Latest news with #AuthorsGuild
Washington Post
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Robert Caro, Salman Rushdie and Sandra Cisneros honored by Authors Guild
NEW YORK — Robert Caro , Salman Rushdie and Sandra Cisneros were honored Monday night at an Authors Guild dinner gala that celebrated the written word and its vital role in the preservation of democracy. 'The world we live in is a house on fire and people we love are burning,' said Cisneros, the fiction writer, poet and pacifist who was presented the Baldacci Award for Literary Activism. Caro, the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, is this year's winner of the Preston Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community and Rushdie, the novelist and determined critic of censorship, received the Champion of Writers Award for his 'steadfast commitment to free expression.'
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Robert Caro, Salman Rushdie and Sandra Cisneros honored by Authors Guild
NEW YORK (AP) — Robert Caro, Salman Rushdie and Sandra Cisneros were honored Monday night at an Authors Guild dinner gala that celebrated the written word and its vital role in the preservation of democracy. 'The world we live in is a house on fire and people we love are burning,' said Cisneros, the fiction writer, poet and pacifist who was presented the Baldacci Award for Literary Activism. Caro, the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, is this year's winner of the Preston Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community and Rushdie, the novelist and determined critic of censorship, received the Champion of Writers Award for his 'steadfast commitment to free expression." The Authors Guild represents more than 15,000 published authors and advocates for a variety of causes, whether opposing book bans or calling for restrictions on the use AI. The gala, held in Gotham Hall in midtown Manhattan, was hosted by 'Saturday Night Live' star Ego Nwodim. Caro, who accepted his award through a pre-recorded video, served as Guild president from 1979-81. He noted that many of the issues that concerned writers decades ago still concern them, including, he joked, 'waiting for their editors to get back to them.' He otherwise called the Guild's work as 'urgent' as ever and warned that authors can't fight for their causes alone. 'To receive this award from the community that has give me so much moves me deeply,' he said. Rushdie referred to the Trump administration's threats to cut off funding for universities and drastic reductions in support for the arts and humanities and said that 'the sphere of culture is under attack as never before" in his lifetime. 'All segments of the story of America are in the process of being suppressed and perhaps even erased,' he said. 'Authors are the keepers of that story.' Rushdie said he had been reading the classic 18th century novel 'Candide,' and cited the title character's decision to step back from the tumultuous events of the world and 'cultivate his garden.' His retreat is a challenge to us now, said Rushdie, 77, who survived a horrifying on-stage stabbing in 2022. 'Is that how we are going to respond to the crisis of our time? Or are we going to engage with it and fight,' he said. "Now I'm not as young as I used to be. And I've had my share of getting beaten up. So I'm tempted, like Candide, to find a private garden to cultivate. But I may still have a little fight left, and I hope you all do, too.'
Associated Press
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Robert Caro, Salman Rushdie and Sandra Cisneros honored by Authors Guild
NEW YORK (AP) — Robert Caro, Salman Rushdie and Sandra Cisneros were honored Monday night at an Authors Guild dinner gala that celebrated the written word and its vital role in the preservation of democracy. 'The world we live in is a house on fire and people we love are burning,' said Cisneros, the fiction writer, poet and pacifist who was presented the Baldacci Award for Literary Activism. Caro, the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, is this year's winner of the Preston Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community and Rushdie, the novelist and determined critic of censorship, received the Champion of Writers Award for his 'steadfast commitment to free expression.' The Authors Guild represents more than 15,000 published authors and advocates for a variety of causes, whether opposing book bans or calling for restrictions on the use AI. The gala, held in Gotham Hall in midtown Manhattan, was hosted by 'Saturday Night Live' star Ego Nwodim. Caro, who accepted his award through a pre-recorded video, served as Guild president from 1979-81. He noted that many of the issues that concerned writers decades ago still concern them, including, he joked, 'waiting for their editors to get back to them.' He otherwise called the Guild's work as 'urgent' as ever and warned that authors can't fight for their causes alone. 'To receive this award from the community that has give me so much moves me deeply,' he said. Rushdie referred to the Trump administration's threats to cut off funding for universities and drastic reductions in support for the arts and humanities and said that 'the sphere of culture is under attack as never before' in his lifetime. 'All segments of the story of America are in the process of being suppressed and perhaps even erased,' he said. 'Authors are the keepers of that story.' Rushdie said he had been reading the classic 18th century novel 'Candide,' and cited the title character's decision to step back from the tumultuous events of the world and 'cultivate his garden.' His retreat is a challenge to us now, said Rushdie, 77, who survived a horrifying on-stage stabbing in 2022. 'Is that how we are going to respond to the crisis of our time? Or are we going to engage with it and fight,' he said. 'Now I'm not as young as I used to be. And I've had my share of getting beaten up. So I'm tempted, like Candide, to find a private garden to cultivate. But I may still have a little fight left, and I hope you all do, too.'
