Today’s links of interest:

• Homes for Good (Orphan) Books
  Peter Brantley has an awesome post on the plight of orphaned books, especially in light of a presumed settlement of the never-ending Google Books issue. Included is a proposal for eventual compensation should copyright holders emerge (which is similar but slightly different from ideas we’ve put forth in the past).
• Vroman?s Wins ‘PW?s’ Bookseller of the Year
  Whoo hoo to our local bookstore!
• Why No Bookseller Can Read Everything
  More on the "too, too many books" thought.
• Book Lovers Ask, What?s Seattle?s Secret?
  Forget New York, Seattle is the leading tastemaker when it comes to literary matters.
• Harry Potter: the last battle
  On the eve a major court case, a summary of the issues notes that the online Harry Potter lexicon was used by everyone from J.K. Rowling to her publishers to the filmmakers, yet: "Rowling’s lawyers claim the Lexicon has no creative value and contributes nothing to the readers’ understanding of the Harry Potter series."
• Dallas Morning News Reporter: PR Email Straight to The Junk Folder
  More on this month’s meme…
• Bill Keller’s Book Sales No Great Shakes
  Sales are slow for Keller’s Nelson Mandela-themed title. This reminds us that a) not every high profile author is an automatic winner, and b) there is no predicting how the public will react.

Today’s links of interest:

• Harry Potter straggles in a ‘disappointing’ sixth in children’s books poll
  Despite the headline and the results, it is unclear who is "disappointed".
• Hollywood trade paper Variety put on auction block
  Here’s hoping the new owners don’t cut the headline-writing scribes.
• More Hollywood writers do end-run around studio system
  When not walking the picket lines, some writers were thinking of ways to change the rules of the game.

Today’s links of interest:

• Harry Potter straggles in a ‘disappointing’ sixth in children’s books poll
  Despite the headline and the results, it is unclear who is "disappointed".
• Hollywood trade paper Variety put on auction block
  Here’s hoping the new owners don’t cut the headline-writing scribes.
• More Hollywood writers do end-run around studio system
  When not walking the picket lines, some writers were thinking of ways to change the rules of the game.
• Harlequin Lets Listeners Meet the Editors in New Podcasts
  New series allows writers a peek inside the minds of editors.
• Could a month save the music industry?
  The Canadian proposal to add a surcharge to Internet access continues to garner attention. While the dollar value could be debated, the benefit to all entertainment industries makes this worth serious discussion.
• Kensington Acquires Holloway House Backlist
  While this is very cool news, it also raises a little BS eyebrow. Given the vintage of the catalog, one wonders about the authors and their rights.

Today’s links of interest:

• Mobile, social is where it?s at
  Excuse us, but shouldn’t that be "passionate mobile, social"? A look at some thoughts from ToC. Ours to come later.
• Crown Creates Online Sales and Marketing Department
  Sigh, should this really be headline news in 2008?
• New Borders stores combine digital and literary worlds
  If Borders can execute on this vision, this may be the first step into the bookstore of the future (and, not incidentally, the most forward-thinking move by Borders in years).

Today’s links of interest:

• eReader bookstore picking up 17,000 nonDRMed files: Will big publishers finally learn from the music industry’s DRM retreat?
  Umm, another plug for Kirk’s session at Tools of Change: DRM, Digital Content, and the Consumer Experience: Lessons Learned from the Music Industry. We promise it will be an eye-opener.

Today’s links of interest:

• eReader bookstore picking up 17,000 nonDRMed files: Will big publishers finally learn from the music industry’s DRM retreat?
  Umm, another plug for Kirk’s session at Tools of Change: DRM, Digital Content, and the Consumer Experience: Lessons Learned from the Music Industry. We promise it will be an eye-opener.
• Me And My Big Mouth: Pick & Mix
  One man looks at ways to make the world of book shopping a better place.

Today’s links of interest:

• eReader bookstore picking up 17,000 nonDRMed files: Will big publishers finally learn from the music industry’s DRM retreat?
  Umm, another plug for Kirk’s session at Tools of Change: DRM, Digital Content, and the Consumer Experience: Lessons Learned from the Music Industry. We promise it will be an eye-opener.
• Me And My Big Mouth: Pick & Mix
  One man looks at ways to make the world of book shopping a better place.

Today’s links of interest:

• Contract outlined in Hollywood writers strike
  The informal talks yield results as the nation bites nails and worries about Academy Awards parties.
• Author Paulo Coelho’s profitable Net obsession
  The author discovers that offering free work is a way to increase sales.
• ‘NYT’ Reporter Claims Upcoming ‘NYT’ Review Is Unfair To His Book
  Making one wonder how awkward moments at next year’s holiday party will be handled.
• S&S Creates Chief Digital Officer Spot
  Highlighting the company’s commitment to the future and all that…

Today’s links of interest:

• Contract outlined in Hollywood writers strike
  The informal talks yield results as the nation bites nails and worries about Academy Awards parties.
• Author Paulo Coelho’s profitable Net obsession
  The author discovers that offering free work is a way to increase sales.
• ‘NYT’ Reporter Claims Upcoming ‘NYT’ Review Is Unfair To His Book
  Making one wonder how awkward moments at next year’s holiday party will be handled.
• S&S Creates Chief Digital Officer Spot
  Highlighting the company’s commitment to the future and all that…

Today’s links of interest:

• Why clever women do themselves down
  This is either the dumbest thing Fay Weldon has ever written or a harbinger of outlandish essays to come. Either way, we challenge you to read it without rolling your eyes.
• After Dismissal, Regnery Suit Heads to Arbitration
  Because after litigation, arbitration keeps America working.

