Republicans Denounce Amtrak Residency, U.K. Nonprofit Protests Gendered Children’s Books, and More

by
Staff
3.18.14

Every day Poets & Writers Magazine scans the headlines—from publishing reports to academic announcements to literary dispatches—for all the news that creative writers need to know. Here are today’s stories:

The Atlantic reports that conservative Republican senators have begun speaking out against the Amtrak Writers Residency, for which more than 9,000 writers have applied. 

Eighty-two-year-old memoirist Penelope Lively talks about her book Dancing Fish and Ammonites and her experience of aging on NPR’s Fresh Air.

San Diego–based novelist and gold-medal sprinter Alan Mindell, 72, celebrates the release of his book The Closer, which took him fifteen years to write. (U-T San Diego)

Let Toys Be Toys, a nonprofit based in the United Kingdom, is encouraging children’s book publishers to refrain from gender-based marketing campaigns and is seeking support from the public through an online petition. (GalleyCat)

As Louisiana gears up to host the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival from March 19 until March 23, New Orleans–based novelist Zachary Lazar describes his writing space at home. (Times-Picayune)

A collection of short stories by the late Irish novelist Maeve Binchy will be published in April. (Irish Independent)

South African novelist Damon Galgut explores E. M. Forster’s life and hidden loves in his new book, Arctic Summer. (Irish Times)

At the Millions, Matt Seidel theorizes about the many classifications for novelists.

Mental Floss unearths some harsh early reviews of twenty classic works of literature.