WEATHER ALERT
What to stream: Coldplay, an unhinged Charlie Puth, 'Salem’s Lot,' Sarah Paulson and NHL 25
Read full article: What to stream: Coldplay, an unhinged Charlie Puth, 'Salem’s Lot,' Sarah Paulson and NHL 25Coldplay’s 10th studio album, Charlie Puth starring as himself in Roku's mockumentary series “The Charlie Puth Show” and EA Sports' NHL 25 are some of this week’s new streaming entertainment releases.
Piper Laurie, 3-time Oscar nominee with film credits such as 'The Hustler' and 'Carrie,' dies at 91
Read full article: Piper Laurie, 3-time Oscar nominee with film credits such as 'The Hustler' and 'Carrie,' dies at 91Piper Laurie, the strong-willed, Oscar-nominated actor who performed in acclaimed roles despite at one point abandoning acting altogether in search of a “more meaningful” life, has died.
Antitrust trial puts book publishing industry in the dock
Read full article: Antitrust trial puts book publishing industry in the dockThe Justice Department’s legal effort to block the merger of book publishing giants Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster is more than just a showcase for the Biden administration’s tougher approach to corporate consolidation.
CEO of publishing giant defends deal challenged by US gov't
Read full article: CEO of publishing giant defends deal challenged by US gov'tThe head of publishing titan Penguin Random House is defending his company’s deal to acquire rival Simon & Schuster against the government’s claim it would thwart competition.
New this week: Rebel Wilson, The Black Keys, 'Firestarter'
Read full article: New this week: Rebel Wilson, The Black Keys, 'Firestarter'This week’s new entertainment releases include a fresh album from The Black Keys, Rebel Wilson starring as a popular high school senior who emerges from a coma after 20 years, and the period drama “Operation Mincemeat,” based on a risky and real military operation in World War II.
Atwood, Grisham among contributors to pandemic novel
Read full article: Atwood, Grisham among contributors to pandemic novelAtwood and Grisham are among several authors participating in a novel about the pandemic. The Authors Guild Foundation announced Thursday that it had reached a deal with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books & Media to publish Fourteen Days: An Unauthorized Gathering." (AP Photo)NEW YORK – One of the first novels about the pandemic will be a collaborative effort, with Margaret Atwood, John Grisham and Celeste Ng among the writers. Novelist and Authors Guild President Douglas Preston came up with the idea as a way to raise money for the foundation. Atwood is editing “Fourteen Days” and helped recruit a wide range of contributors, including Dave Eggers, Ishmael Reed, Monique Truong, Hampton Sides, Mary Pope Osborne and Emma Donoghue.
Quotes from Stephen King interview with The Associated Press
Read full article: Quotes from Stephen King interview with The Associated PressFILE - In this Nov. 13, 2013 file photo, author Stephen King poses for the cameras, during a promotional tour in Paris. It’s a popular name in Australia, and there a lot of people with that name there who have been doing crimes: Stephen Kings who have set houses on fire and Stephen Kings who are bank robbers. What I (also) see more and more are obituaries where so and so died at age 89 and he was a ‘big fan of Stephen King novels.’”—-SPECIAL GUESTS—-“Jill Biden showed up at a public event that I did. One time, I’m doing a reading in Seattle, and I’m looking at the crowd, 70-80 people. And I’m looking at this guy in the front row and he’s wearing workout pants, with a stripe down the side, and sneakers.
Stephen King talks about crime, creativity and new novel
Read full article: Stephen King talks about crime, creativity and new novel(Hard Case Crime via AP, left, and AP)NEW YORK – Stephen King doesn't think of himself as a horror writer. Over the past decade, he has written three novels for the imprint Hard Case Crime: “Joyland,” “The Colorado Kid” and “Later,” which comes out this week. At the same time, he enjoys writing a crime story that is more than a crime story — or hardly a crime story at all. King, who publishes most of his work with Simon & Schuster, is part of the founding story of Hard Case Crime. A representative for the author called and said King did not want to write a blurb for Hard Case Crime; he wanted to contribute a book.
Stephen King helps kids publish pandemic-inspired book
Read full article: Stephen King helps kids publish pandemic-inspired bookFILE - In this Tuesday, May 22, 2018, file photo, PEN literary service award recipient Stephen King attends the 2018 PEN Literary Gala at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Author Kings foundation covered the $6,500 cost of publishing a 290-page manuscript by students in Farwell Elementary Schools Author Studies Program. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)LEWISTON, Maine – A group of budding young writers is about to publish a book with some help from Maine's most famous writer. Stephen King's foundation covered the $6,500 cost of publishing a 290-page manuscript by students participating in Farwell Elementary School’s Author Studies Program. A number of local groups also sent donations that will be used for the Author Studies program.
Hunter Biden's memoir 'Beautiful Things' out in April
Read full article: Hunter Biden's memoir 'Beautiful Things' out in AprilThis cover image released by Gallery Books shows "Beautiful Things" a memoir by Hunter Biden. Biden, son of President Joe Biden and an ongoing target for conservatives, has a memoir coming out April 6. (Gallery Books via AP)NEW YORK – Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden and an ongoing target for conservatives, has a memoir coming out April 6. The book is called “Beautiful Things” and will center on the younger Biden's well publicized struggles with substance abuse, according to Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. “Beautiful Things” was circulated among several authors and includes advance praise from Stephen King, Dave Eggers and Anne Lamott.