Today’s links of interest:

• Why clever women do themselves down
  This is either the dumbest thing Fay Weldon has ever written or a harbinger of outlandish essays to come. Either way, we challenge you to read it without rolling your eyes.
• After Dismissal, Regnery Suit Heads to Arbitration
  Because after litigation, arbitration keeps America working.
• Judgement Day
  On judging books by their covers…
• Amazon to Buy Audible for 0 Million
  As predicted, Amazon continues to quietly (in a major corporate announcement sort of way) move to challenge Google’s world dominance.
• More Records for Amazon; Scrambling to Meet Kindle Demand
  Which you have to admit is pretty cool.

Today’s links of interest:

• Judgement Day
  On judging books by their covers…
• Amazon to Buy Audible for 0 Million
  As predicted, Amazon continues to quietly (in a major corporate announcement sort of way) move to challenge Google’s world dominance.
• More Records for Amazon; Scrambling to Meet Kindle Demand
  Which you have to admit is pretty cool.
• Can the novella save literature?
  Premise: "They’re no less artful than full-length books, but they need less of your time. The perfect form for today’s lifestyles." Uh huh.
• Sci-fi novel Ender’s Game to become video game
  Let the irony begin…

Today’s links of interest:

• Can the novella save literature?
  Premise: "They’re no less artful than full-length books, but they need less of your time. The perfect form for today’s lifestyles." Uh huh.
• Sci-fi novel Ender’s Game to become video game
  Let the irony begin…
• Brooklyn Business Library PowerUp! Business Plan Competition Awards Ceremony
  Congratulations to Jessica — and we look forward to hearing about her success!
• Can You Improve on a Pen? Livescribe Sure Thinks So
  Count us among those who need a lot of convincing here.

Today’s links of interest:

• A life of their own
  What is character? What makes a character a character? What is too much? What is too little?
• Writers’ Digital Row With Library
  As that National Library of Wales moves to digitize works, writers cry foul due to lack of compensation.
• Online shoppers prefer books
  Easy access to online retail outlets encourages book buying around the world.
• udith Regan Lawsuit Settled Is Settled
  We’ll all sleep a bit easier now.

Today’s links of interest:

• Self-publishing sees explosive growth
  Translation: it’s easy to self-publish these days, but, well, that’s only part of the equation.
• Does the world needs book prizes?
  Thinking outside the box: "John Sutherland suggests a way of narrowing the gap between book prizes and readers."
• Blogonomics
  Not all blogs are created alike (thank goodness), but there are some with viable economic models. It’s a win-win for everyone. Except some writers.
• Who?s the Book Daddy?
  Google, plagiarism, and the DNA of books — good stuff.
• LA Times Editor Fired in Budget Dispute
  Third editor in three years. Same theme. Apparently the people put in charge of the LAT believe that you need to commit a certain amount of money to maintaining a quality paper. Unfortunately, those who answer to shareholders don’t care so much about that point.
• Thumbs Race as Japan?s Best Sellers Go Cellular
  Not to suggest that there’s repetition or anything, but doesn’t the NYT do this story at least once a month?
• It’s all about beautiful losers
  Or, science fiction and fantasy…a list for beginners. These books, we’ ve read. Okay, most of them.
• Nominees for 2008 Edgar Awards Announced
  Leaving us ashamed to admit we haven’t read a single title on the list.
• Sue Grafton Wins Cartier Diamond Dagger
  Not especially newsworthy, but how can we resist the headline?
• Universities Offer Digital Copyright Pact
  Schools work to make copyright safe for the world.

Today’s links of interest:

• No good for nothing: the attack of the crapsheets
  Cool twist on the death of the novel meme: reading is killing reading.
• WGA deals offer hope, but not much more
  Additional side deals are struck with the WGA, allowing the show to, uh, go on. At least for a few.
• Ladies, why you must write the wrongs
  An ex-wife explains that airing dirty laundry is good for self-esteem.
• Steve Jobs: "People Don’t Read Anymore," Android Is Going Down
  Jobs is probably only speaking for himself…
• Hymn book goes digital
  This is pretty cool — clergy can download essential musical elements in a timely and efficient manner.
• Nabokov wanted his last work destroyed. Should it be?
  Well, see, there’s the public desire. Of course, the public isn’t the creator. Sad as it is for fans, it makes sense that the author’s desires be honored. You’d want it to happen to you.
• ‘Harry Potter,’ paperbacks are top trends in 2007
  Caveat: by "top trends", they mean in publishing, not the world in general.
• ‘E-books, geography and the backlist: How a reader in Turkey can buy ALL my books’
  The magic of the Internet strikes again!

Today’s links of interest:

• ‘E-books, geography and the backlist: How a reader in Turkey can buy ALL my books’
  The magic of the Internet strikes again!
• Romantic Novel of the Year award shortlist announced
  Lone male on shortlist (though part of writing team) eliminated.
• Publisher dumps Tom Cruise book
  No, don’t get excited. This is happening in Australia.

