Crime Novelist Mo Hayder Dies at 59
British crime novelist Mo Hayder has died at the age of 59 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) on December 22. Mo Hayder, which was the pen name for Clare Dunkel, was often called the “queen of fear” for her dark, shocking thriller stories. Hayder’s publisher Transworld, who announced the death earlier this week, said that since Hayder’s diagnosis, the author “fought valiantly,” but ultimately “the disease progressed at an alarming rate.” The publisher reported that Clare Dunkel was working on a new series under the name Theo Sand. The new novel The Book of Sand will be published in early 2022. The author is survived by her daughter Lotte and her husband Bob.
Here’s Your First Look at John Le Carré’s Final Novel
Legendary spy novelist John le Carré’s posthumous novel Silverview will be released on October 12th of this year, and here’s your fist look at the book. Le Carré’s final novel follows Julian Lawndsley who flees the city to work at a bookstore in a small town. Meanwhile, a London spy chief arrives to that same town to investigate a potential leak. Silverview will include an afterword from le Carré’s son Nick Cornwell, paying tribute to his father — along with his siblings and an archivist, he’s currently cataloguing all of le Carré’s work. “This is the authentic le Carré, telling one more story,” Cornwell said. “The book is fraught, forensic, lyrical, and fierce, at long last searching the soul of the modern Secret Intelligence Service itself. It’s a superb and fitting final novel.”
4thWrite Short Story Prize Reveals 2021 Shortlist
The 4thWrite Short Story Prize—a prize seeking out the best new Black, Asian, and minority ethnic writers—has announced its 2021 shortlist. Chosen from a longlist of twelve stories, the six finalist are: “Cadaver” by Sulaxana Hippisley; “Home Is Not Here” by Laura Blake; “Hopscotch” by Inigo Laguda; “The Ritual Seat of the King” by Zimbabwe-born Gift Nyoni; “Pontianak” by architect Nicola Sheppey; and “Postpositions” by Amaan Hyder. The winner will be announced on September 1st. The winner’s prize includes £1,000, a one-day publishing workshop at 4th Estate, and publication on The Guardian website.
#TheNewLatinoBoom: The Rise of Literature Published in Spanish in the U.S.
In the United States, there’s been a growing interest in Spanish literature in its original language. Here’s what you should know about the New Latino Boom.