Edna O’Brien, iconoclastic giant of Irish literature who penned The Country Girls, dead at 93

Edna O’Brien, iconoclastic giant of Irish literature who penned The Country Girls, dead at 93

Edna O’Brien, Ireland’s literary pride and outlaw who scandalized her native land with her debut novel, The Country Girls, before gaining international acclaim as a storyteller and iconoclast that found her welcomed everywhere from Dublin to the White House, has died. She was 93. O’Brien died Saturday after a long illness, according to a statement by … Read more

Would you name your baby after a sexy fairy? It’s happening thanks to a popular book series

Would you name your baby after a sexy fairy? It’s happening thanks to a popular book series

There was a time when people were shamed for reading smutty books, whether for the steaminess factor or the misconception that romance wasn’t real literature. But now, thanks to the surging popularity of books by authors like Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros, readers are loudly and proudly embracing the genre — and even appear to be naming … Read more

Imo assembly summons publisher over story against lawmaker

Imo assembly summons publisher over story against lawmaker

The Imo House of Assembly has summoned the publisher of an online newspaper, Nigerian Watchdog, over a report against a lawmaker in the state. The publisher, Precious Nwadike, was accused of publishing an allegedly defamatory story against Ikenna Ihezuo, the lawmaker representing Orlu State Constituency. The house summoned Mr Nwadike who is also the editor-in-chief … Read more

25 years as an illustrator, Quebecer and his comic honoured with Canada Post stamp

25 years as an illustrator, Quebecer and his comic honoured with Canada Post stamp

Over two decades ago, Michel Rabagliati first introduced his close friends and family to Paul — a teenage boy growing up in Montreal in the 1970s. Paul was Rabagliati’s creation: a comic that illustrated childhood, first loves, his first apartment and even divorce. The tender snapshots of daily life packed with cultural references and rich … Read more

American author Paul Auster, prolific and experimental man of letters and filmmaker, dead at 77

American author Paul Auster, prolific and experimental man of letters and filmmaker, dead at 77

Paul Auster, a prolific, prize-winning man of letters and filmmaker known for such inventive narratives and meta-narratives as The New York Trilogy and 4321, has died at age 77. Auster’s death was confirmed on May 1 by his literary representatives, the Carol Mann Agency, which did not immediately provide additional details. Auster had been diagnosed … Read more

Shopaholic author Sophie Kinsella reveals aggressive brain cancer diagnosis

Shopaholic author Sophie Kinsella reveals aggressive brain cancer diagnosis

Best-selling British author Sophie Kinsella announced Wednesday that she has glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. The 54-year-old author, whose real name is Madeleine Sophie Wickham, wrote in a statement posted to her social media accounts that she was diagnosed in 2022. She said she’d had surgery and is undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. “I’ve wanted for a long time to … Read more

Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki among finalists for 2024 Doug Wright Awards for best Canadian comics

Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki among finalists for 2024 Doug Wright Awards for best Canadian comics

Cousins and collaborators Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki have been nominated for the 2024 Doug Wright Award for their YA graphic novel Roaming. Founded in 2005, the Doug Wright Awards have been awarded annually to celebrate the best in comics across Canada. They are named after influential Canadian cartoonist Doug Wright. This year, 200 entries were submitted to be considered … Read more

Sports Illustrated to continue print editions under reported 10-year deal with new publisher

Sports Illustrated to continue print editions under reported 10-year deal with new publisher

Sports Illustrated will resume publishing after its owner reached a new rights deal with digital media company Minute Media, which will reportedly operate the magazine for at least 10 years. Monday’s announcement comes nearly two months after owner Authentic Brands terminated its publishing deal with The Arena Group, which led to mass layoffs at the venerable sports … Read more

Nigerian university, CJID set to introduce postgraduate programmes

Nigerian university, CJID set to introduce postgraduate programmes

The University of Ilorin (Unilorin) is set to partner with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) to deliver two Master’s degree programmes on Peace and Security Studies. The partnership, when finalised, would have the university’s Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies (CPSS) work closely with CJID to deliver the programmes in peace and … Read more