Today’s links of interest:

• Romantic Novel of the Year award shortlist announced
  Lone male on shortlist (though part of writing team) eliminated.
• Publisher dumps Tom Cruise book
  No, don’t get excited. This is happening in Australia.
• ‘Beta-test’ novel a hit at Kindle store: #4 bestseller at 8 a.m.
  A look at how how one author’s experiment with Kindle-based beta readers earns money and press.

Today’s links of interest:

• `Surge’ Makes the Banned-Words List
  Alas, it takes more than public opinion to stop a surge…
• Got a manuscript? Publishing now a snap
  Business Week looks at the magic that is new on-demand publishing techniques.
• 100 years of romancing the readers
  Oh cool, a story on Mills & Boon that starts off with a predictable, cliched lead — especially funny in light of the charges being leveled against the novels published by M&B.
• Anger at library cuts as ministers admit 40 have closed this year
  The UK faces up to its library shortage — and the public realizes the extent of the problem.
• JK Rowling hints at eighth Harry Potter book
  Just enough to keep the press salivating at the prospect.

Today’s links of interest:

• Full of the Dickens: Kindle-ing More Debate
  An appropriately cranky post from Bethanne Patrick calling out the book fetishists — and reminding us that it’s the reading, not the medium, that matters.
• It?s the brand stupid
  Successful authors need to build brand — an near-antithetical concept to their work.
• Canada delays copyright amendment
  Trying something new: considering the general public as part of the equation.
• Merriam-Webster’s word of ’07: ‘w00t’
  Well, that’s settled.
• NBCC Polls Members’ Ethics
  Finds most believe in them.
• Maine Library’s It’s Perfectly Normal Not Obscene, Police Agree
  Patron decides book on human sexuality is "immoral", steals book. She’ll stand trial. Remember folks, if you don’t like the content, you are free to put the book back on the shelf. Trying to impose your own moral values on the general population is just a bad thing.

Today’s links of interest:

• Best in Books – The 2007 Culture Awards
  We are generally shunning most of this year’s "best of" lists due to a depressing similarity and general lack of creativity. Of course, we must make an exception for a list that includes our favorite legume as a category: "Most Mathematical Use of Lentil Beans".
• The First Rule: Do Not Pitch Boing Boing
  Excellent piece on the importance of knowing what you’re doing before pitching to various blogs and other online outlets. Of course, the gist of this article is surely to be lost in the cackling over the first commenter’s, uh, lack of knowledge and iffy spelling.
• Case of the Conflicted Imprint
  Lest you think that the the self-publishing dilemma is owned by the Romance Writers of America, here comes a story about the Mystery Writers of America and a potential snag in its definition of "self-published".
• How Dictionaries Define Publicity: The Word of the Year
  Well, what else? A full-page add in the New York Times?
• Writers? Talks Collapse Amid Acrimony
  Oh yeah, last week’s optimism? Forget about it.
• A hunger for books
  Doris Lessing’s acceptance speech for her Nobel Prize. Do not be fooled by the sub-head. It is all about the importance of literacy and access to reading material.
• Bertelsmann eyes sale of books business
  Direct sales apparently being less profitable than they used to be.
• History of the blog
  Ha! Not what you think. It’s a nice introduction to a cool new site called "Publishing Frontier". Go forth and read.

Today’s links of interest:

• Print publishing needs to reevaluate for future
  By the way, this week’s theme is The Value of Content and Entertainment.
• 10-minute plan to turn your child into a bookworm
  Start now, reap rewards later.
• Hachette Digital plans unveiled
  Word domination, ebooks, virtual publishing.

Today’s links of interest:

• What’s in a format?
  Picador expands on their impending simultaneous release of hardcover and softcover editions of a book.
• To Cut Textbook Costs, They’re Printing Their Own
  Finally someone’s doing it for the kids.
• The future is practically written
  A crystal ball examination of why today’s strike is about tomorrow’s media.
• The biggest library ever built
  It’s been awhile since we’ve linked to a modern day Library of Alexandria story. Enjoy!
• Email Is NOT Dead
  Just in case you were asking.
• Amazon.com Finally To Launch Reader Next Week: Report
  Kindle — just in time for the holiday shopping season. Here’s hoping they’ve been teasing us (design-wise) with the prototype.
• Nick Counter Must Go: A Writer’s Plea to the Studios
  One writer’s suggestion: bring in an AMPTP negotiator who understands the other side.

Today’s links of interest:

• Biographer: Norman Mailer dead at age 84
  Rest in peace.

Today’s links of interest:

• Author Madeleine L’Engle Dies at 88
  Rest in peace.
• New CEO for Book Publisher/Simon & Schuster
  We quote: "Simon & Schuster yesterday said that Carolyn Reidy at year-end will replace Jack Romanos as CEO of the nation’s fourth-largest consumer book publisher."
• AuthorHouse Acquires iUniverse
  Ah, the power of consolidation. Or something like that.
• Google lets users build libraries
  Virtually, of course.

