The Booksense bestseller list for 4/19/2004 is leaving me ever so slightly desirous of, well, a major surprise. A blockbuster. A book that captures America’s imagination as no other books has. Sure, all my money’s on Eats, Shoots and Leaves, but I’m thinking a backup book might be a good idea. Seriously, these lists are looking pretty much the same, week in, week out. Or is it that my bees simply don’t have secret lives — they make sure I know all their doings by buzzing above my head ominously while I’m trying to do a little reading. BookSense List […]

To the surprise of the literary establishment, mystery novels are creeping out of the genre ghetto and garnering respect. In celebrating this major shift in snobbery perception, authors are moving toward more “standalone” titles, standalones being, I suppose, more literary than series. Someday, I really need to sit down and figure all this what makes a book great stuff. Never fear: romance and science fiction remain books non grata. Out of the Genre Ghetto

Okay, first, did you know there was a premier monthly magazine of opinion? And I’m not involved? The mind boggles. Turns out that Commentary magazine holds the title. Yet another calling missed…sigh. Joseph Epstein has written on article about writing and creativity and why people choose (ha!) to suffer for their art. While the article starts to delve into science and the way the brain works (I can tell you — only when it’s in the mood), it’s a fun, interesting piece. Writing on the Brain

Publisher’s Weekly is reporting that, to nobody’s surprise, romance novels are the top sellers in the book world. Oh sure, general fiction makes a strong showing, but it’s the books that we don’t admit to devouring that top the charts. Romance Is Tops (Note: PW’s web content is for subscribers only. You can get a free trial subscription or cough up the bucks to get full access to lots of goodies.)

I don’t know Lynne Truss, but I think I love her. It takes a brave, bold woman to stand up to the insanity that permeates modern punctuation. Yes, I’m talking about the abuse of the serial comma. In her sure-to-be-a-bestseller Eats, Shoots and Leaves (if you haven’t heard the joke this title is based upon, you’re truly missing a classic), Truss takes on said abuse directly, but doesn’t stop there…she stands strong on the issues surrounding apostophes and our lazy, crazy ways of writing on the Internet. It’s almost enough to make me admit my addiction to dashes and ellipses.

There’s nothing like a celebrity bio — and accompanying advance — to get the struggling author’s blood boiling. Heck, we could do trashy sex videos if we wanted. Is it our fault that we’re too smart to leave the tapes in the hands of unscrupulous individuals? This Gawker.com piece only confirms the worst nightmares of each and every author out there. After all, while we struggle with craft and proofreading until our eyes bleed, Paris Hilton (not an author, by the way) has the luxury of having her bio read to her. And even then, it’s a tough proposition. I

By the way, what is the perjorative term for an intellectual male? Hmmm, nothing comes to mind. In discussing author Sarah Dunant’s bestseller The Birth Of Venus, the Guardian UK expresses shock that a readable historical novel (i.e., sex and violence and all the rest of the human condition) comes from such a highbrow author. Does this mean intellectuals can’t talk to the masses? On the other hand, what sort of character is so broadly drawn that she can be played onscreen by either Penelope Cruz or Keira Knightley? That one boggles this particular mind. Blue-stocking author storms America with

The 2003 Nebula Award winners have been announced. I don’t know what is more shocking, the fact that Neil Gaiman won for a book I haven’t read…or the fact that Neil Gaiman has a new book out when I’m still trying to to squeeze American Gods into my reading schedule. Nebula Award winners Nebula Awards Winners

New American Library has cancelled the reissue of Lynne Cheney’s so-called racy book. Turns out the Vice-President (of the United States)’s wife didn’t think the novel was her best work. Really? A bodice ripper with brothel scenes and lesbian action? If this isn’t the pinnacle of creative writer-dom, what is? I think the public should decide this one — everyone knows that authors are the worst judges of their own talent. Plus I suspect it will be a good laugh! Publisher cancels reissue of racy novel by Lynne Cheney

It’s a known fact that printed directories are only good as of the day they’re printed (woe unto the poor soul who divorces and dumps her husband’s last name minutes after the presses start rolling). And in the age of wireless access and lighter-than-air laptops (would that my employer gives me one), people will be looking for last minute last minute information. For BEA, that will come from BEAMarketplace.com. Brought to you by the brilliant minds behind Publisher’s Lunch and Publisher’s Marketplace.com, the online directory, information service, and (if you’re lucky) source of up-to-minute venue changes for hot parties will