The 2017 Etisalat Literature Prize Goes to…
Jowhor Ile – for his book, And after Many Days. He will receive £15,000, an Etisalat sponsored book tour to three African countries, a fellowship at the University of East Anglia, and an engraved Montblanc Meisterstück pen. Congratulations!
The Debut of Amazon Charts
On May 18, Amazon debuted a new list that “will track the top 20 books that have sold the best on any given week and the 20 books being read the most.” Yes, Amazon already has lots of lists, but this one will collate data from physical books bought at the site’s storefront, Kindle books, and Audible books. This list will not replace any of the categorized hourly lists and will be separated for fiction and nonfiction.
The New York Review of Books Names New Editor
Ian Buruma will replace Robert B. Silvers who died in March. Buruma is a professor of human rights and journalism at Bard College, a regular contributor to The Review, and is the author of multiple well-received books on Japanese history, World War II, Dutch politics, and other subjects.
Actor Bill Murray Leading Poetry Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge
On June 12, the actor and poetry lover will lead the walk and join participants in a fundraiser for Poets House. The yearly event that began in 1996 will feature works this year by Walt Whitman, Marianne Moore, Langston Hughes, and other greats. Poets House is based in Battery Park, NY, and includes in their mission statement:
“We believe that poetry can promote a deeper conversation between individuals, communities and cultures. Poets House’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity has determined the course of our institutional life over the past thirty years; on a daily basis, we strive to make a democratic and pluralistic space for poets and the public.
But wait! There’s more!
Dia De Los Ninos/Dia De Los Libros celebrated at Arizona State
Poet Brian Sonia-Wallace is the Mall of America’s writer-in-residence.
And…for our video pick of the week uploaded on May 14 from Button Poetry’s first ever video contest, an entry from Gil Kazimirov titled Mom, I Have a Few Requests for You. One of my favorite lines,
“Thank you, Mom, for being a willing accomplice in this crime, but I think it’s time to turn myself in.” — Gil Kazimirov
On moms, the difficulties of change, growing up, and…
Laurel Dowswell is the Features Editor at Change Seven. Her short story “I Am the Eggman” was nominated for the 2016 Pushcart Prize. She was a copy editor for an independent feminist newspaper in Santa Fe, NM, after being raised and educated in Florida. She lives and writes in Georgia, just outside of Atlanta with her son. She is currently working on a novel filled with oil paintings, family drama, a lot of red wine, and the spectrum of sexuality. Follow her on twitter @laurels_idea
Change Seven Magazine 