Today’s links of interest:

• Making Digital Books Into Page Turners
  Capsule summary: Sony, Amazon, e-readers, potential for huge market.
• Is Bookishness of Books Problematic for Google Scan Plan, Libraries?
  One of those stories about as study that discusses the pitfalls of scanning books. Apparently, poor quality in a rare printed and bound edition will carry over to the scanned edition. Is there a solution? The study’s author offers none, just your typical doom and gloom.

Today’s links of interest:

• Making Digital Books Into Page Turners
  Capsule summary: Sony, Amazon, e-readers, potential for huge market.
• Is Bookishness of Books Problematic for Google Scan Plan, Libraries?
  One of those stories about as study that discusses the pitfalls of scanning books. Apparently, poor quality in a rare printed and bound edition will carry over to the scanned edition. Is there a solution? The study’s author offers none, just your typical doom and gloom.
• Horton Foote – Hollywood’s Oldest Working Writer
  Because we all love a winner.
• A dance, dance revolution? If they get, get education
  Using technology to bring kids and books together. Revolutionary and obvious. Also, if the adults are paying attention, they might learn something themselves.
• Are Books Becoming Obsolete?
  No, but Carol Hoenig raises an interesting question about how we’re not taught to be quiet anymore.
• Electronic books with musty book smell launched
  Yeah, and what would *you* do if you had too much time on your hands?
• While Book Sales Flatten, Audio Books Thrive
  Listen to the story at NPR.

Today’s links of interest:

• Horton Foote – Hollywood’s Oldest Working Writer
  Because we all love a winner.
• A dance, dance revolution? If they get, get education
  Using technology to bring kids and books together. Revolutionary and obvious. Also, if the adults are paying attention, they might learn something themselves.
• Are Books Becoming Obsolete?
  No, but Carol Hoenig raises an interesting question about how we’re not taught to be quiet anymore.
• Electronic books with musty book smell launched
  Yeah, and what would *you* do if you had too much time on your hands?
• While Book Sales Flatten, Audio Books Thrive
  Listen to the story at NPR.
• Bantam Dell Tries Dual Format Publishing with New Imprint
  By "experimenting" with releasing books in trade and mass market size, the publisher practices what we like to call "focusing on the wrong problem.".
• One in Four Read No Books Last Year
  In other news, three out of four Americans read at least one book last year. Some read many more.
• Writing tops poll of ideal jobs
  It is, after all, the job with the best wardrobe.

Today’s links of interest:

• Harry Potter Book Ending Gives Bookmaker Headache
  The bane of every bookie? Authors who simply cannot write clear, concise, odds-winning endings.
• Exclusive interview with Kiran Desai
  A year in the life of a Man Booker prize winner. Hey, you want to know before it’s too late, right?
• Low-key Booker longlist shuns literary stars
  For those keeping track, we have officially entered Awards Season.
• Always Roundtable Extravaganza Installment the Second
  Because there’s…wait for it…always more to say.
• The Highs and the Lows of Rankings on Amazon
  Advice: do not look at Amazon rankings. It makes your life easier.

Today’s links of interest:

• Book review pages get a review
  In which one publication tries something new and different — and wins!
• Sales of ‘racist’ Tintin Congo book soar
  Which should tell you everything you need to know about human nature.
• Asda barred from selling seventh Harry Potter
  Either because a) it hasn’t paid its bills in three years or b) because it wants to retail the novel at way below MSRP. If a, then why does Bloomsbury continue to ship. If b, who is the loser?

Today’s links of interest:

• That?s What I Like: Scrabble (or Making the Other Guy Cry for Mercy)
  Some people have little sisters who advocate cruel and unusual punishment. Also, she really doesn’t get that sometimes people do play for the sheer joy of the game.
• Ego? Forget about it
  Useful advice for turning your novel into a screenplay. No advice on what to do after that.
• Has the novel been murdered by the mob?
  Uh, no. But it’s a great thought to keep the Sopranos story alive.
• Novelist beaten up by the neighbours he wrote about
  There’s probably a life lesson here.
• Audio: research reveals huge potential market
  Offered up for the headline alone.

Today’s links of interest:

• Resisting the rock-novel demon
  Apparently, writing the great rock and roll novel escapes even the best of writers. Yet we keep trying.
• The joys of NOT being published
  Sometimes it’s the writing, just the writing.
• Long-lost ?Good Earth? manuscript found
  Missing since, oh, 1966. The FBI has called a press conference to tout the major coup.
• Dewey Decimal divas
  The sub-head says it all: Librarians ditch their cardigans and don feather boas to compete in the Book Cart Drill Team World Championships.
• Tots, don’t believe everything you read
  We quote: Parents, beware: Beloved childhood classics such as Winnie the Pooh may be teaching kids false facts about the world ? like tigers are bouncy and donkeys are chronically depressed.
• Is the internet killing proper research?
  Or is the Internet taking "proper research" to new levels???
• Separating Fact and Fiction in the U.S., Europe
  Ah, the memoir. So much truth, so much fiction.
• Rush for Potter golden tickets
  Better than being the first kid on your block to get the book? Being at the grand unveiling of the book with the author.

Today’s links of interest:

• Plame, S&S Sue CIA
  Noted only for the headline. The rest was inevitable.
• BookSurge Stepping Up POD Efforts
  One giant step and all that.
• Publishers Cater To Baby-Boomers With Large-Type Books
  Call it vanity sizing for books.
• Rowling backs theme park to take Harry Potter readers for a wizard ride
  Well, if Scrooge gets his own ride and t-shirts, why shouldn’t Snapes?

