Great Regulars: A new public service is emerging online:

authors and readers who are sifting through the morass of self-published books out there to find the quality titles amid the dross. I was alerted to the development of what are being called "electronic author cooperatives" by ghostwriter and novelist Andrew Crofts, who writes about them on his blog.

from Alison Flood: The Guardian: Author collectives signal a new chapter for self-publishing

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Poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy is to retell classic folk stories including The Pied Piper of Hamelin for the theatre this Christmas.

Duffy is collaborating with director, designer and choreographer Melly Still on the production Rats' Tales, which is set to be shown at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester between November and January.

from Alison Flood: The Guardian: Carol Ann Duffy to bring folk tales to stage for Christmas

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The team behind the video game Walden said it "posits a new genre of play, in which reflection and insight play an important role in the player experience". While the player travels through the virtual world of Walden, and deals with everyday life at Walden Pond, they will also be asked, the team said, to "focus on the deeper meaning behind events that transpire in the world. By attending to these events, the player is able to gain insight into the natural world, and into connections that permeate the experience of life at Walden."

from Alison Flood: The Guardian: Walden Woods video game will recreate the world of Thoreau

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