The Independent
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Robert Caro, Salman Rushdie and Sandra Cisneros honored by Authors Guild
Robert Caro, Salman Rushdie and Sandra Cisneros were honored Monday night at an Authors Guild dinner gala that celebrated the written word and its vital role in the preservation of democracy. 'The world we live in is a house on fire and people we love are burning,' said Cisneros, the fiction writer, poet and pacifist who was presented the Baldacci Award for Literary Activism. Caro, the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, is this year's winner of the Preston Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community and Rushdie, the novelist and determined critic of censorship, received the Champion of Writers Award for his 'steadfast commitment to free expression." The Authors Guild represents more than 15,000 published authors and advocates for a variety of causes, whether opposing book bans or calling for restrictions on the use AI. The gala, held in Gotham Hall in midtown Manhattan, was hosted by 'Saturday Night Live' star Ego Nwodim. Caro, who accepted his award through a pre-recorded video, served as Guild president from 1979-81. He noted that many of the issues that concerned writers decades ago still concern them, including, he joked, 'waiting for their editors to get back to them.' He otherwise called the Guild's work as 'urgent' as ever and warned that authors can't fight for their causes alone. 'To receive this award from the community that has give me so much moves me deeply,' he said. Rushdie referred to the Trump administration's threats to cut off funding for universities and drastic reductions in support for the arts and humanities and said that 'the sphere of culture is under attack as never before" in his lifetime. 'All segments of the story of America are in the process of being suppressed and perhaps even erased,' he said. 'Authors are the keepers of that story.' Rushdie said he had been reading the classic 18th century novel 'Candide,' and cited the title character's decision to step back from the tumultuous events of the world and 'cultivate his garden.' His retreat is a challenge to us now, said Rushdie, 77, who survived a horrifying on-stage stabbing in 2022. 'Is that how we are going to respond to the crisis of our time? Or are we going to engage with it and fight,' he said. "Now I'm not as young as I used to be. And I've had my share of getting beaten up. So I'm tempted, like Candide, to find a private garden to cultivate. But I may still have a little fight left, and I hope you all do, too.'
The Guardian
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
ChatGPT, can you write my new novel for me? Och aye, ye preenin' Sassenach
The monsters of artificial intelligence are coming for you. They will cast you out on the street like a Dickensian mill owner and laugh as they do it – at least they will if you work in any sort of creative industry. We're told this again and again, and the warnings might be right – America's Authors Guild has even just announced plans for a trust mark to be stuck on book covers to show that the book was written by a human. Well, I'm going to turn the tables. My publisher is anxiously waiting for me to finish my new novel, a sequel to my previous thriller The Turnglass. So let's see if AI can take the faff – the actual writing bit – out of creative writing. A quick check with ChatGPT assures me that yes, it knows my previous book, so I inform it that the sequel begins with Shakespeare investigating the real-life murder of his friend Christopher Marlowe. Early on, Shakespeare encounters a Scottish villain beside a canal. So let's fire up the AI. ''Jamie MacIntosh,' Shakespeare muttered, his hand instinctively moving toward the hilt of his poniard. 'What foul wind has blown you into my way?'' So far so good. 'MacIntosh grinned, his teeth flashing white in the dimness. 'I might ask the same of you, Bard.' MacIntosh stepped forward, his broad shoulders filling the alley. 'Not so fast, Shakes. Word is you've been asking the wrong questions to the wrong people. That makes you a problem.'' Nice one, ChatGPT. That's the stuff. One note, though: MacIntosh isn't Scottish enough. Try again. 'MacIntosh stepped forward. 'No sae fast, Shakes. Word is ye've been speirin' th' wrang questions tae th' wrang folk. That maks ye a problem.'' Better! Now. A bit of gratuitous violence, please. 'They slammed against the brick wall, dust and mortar cascading around them. Shakespeare brought an elbow down onto MacIntosh's shoulder. He grabbed MacIntosh's collar and twisted, using the man's own weight to roll them both sideways – straight into the canal… 'Damnation,' MacIntosh spat. 'Ye fecht like a deil.'' Not bad. Not bad at all. But, well, MacIntosh still isn't Scottish enough, if you ask me. One more try? ChatGPT is happy to oblige. ''No sae fast, ye preenin' Sassenach gobshite.'' Blimey. 'Word is ye've been speirin' th' wrang questions.' The two men circled each other, breath steamin' in the cauld night air. MacIntosh roared an' surged, only tae step on a particularly slithery haddock, which sent him flailin' like a spooked highland coo afore he crashed onto Shakespeare. 'Shakespeare shoved MacIntosh straight intae the edge o' the canal… The Scot let oot a wheeze that sounded like a deflatin' bagpipe. 'Ach, Christ's knees!' he spat, wipin' water frae his eyes. 'Ye fecht like a deranged wild haggis wi' a grudge.'' Sign up to Observed Analysis and opinion on the week's news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers after newsletter promotion Right. Yes, I think that's sufficiently Scottish. But does ChatGPT have any suggestions for what could happen next? It does. 'Just as they separate, both men are ambushed by a gang of cutthroats. Forced to fight side by side, they realize they make a formidable duo. Afterward, they begrudgingly agree to work together – perhaps on a mission involving court intrigue.' A mismatched buddy movie – I like it! Only I'm not sure it fits with the rest of the book. I'll have to see what my editor thinks. I won't hold my breath, though. The Waterfall is published in September. None of it was written by AI Gareth Rubin writes about culture and society