Today’s links of interest:

• Headline to publish debut novel online for free
  Best still our beating black heart…for sale, for free, multiple ways to access. All good.
• Historic review for Dutton’s site
  File under: It ain’t over til it’s over.
• Double-Cross at the WGA
  More on the thrilling foreign levies/WGA scandal. This time with threats.
• The trouble with Harry: he’s too cheap
  And he’s a lousy tipper. The price of the new Harry Potter book is raising concerns about the bottom line for sellers.
• Quills book awards get revamp
  This is what they call thinking out loud.

Today’s links of interest:

• Headline to publish debut novel online for free
  Best still our beating black heart…for sale, for free, multiple ways to access. All good.
• Historic review for Dutton’s site
  File under: It ain’t over til it’s over.
• Double-Cross at the WGA
  More on the thrilling foreign levies/WGA scandal. This time with threats.
• The trouble with Harry: he’s too cheap
  And he’s a lousy tipper. The price of the new Harry Potter book is raising concerns about the bottom line for sellers.
• Quills book awards get revamp
  This is what they call thinking out loud.

Today’s links of interest:

• Tod Goldberg reads the Sunday paper – naked!
  Which is something his wife just grins and bears. Carolyn Kellogg’s roundup of the LATFoB blogging panel.
• Festival of Books: Blogging Panel
  Though we missed this panel due to a contagious case of "too lazy to drive anywhereness", we find we’re…happy. Sounds like we would have wanted to argue Andrew Keen into the ground and then deeper. If you’re going to have a panel on litblogging, have a panel on litblogging. If you’re going to have a panel on ways authors can be paid for their work, do so.
• Writers Guild unhappily sits on million
  Foreign levies — a topic well-known to our readers of our rants — aren’t being disbursed in a timely manner to stakeholders. The article outlines issue and attendant problems quite nicely (though with a pro-artist bias).
• Are you book-clubbable?
  We don’t know about yours, but *our* book club has spent a delightful week planning the menu for our next gathering. We have settled the food and are debating the wine. Okay, we never debate wine. We just drink it.
• Be green, go digital – Books as we know them are ‘unethical’
  Well, "unethical" might be doing it a bit brown, but you gotta admit there’s a lot of wasted printing going on here.
• Are Book Reviewers Out of Print?
  The New York Times looks at the current book review debate and, yay! one major media outlet is connecting dots, the impact of blogger and other online review sources. More on this when we have time or energy.
• Sales soar for new Tolkien novel
  Color us underwhelmed. The release notes there are 900,000 copies "in print". Today’s Publisher’s Lunch notes that after two weeks, "Bookscan, we’re told, is showing sales of nearly 44,000 copies so far through the outlets they track." While two weeks is hardly a barometer of success or lack thereof, "soar" may not be the right verb.
• Torstar Announces Favourable First Quarter Results
  Better numbers due to exchange rates, direct sales are declining. Retail sales seem to rising a bit. What is it about the clubs that aren’t working anymore? Inquiring minds want to know.

Today’s links of interest:

• Be green, go digital – Books as we know them are ‘unethical’
  Well, "unethical" might be doing it a bit brown, but you gotta admit there’s a lot of wasted printing going on here.
• Are Book Reviewers Out of Print?
  The New York Times looks at the current book review debate and, yay! one major media outlet is connecting dots, the impact of blogger and other online review sources. More on this when we have time or energy.
• Sales soar for new Tolkien novel
  Color us underwhelmed. The release notes there are 900,000 copies "in print". Today’s Publisher’s Lunch notes that after two weeks, "Bookscan, we’re told, is showing sales of nearly 44,000 copies so far through the outlets they track." While two weeks is hardly a barometer of success or lack thereof, "soar" may not be the right verb.
• Torstar Announces Favourable First Quarter Results
  Better numbers due to exchange rates, direct sales are declining. Retail sales seem to rising a bit. What is it about the clubs that aren’t working anymore? Inquiring minds want to know.
• With Rumors of Amazon Selling DRM Free Music, Will Books Be Far Behind?
  Dear Author’s Jane talks about one of our favorite topics. We have a deep, strong feeling that the publishing industry is doomed to make the mistakes of others before seeing the error of their ways, but, like Jane’s, our hope springs eternal.
• Another Day, Another Possible Fake Memoir
  Or, if you will, another set of shared memories that don’t mesh.
• ‘Sahara’ legal battle nears end
  Our favorite part: …Cussler is seeking a whopping million…[including] million in lost profit participation… Oh dear, million? Someone is living in a fantasy world. Big time. Sounds like someone got a net participation. Chances of recouping on a picture like this? Well, again, we recommend the lottery.
• Students push to make Moby-Dick official book of Massachusetts
  But first they have to get through all those !@#$ "Thoreau" people.
• America’s death march toward illiteracy
  More, more, more…
• Good at Reviewing Books But Not Each Other
  A look at the current state of discourse among librarians.
• The folly of downsizing book reviews
  Michael Connelly’s op-ed piece on the book review issue.

