”: White House slams author of Trump campaign book

“Lying sack of s**t”: White House slams author of Trump campaign book

Published by Sam

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung preemptively attacked Michael Wolff‘s inside look at the Donald Trump campaign, calling the author a “fraud” with a “peanut-sized brain.” The blistering statement was sent from Cheung to The Daily Beast, with Trump’s senior adviser on the media attacking several stories that the outlet pulled from an advance copy of Wolff’s upcoming book, “All or Nothing: How Trump Recaptured America.” “Michael Wolff is a lying sack of s**t and has been proven to be a fraud,” Cheung wrote. “He routinely fabricates stories originating from his sick and warped imagination, only possible because he has a severe and debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted his peanut-sized brain.” The statement came after the publication shared a story from the Wolff book, in which Trump trashed Elon Musk after a bizarre appearance at a Butler, Penn. rally.  According to Wolff’s reporting, Trump was taken aback by the infamous Musk cameo, in which he bounced across the stage making an X with his arms and legs. Musk’s untucked shirt frequently …

The Nature of Human Stupidity Explained by The 48 Laws of Power Author Robert Greene

The Nature of Human Stupidity Explained by The 48 Laws of Power Author Robert Greene

Published by José

It’s prac­ti­cal­ly guar­an­teed that we now have more stu­pid peo­ple on the plan­et than ever before. Of course, we might be tempt­ed to think; just look at how many of them dis­agree with my pol­i­tics. But this unprece­dent­ed stu­pid­i­ty is pri­mar­i­ly, if not entire­ly, a func­tion of an unprece­dent­ed­ly large glob­al pop­u­la­tion. The more impor­tant mat­ter has less to do with quan­ti­ty of stu­pid­i­ty than with its qual­i­ty: of all the forms it can take, which does the most dam­age? Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Pow­er and The Laws of Human Nature, address­es that ques­tion in the clip above from an inter­view with pod­cast­er Chris Williamson. “What makes peo­ple stu­pid,” Greene explains, “is their cer­tain­ty that they have all the answers.” The basic idea may sound famil­iar, since we’ve pre­vi­ous­ly fea­tured here on Open Cul­ture the relat­ed phe­nom­e­non of the Dun­ning-Kruger effect. In some sense, stu­pid peo­ple who know they’re stu­pid aren’t actu­al­ly stu­pid, or at least not harm­ful­ly so. True to form, Greene makes a clas­si­cal ref­er­ence: Athens’ lead­ers went into …

Darwin’s Journey: New Children’s Book from Humanist Author Bailey Harris

Darwin’s Journey: New Children’s Book from Humanist Author Bailey Harris

Published by skeptic

Bailey Harris, the eighteen-year-old secular activist and author of the children’s science book series Stardust, is preparing to release a new book, Darwin’s Journey. Bailey has never been afraid to take on creationists and science deniers, including her hilarious tour of the Ark Encounter. This new book builds on her work to help children and families understand the important concepts of evolution by natural selection, while fostering a sense of wonder at the amazing world we live in. She’s working to broaden her audience and gain exposure for the release of this new book through a Kickstarter, which you can support here. Bailey’s activism began one evening when she was eight years old, watching the television show Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey with her family. In that episode, host and narrator Neil deGrasse Tyson said, “The planets, the stars, the galaxies, we ourselves, and all of life—the same star stuff.” Bailey was so inspired by this idea that she immediately went to the family computer, opened a new document, and began writing what eventually became her first book, My …

T A Styles – An Interview with the Author of The Fortress

T A Styles – An Interview with the Author of The Fortress

Published by skeptic

T A Styles earned his B.S. in Elementary Education and Mathematics and his M.S. in Developmental Reading. He taught in elementary and junior high schools for twelve years before launching his own childcare enterprise, TSL Kids Crew, which he has operated since 2009. He has had a passion for writing stories since he was a teenager, as it was a hobby and skill for which he realized at a young age he had a knack for and loved. He has two grown children and has traveled extensively including to Iceland, Australia, Greece, Italy, South America, and many other places nationally and internationally. TBE: The Fortress explores both physical and emotional fortification. What inspired you to examine the concept of a “fortress” on multiple levels – not just as a secure building, but as a state of mind and spirit for these orphaned children? T A Styles: The pledge used in the book is actually a pledge (modified) that I adapted for my childcare business 16 years ago that kids say regularly in our programs today. …

Topsy And Tim author Jean Adamson dies at the age of 96 | UK News

Topsy And Tim author Jean Adamson dies at the age of 96 | UK News

Published by skeptic

Jean Adamson, the children’s author known for writing the Topsy And Tim book series, has died at the age of 96. Her family, who confirmed the writer died on Sunday, said her memory will “live on in the hearts” of those she loved and in people who “remember her through her stories”. The Topsy And Tim series follows the adventures of two twins and was created with her husband Gareth Adamson, who died in 1982. It spawned more than 150 books and a television series. In a statement released by Topsy And Tim publisher Ladybird Books, Adamson’s family said: “It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Jean Adamson. “Jean was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister and author whose kindness and warmth touched the lives of all who knew her. “Her presence will be greatly missed. “Although we will take this time to mourn her loss, we will also ensure to celebrate her remarkable life.” Born in 1928 in Peckham, London, the author studied illustration at Goldsmiths College in London. …

Interview with the author of The Physics of Why

Interview with the author of The Physics of Why

Published by skeptic

Saleh R Shahid was born in Dorchester, Mass to a Pakistani father and American mother. He grew up in the 70’s and 80’s in Brockton, Mass. He attended U. South Florida for undergraduate studies and earned his M.D. from St. George U. in Grenada, West Indies. He lives in Knoxville, TN with Paula, his wife of 25 years. They have three children. Dr. Shahid practices Internal Medicine, a broad field for someone with many interests. His approach to life has been the same—like a kid in an amusement park with too many rides and never enough time. His creative pursuits have spanned several arts, including music, acting, painting and writing. In reading The Physics of Why, you might see that mindset shine through. TBE: The novel weaves together multiple timelines and stories—from 16th-century India to a far future in space. What inspired you to connect these seemingly disparate periods through the concept of Why Waves and reincarnation? Saleh R Shahid: It was a revelation that smacked me in the head—a sudden coalescing of my fears, …

Dorothy Allison, Author of BASTARD OUT OF CAROLINA, Dies at Age 75

Dorothy Allison, Author of BASTARD OUT OF CAROLINA, Dies at Age 75

Published by skeptic

This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Welcome to Today in Books, our daily round-up of literary headlines at the intersection of politics, culture, media, and more. Dorothy Allison, Author of Bastard Out of Carolina, Dies at Age 75 Though her second novel, Cavedweller was quite good and sold well, Allison will forever be known for Bastard Out of Carolina. The subject matter is a tough as it gets–abuse of all kinds is depicted with a steely resolve. Allison’s ear is particularly good, and the dialogue and language is sharp and grounding. It’s been awhile since I read it, but I think it still holds up as a good as a depiction of class, gender, and violence in America as you are going to find. Certainly more interesting than a certain best-selling book by a VP-elect I could name. Barnes & Noble Opening 12 New Stores in November, Bringing 2024 Total to 60 I looked around a bit to see if these new stores opening …