It’s time for another weekly round-up, where we share a selection of some of the most interesting news and features about books and creative writing that we have seen this week. If you know of any great stories we missed, let us know in the comments below.

Tolstoy, Steinbeck, Defoe – why are so many turning to classic novels? The Guardian 

First edition of Roald Dahl book Gremlins up for auction BBC News

The rare first edition includes a personal note given to Dahl’s Second World War RAF comrade Wing Commander John Alexander which suggests he offered some inspiration.

Evaristo, Webb and Gaiman join BBC Arts Big Book Weekend The Bookseller 

Reasons to be cheerful: poetry and stories to give hope to adults and children alike The Guardian

Children’s author Katherine Rundell introduces original poems, stories and illustrations by the likes of Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson and Axel Scheffler in The Book of Hopes.

Per Olov Enquist: Swedish author dies at the age of 85 BBC News 

Writers Against Covid-19/ How to Submit Creative Writing News

The Society of Young Nigerian Writers has launched the Writers Against Covid-19 movement and is seeking submissions for an anthology of poems and micro-essays.

Gruffalo artist Axel Scheffler: ‘This was something I could do to help’ BBC News 

The illustrator talks about his work on the new book Coronavirus: A Book for Children.

Becoming: Documentary based on Michelle Obama book tour coming to Netflix The Independent 

The new film follows the former first lady through a 34-city book tour.

Stoicism in a time of pandemic: how Marcus Aurelius can help The Guardian

Waines, Veitch Smith and Watt headline virtual National Crime Reading Month The Bookseller

Co-ordinated by the Crime Writer’s Association (CWA) and Crime Reader’s Association (CRA), the annual festival promotes authors at live events across the UK.

Normal People: When book adaptations go right BBC News

‘I wrote two crime novels during a year lying on my side in hospital’ inews.co.uk

She could have lost the ability to walk, her osteopathy business, her house, but a back injury turned Caro Ramsay into an author.

Bloody Scotland International Crime Festival Cancelled  The Bookseller 

BBC launches Galton & Simpson writing bursary Chortle

The winner of this new contest will win £5,500 to develop their script for possible broadcast with the aid of comedy experts.

Simone de Beauvoir’s ‘too intimate’ novel to be published after 75 years The Guardian

Les Inséparables, which depicts the writer’s passionate friendship with a girl who later died, was withheld during her lifetime