Today’s links of interest:

• Publisher Kills Black POW’s Book Deal
  In a week where much intrigue surrounds how the Iraq war was sold, Kensington decides not to publish Shoshana Jackson’s book (and they’re telling her to return the advance). Clearly a story with more to tell.
• David L. Ulin on the new Los Angeles Times Book Review
  One in a series with book review editors. Start where you wish and work your way through. There will be a pop quiz next week.
• How to keep following your own story
  The multi-project approach to keeping the love fresh and interesting.

Today’s links of interest:

• Friday March 30th is Stop Cyberbullying Day
  ‘Nuff said.
• Indies Under Fire
  In which Borders makes the bookselling landscape a bit too generic and overpowers the independents.
• Libraries at the Cutting Edge
  The college library makes a comeback as reference librarians take on the roles of real-life Googles.
• Funny ha-ha or funny-stupid
  In the world after James Frey, we need to have a national dialogue (that’s what they call it, right) about the differences between outright fiction, misremembering, and crafting the story for the right effect.
• Podcasts can open the book for us all
  In which the virtual book festival is considered as a way to bring joy to the hearts of the masses. Or at least the masses with computers.
• Literature’s celebrity recluses
  In which some authors simply decide to shun the spotlight.
• Not Much Fun for Penguin
  Update on a (very) old plagiarism story — one where the publisher all but admits to the crime. Sort of. Any case that takes 13 years to fight is one with a bit more nuance than is readily apparent.

Today’s links of interest:

• Time for Reading
  Stop, slow down, savor the page. Reading fast isn’t always the goal. Unless you’re cursed with the fast reading gene, then you must succumb or risk serious health problems.
• Playboy Archives Go Digital; That Means Its Articles, Too
  Taking a cue from the DVD package that brought us The Complete New Yorker, Playboy brings its rich history into the digital era. Oh sure, we have thoughts on how to improve the process, but we’ll save them for another day.
• Top Book Publisher HarperCollins Partners with BlogHer, the Number One Women?s Blogging Community, to Launch Virtual Book Tour
  With a headline like that, who needs additional commentary? Oh right, HC discovers that women read. Also that women are online. And that women who read are online. It’s a three-month tour.
• That?s What I Like: Annotated Editions
  In this homage to Too Much Information, Tyson goes for broke (sigh, the ankle tattoo). As he reads the annotated edition of "The Hobbit", he discovers that memories are funny things and Tolkien did some strange things.

Today’s links of interest:

• Time for Reading
  Stop, slow down, savor the page. Reading fast isn’t always the goal. Unless you’re cursed with the fast reading gene, then you must succumb or risk serious health problems.
• Playboy Archives Go Digital; That Means Its Articles, Too
  Taking a cue from the DVD package that brought us The Complete New Yorker, Playboy brings its rich history into the digital era. Oh sure, we have thoughts on how to improve the process, but we’ll save them for another day.
• Top Book Publisher HarperCollins Partners with BlogHer, the Number One Women?s Blogging Community, to Launch Virtual Book Tour
  With a headline like that, who needs additional commentary? Oh right, HC discovers that women read. Also that women are online. And that women who read are online. It’s a three-month tour.
• That?s What I Like: Annotated Editions
  In this homage to Too Much Information, Tyson goes for broke (sigh, the ankle tattoo). As he reads the annotated edition of "The Hobbit", he discovers that memories are funny things and Tolkien did some strange things.
• No more downloads from the BBC
  This week has many themes…one is the realization that all of the contemplated media downloads aren’t as free as they look on the surface. The BBC realizes this could impact the bottom line.
• Why horror writing will be big in 2007
  Because vampires aren’t scary enough?
• Research into Net shoppers – clicks or bricks?
  No surprises here. Convenience and selection drive shoppers online. But most still prefer live shopping to virtual shopping.
• New Offer for PGW Clients
  As the bidding heats up, PGW clients move fifteen cents closer to being whole. National Book Network offers eighty-five cents on the dollar. This story grows even more interesting when you factor in the switch of Regenery’s distribution from NBN to Perseus. It’s a small world after all
• AMS Bankruptcy Contributes to HC Earnings Drop
  It’s going to be a rough earnings season, no?

Today’s links of interest:

• Final Harry Potter book due in July
  Finally, an actual release date for the book that’s been at the top of Amazon’s charts for quite some time…
• U. of California Sues the Family of Jacques Derrida Over the Noted Philosopher’s Papers
  When private battles become public, ugliness follows quickly.
• Penguin launches its first "wiki" novel
  After announcing it weeks (months? time flies, you know) ago. As we enjoy interesting experiments, we anxiously await word of its success.

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Today’s links of interest:

• Texas liberal political wit Ivins dies of cancer
  Funny, smart, and able to drink the Texas legislature under the table. Our kind of chick.
• Best-selling author Sidney Sheldon dead at 89
  Rest in peace.