Bertelsmann's Penguin division snaps up Simon & Schuster
Read full article: Bertelsmann's Penguin division snaps up Simon & SchusterBERLIN – German media giant Bertelsmann said Wednesday that it is buying publisher Simon & Schuster, further expanding its existing U.S. portfolio that already includes the number one American publisher Penguin Random House. “Simon & Schuster strengthens Bertelsmann’s footprint globally, and (particularly) in the U.S., its second-largest market,” the Guetersloh-based company said in a statement. The purchase of Simon & Schuster reduces the so-called Big Five of American publishing — which also includes HarperCollins, Hachette Book Group and Macmillan — to four. But Penguin Random House chief executive Markus Dohle told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Simon & Schuster would retain its editorial independence and that individual imprints within Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster could continue to compete with each other for book deals. The German conglomerate, which was founded in 1835 and also owns a broad portfolio of broadcast, music and online businesses, has been the sole owner of Penguin Random House since April.
Fly on Pence's head generates buzz in VP debate
Read full article: Fly on Pence's head generates buzz in VP debateA fly lands on the head of Vice President Mike Pence during the vice presidential debate Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, at Kingsbury Hall on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. (Justin Sullivan/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON – The vice presidential debate featured plexiglass barriers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The incident went unmentioned onstage, with the Republican vice president and Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris continuing to focus on the discussion of systemic racism in the justice system. It's on his head,” tweeted MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow. Wednesday night’s visitor wasn’t the first fly to take center stage at a presidential debate.
An eventful year for Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead
Read full article: An eventful year for Pulitzer Prize winner Colson WhiteheadNEW YORK Even sheltering in place, Colson Whitehead has had an eventful year. Whitehead became the first fiction writer to win Pulitzers for back to back novels, Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, which won the Pulitzer in May and comes out in paperback this week. In Underground Railroad,' I felt I needed a fantastic device to move Cora (the main character) to her freedom. With The Nickel Boys, there was no need for any kind of fantastic flourish. "For The Nickel Boys, I was someone trying to figure out where the country was going.
New this week: 'Clemency,' BET Awards, HAIM, 'Doctor Sleep'
Read full article: New this week: 'Clemency,' BET Awards, HAIM, 'Doctor Sleep'(Neon via AP)Heres a collection curated by The Associated Press entertainment journalists of whats arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. Written and directed by Chinonye Chukwu, Clemency was well-reviewed but got unjustly overshadowed by some of the higher profile awards contenders when it was released in December. Doctor Sleep: The Directors Cut: This Danny Torrance-focused sequel to The Shining was a little divisive upon release, which wasnt all that surprising. Film Writer Lindsey BahrMUSICGrey Daze: Fans of the late Grammy-winning screeching rock singer Chester Bennington will get a chance to hear him one more time. HAIM: Its been three years since sister trio HAIM have released a new album.
'Exorcist' actor Max von Sydow dies at age 90
Read full article: 'Exorcist' actor Max von Sydow dies at age 90"It is with a broken heart and with infinite sadness that we have the extreme pain of announcing the departure of Max von Sydow,” Diamond said. In 1980, von Sydow starred as the evil emperor Ming the Merciless in "Flash Gordon." He was baptized Carl Adolf von Sydow, but later changed his first name to Max. “I’m very grateful to the schooling I had in Sweden because in order to learn acting you have to work, work, work,” he said. Von Sydow married Swedish actress Christina Olin in 1951 and had two sons, Clas and Henrik.
Stephen King fan? Get paid $1,300 to watch his scariest films
Read full article: Stephen King fan? Get paid $1,300 to watch his scariest films"It," the 2017 adaptation of the 1986 Stephen King novel, made $700.4 million at the box office, making it the highest-grossing R-rated horror movie of all time. (CNN) - Much like his character It, Stephen King fever has roared back to life after a period of dormancy. But as remakes of the author's most popular works flood theaters and streaming services, it's increasingly difficult to discern casual viewers from devotees. Dish chose for you: You'll watch lauded classics like "Carrie" and "The Shining" to truly harrowing adaptations like "The Mist" and "Pet Sematary" and deeper cuts like "Thinner" and "Dreamcatcher." You'll need to fill out an application complete with a 200-word statement about why you deserve the job.
'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark' brings spooky spin to horror
Read full article: 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark' brings spooky spin to horror"Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" is a sort of welcome throwback, a horror movie cleverly designed to be more spooky than truly grisly(CNN) - "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" is a sort of welcome throwback, a horror movie cleverly designed to be more spooky than truly grisly. At an advance screening in Los Angeles, del Toro described "Scary Stories" as "a gateway movie," intended to serve as an introduction to the world of horror. Del Toro and his collaborators clearly do, and have intriguingly set this story in 1968, with the tension unfolding against a backdrop of Richard Nixon's election and the Vietnam War. Until then, chalk "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" up as an interesting experiment, one whose success, ultimately, will likely depend on its epilogue. "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" premieres Aug. 9 in the US.