Around the Web: A Dinner Party, the Governor General Literary Awards Finalists, and a New Podcast

Hello again, readers! It’s time for our weekly roundup of bookish news and content from across the internet. This week, I’m sharing some literary history, the longlist for the Governor General’s Literary Awards, a podcast announcement, and some tips for writing in first person.

A Productive Dinner Party

What do Arthur Conan Doyle and Oscar Wilde have in common? Both literary icons were commissioned to write stories at a dinner party. The results were The Sign of the Four and The Picture of Dorian Gray. Crime Reads has details of this productive literary hangout.

The Governor General Literary Awards

After delay caused by the pandemic, the finalists for the 2020 Governor General Literary Awards have been announced. There are great books across the different categories, so go check them out if you’re looking to add to your TBR pile.

A Lord of the Rings Podcast

Deadline announced that Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd, who played Merry and Pippin in the Lord of the Rings films, are launching a podcast. The pair plans to dig into “the latest in pop culture, put fans’ Lord of the Rings knowledge to the test, reveal exclusive stories from filming” and welcome some surprise guests. If you’ve already reread the books and rewatched the films, this might be an opportunity for more LOTR content.

Tips for Writing First Person

Point of view can be a sticking point for some writers, but there’s lots of helpful tips out there to help you get it right. For example, Author Finola Austin recently shared some pitfalls to avoid when writing first person on DIY MFA.