Today’s links of interest:

• AMS creditors petition judge for liquidation
  More on the biggest publishing story of the year. Creditors believe AMS’s current plan is doomed for failure. They have good evidence: failing to restate financials despite three years’ warning suggests that thinking isn’t someone’s strong suit.
• Google users map ‘places in books’
  This, we like. The red lettered warning that viewing the content on the website is the result of temporary access, we don’t. Scroll down past the annoying message — somehow, this publication thinks registration matters more than the increased traffic tha
• British Library to start charging
  Once again, a major government decides to put its money anywhere but where the future is. The British Library, facing major financial woes, decides that charging researchers and cutting hours is the only answer. We think electing better people to Parliame

Today’s links of interest:

• The Great Paid Review Scandal, Follow-Up | Booksquare
  About BookSurge, the Amazon program that allowed authors to pay for reviews of their books
• Paperback Reader: The Stranger I Married
  Sometimes, we do not find pleasure in novels. This was one.
• What Is She Doing In There?
  It’s "Seven Loves" week at the LBC. Start here, go forward and backward. Have fun. Oh, and buy the book. You know you want to.

Today’s links of interest:

• Rowling ranked the second richest woman in global entertainment
  And they say that writing doesn’t pay.
• Google plots e-books coup
  Yeah, yeah, yeah. Old news. It just takes a while for things to cross the pond. More on Google later. We’re working on a rant.
• Favorable book reviews for sale.
  Wide-eyed, gee-whiz look at a serious issue: paying for reviews in an era of POD and self-publishing proliferation. Also, gratuitous "bodice ripper" reference.

Today’s links of interest:

• Writers, Editors Say Adios to SASEs
  Finally.
• Turbulent year for books was a page-turner
  Ah, it’s rough when the curtains are pulled back. What has always been considered a genteel business is just like every other entertainment business: scandal-ridden and full of ridiculous behavior.
• It’s the system that’s the monster
  What? The magical world of literary publicity is rife with…exploitation and lack of institutional memory? If publishing were a real business, people would be very afraid.

Today’s links of interest:

• Blogging to peak in 2007
  Phew! The world can breathe a sigh of relief.

Today’s links of interest:

• O.J. book burns up the resale market
  Sad but true: people are actually buying this thing.
• Tin House bows to Penguin to retitle book
  "The book’s title has been changed from "Gravity’s Rainbow Illustrated" to "Pictures Showing What Happened on Each Page of Thomas Pynchon’s Novel Gravity’s Rainbow." " Really.
• One-Fifth of Readers Visit Pub/Author Sites
  No word on how many sought said sites, but were thwarted in their attempts…

Today’s links of interest:

• News Corp. Cancels Simpson Book
  In theory, this is news. In practice, it is proof that sometimes people can exercise their brains. We have our faith in the world restored. Mostly.
• Gay penguin book shakes up Illinois school
  Well, what with the stingrays and pandas fighting back, it was only a matter of time before the penguins found a way to get back at humans.
• George Saunders on Realist fiction
  Or, George Saunders goes to a bar and barely escapes intact. Hey — it’s not like we’ve forced a Saunders piece on you in a while.

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Today’s links of interest:

• Reading Under the Covers: Mondo Skank
  The rapidly recovering Bella Stander inaugurates her own awards. We applaud her initiative!
• The uses of Heidi Julavits
  Revisiting the past — and whether snark has found a happy home.
• Larry King Admits He?s Never Used The Internet: ?Do You Punch Little Buttons and Things??
  It explains so much.

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Today’s links of interest:

• Book Signing Tips – Part 1 of 4
  How to sign books with dignity and style. Or at least style.
• Relationship Between University, Publisher Fizzles
  Dalkey Press breaks up with its sugar college — or something like that.
• Sports Artist Sued for Mix of Crimson and Tide
  If it didn’t involve real people really being sued, some of these lawsuits would make for great comedy.

Today’s links of interest:

• Relationship Between University, Publisher Fizzles
  Dalkey Press breaks up with its sugar college — or something like that.
• Sports Artist Sued for Mix of Crimson and Tide
  If it didn’t involve real people really being sued, some of these lawsuits would make for great comedy.
• It’s Cliche Day: We put our words under a microscope
  Finally a day we can get behind.

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Today’s links of interest:

• Mira Ignores Author’s Griping with Flair
  This would be really funny if there weren’t legitimate claims on both sides of the issue. Also, what took so long for everyone to react?
• Sex scenes: In the realm of the senses…
  What makes a good sex scene on the big screen? Why are they often so bizarre? And do men and women react differently to what is presented. If you have to think about the final question, you haven’t been paying attention your whole life.
• Ex-Page Six Scribe Working On Horror Screenplay
  Sometimes the jokes are just too easy.

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Today’s links of interest:

• Brothers Ink Deal
  The Weinstein brothers have finally entered into a distribution arrangement with Hatchette. The world sighs in relief.
• Books@Google
  Looking at the brave new world of publishing and wondering when the industry will get religion.
• Booked-Up Publishers Could Be in a Bind
  In a year chock full of good books, a look at the innovative ways publishers are getting the word out. And, yes, there’s not much innovation going on…and that’s the real story.

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Today’s links of interest:

• Which masterpieces are secretly crap?
  Yeah, you’re gonna disagree.
• Atwood tells our budding authors: get a proper job
  Like bartending. Or pole dancing. Something that pays the bills.
• Sony to launch web bookstore, e-book device
  They’ve finally made good on their threats. And we humbly volunteer to test the reader. In the interest of science, you know.

