Three Authors Land on Time’s Coveted “Most Influential” List:
What started for the iconic magazine as a celebration of the world’s most influential people affecting major global challenges from climate to public health to democracy to equality has expanded to something even bigger, now representing innovators, titans, leaders, artists and trendsetters. The literary world is represented once again this year on the just revealed 2023 TIME100 list of most influential people in the world: with Colleen Hoover, whose books have literally monopolized the bestseller listings; Neil Gaiman, described as “bringing dreamscapes to life;” and Judy Blume, for her groundbreaking young adult fiction and coming of age tales.
Brittney’s Unimaginable Story:
Speaking of the Time 100, another member of this year’s list is soon to add the word “author” to her credentials. Basketball star Brittney Griner will tell the story of her imprisonment in Russia in a new memoir, slated for next Spring from Knopf. This as-yet-untitled book is being written, she says, to raise awareness about other Americans who have been wrongfully detained.
Return to Hogwarts:
The Harry Potter books that helped shape an entire generation are to be made into a new TV series with a brand new cast! The series will be a “faithful adaptation” about the wizarding world by author JK Rowling, who will serve as executive producer, and will be available on Max — currently branded as HBO Max.
‘Beach Read’ to Big Screen:
Emily Henry has a new film adaptation coming to the big screen, and readers can’t wait to watch this enemy-to-lovers bestseller as a film. Beach Read will be directed by Yulin Kuang, who has previously worked on Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation, in its adaptation for 20th Century Studios.
The Bard’s Collected Works on Display:
A new exhibition in the Library of Trinity College Dublin celebrates 400 years of Shakespeare’s plays in print from April 14 to the end of June. However, if you can’t make it all the way to Ireland to see the First Folio in person, the online exhibition is available to view here.
Other Celebrities Speak Out:
Everyone loves a good celebrity memoir, and this past week saw an abundance of exciting announcements besides the one from Brittney Griner:
- Steve Martin is releasing an audiobook of his conversations with friend Adam Gopnik on May 2, titled So Many Steves: Afternoons With Steve Martin. The audiobook features several conversations between the two and also includes audio clips from Martin’s appearances on Saturday Night Live, The Smothers Brothers Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
- Leslie Jones, another Saturday Night Live alum, will tell the story of her life and career in a new memoir, titled Leslie F*cking Jones. The book is slated to release September 19.
- Rush frontman, Geddy Lee, is also releasing a memoir about his childhood as the son of Holocaust survivors as well as his career as a musician. The memoir will be released on November 14 and is titled My Effin’ Life.
Lyrics and Life Stories From a Musical Great:
Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You, a fearlessly frank and fascinating memoir by the mega-talented and tenacious singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams, contains both song lyrics as well as the raw, unadulterated stories of this multiple Grammy-award musician’s life.
Oprah to Produce ‘Vera Wong’ TV Series:
The production companies of Oprah Winfrey and Mindy Kaling are developing a television adaptation of Jesse Q. Sutanto’s recently released Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. The book follows an elderly woman in San Francisco’s Chinatown who finds a dead body in her tea shop, who keeps a flash drive that she discovers on the body, determined to track down the man’s killer.
Nicki Minaj to Become Afrofuturistic Agent:
Nicki Minaj is set to star in, and executive produce a new animated comic book series called Lady Dangerous, being executive produced by 50 Cent. The show, based on the Dark Horse comic book series of the same name, the Amazon Freevee show is set in 2075 and follows a government field agent who’s left for dead by her team after discovering a dangerous secret, before being resurrected as Lady Danger.
Disabled Storytelling — Bring on the Revolution:
James Catchpole, the author of What Happened To You? gives an insightful view of how disability is represented in children’s literature and how a revolution needs to occur for future generations!
Electrifying Lunchtime Keynote:
Chuck D, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and Public Enemy cofounder, will take the stage on Tuesday, May 24 at the U.S Book Show, a live and virtual production based in New York City. Joined by Kelefa Sanneh, a former music critic for the New York Times and staff writer for the New Yorker, Chuck D will unveil his new book imprint and graphic novel, entitled Stewdio: The Naphic Grovel Artrilogy of Chuck.