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Today’s links of interest:

• University of Madrid joins Google book scan plan
  We’re thinking this is someone’s way of telling us that this project is growing despite the opposition.
• Lonely Planet Partners with PlayStation
  This is, by the way, far more fascinating than the headline suggests.
• From the Editors: ‘Potential Authors Almost Anywhere’
  Plus the people who work at Ten Speed are really great folks!

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Today’s links of interest:

• Turkish Author Acquitted, but Law Stays
  Our previous position remains unchanged.
• Book Advertising. The Hackiest of the Hack.
  Hello. We think we’re in love.
• Slow Sales for Embargoed Diana Book
  Uh huh. The great mystery was also a flop.

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Today’s links of interest:

• Review | The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos
  The Other Square speaks his mind.
• Lulu aims to wag the ‘long tail’
  A look at the business behind the continually self-promoting lulu.com (and we say self-promoting in a good way).
• Grown-ups turning to teen books
  Ah, a return to a simpler time…when the biggest crisis in the world was an inconvenient pimple. And, yes, we’re totally oversimplifying the appeal of young adult novels to grown-ups.

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Today’s links of interest:

• Review | The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos
  The Other Square speaks his mind.
• Lulu aims to wag the ‘long tail’
  A look at the business behind the continually self-promoting lulu.com (and we say self-promoting in a good way).
• Grown-ups turning to teen books
  Ah, a return to a simpler time…when the biggest crisis in the world was an inconvenient pimple. And, yes, we’re totally oversimplifying the appeal of young adult novels to grown-ups.

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Today’s links of interest:

• Games To Play At National
  Drinking game number two, this one from Jill. Far be it for us to suggest that she’s been playing early and often.
• Copy Editor on Holiday
  Uh huh.
• The Penguin Blog
  Penguin has a blog; they are also convinced they are the first major publisher to have one. Far be it for us to discourage delusion.

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Today’s links of interest:

• Avast, Me Critics! Ye Kill the Fun: Critics and the Masses Disagree About Film Choices
  Futhering the theory that critics aren’t people too.
• 10 Stupid Mistakes Made by the Newly Self-Employed
  What to know when you decide to quite your day job.
• Braced2Bite ? Serena Robar
  Vampires for teenagers. Because they cross generational lines.

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Today’s links of interest:

• Reading and writhing
  CBS, we curse you for revealing the truth about wine, er, book club. It was supposed to be a secret.
• My life as a sitting duck
  Artist. Critic. Artist-critic. Can you do both?
• Bukowski legacy given to library
  Not to brag or anything, but the Bukowski legacy will now lilve on the same block as the BS husband, though Bukowski will reside in a much higher rent district.

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Today’s links of interest:

• Reading and writhing
  CBS, we curse you for revealing the truth about wine, er, book club. It was supposed to be a secret.
• My life as a sitting duck
  Artist. Critic. Artist-critic. Can you do both?
• Bukowski legacy given to library
  Not to brag or anything, but the Bukowski legacy will now lilve on the same block as the BS husband, though Bukowski will reside in a much higher rent district.

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Today’s links of interest:

• Fiorina Packs the House
  The only major session we didn’t attend on Thursday was the Carly Fiorina presentation. Instinct told us we wouldn’t get much in the way of insight out of it; instinct was right. We’re still pulling together our notes and thoughts on this issue, but you c
• New Proof of (Long Tail) Concept
  Though we don’t actually require proof, it’s not a bad thing to have. See proof, believe.
• Know your (copy) rights
  Brenda Coulter does us proud by ranting about copyright (so we don’t have to). Educate yourself. You’ll be happy you did so.

Today’s links of interest:

• How to Write Your Novel and Still Have Time for Sex
  Because if you’re choosing one over the other, your priorities need some serious re-evaluation.
• For Book Publishing in ’05, Harry Potter Worked Magic
  We have decided that deciphering publishing news is like playing Monopoly. Without the shoe piece.
• Pinky’s Paperhaus: It’s time to play the music
  Pinky turns out to be far too diplomatic in her coverage of the publishing industry’s podcasting panel. Reminder: it’s 2006. We should be talking advanced podcasting for publishers.

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Today’s links of interest:

• Pinky’s Paperhaus: It’s time to play the music
  Pinky turns out to be far too diplomatic in her coverage of the publishing industry’s podcasting panel. Reminder: it’s 2006. We should be talking advanced podcasting for publishers.
• Life?Expectancy of Bestsellers Plummets, Finds Study; Signs of Turmoil as Publishing Industry Gathers for Annual Book Expo and Da Vinci Code Film Arrives in Theatres
  Longest headline ever. Also, probably true. But we’re getting ahead of ourself — more on this topic when we do our Long Tail session wrap-up.
• Amazon’s ‘One-Click’ patent re-examined
  To quote the lead (because we couldn’t make this up): The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is re-examining Amazon.com Inc.’s patent for "one-click" online shopping at the request of a New Zealand actor who says he’s upset over slow book delivery.

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Todays links of interest:

• Digitised books could be the solution to loss of revenue
  Hey, we said that!
• Book browsing leads to chain saw threat
  And you thought the Yomiuri Giants were the biggest threat in the prefecture.
• Newly Translated Gospel Offers More Positive Portrayal of Judas
  We’re quite excited about this as good history junkies should be. More interesting, however, is the eventual impact on the Biblical canon.

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