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Tag: Publishing Biz (71-80 of 124)

On the Books Feb. 21: Jesse James tells all, gay author-producer dies, the fading of marginalia

jesse-jamesImage Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesAnother unbelievably tasteless tell-all memoir in the works: Jesse James has reportedly signed on with Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, to write a book that will divulge intimate details about his marriage to Sandra Bullock and his engagement to Kat von D. The only book by James that I’d maybe read is a tattoo book. And I’d only flip through it at the bookstore, not pay good money for it.

Perry Moore, gay author and executive producer of the Narnia series, died last week of unknown causes. He was the author of the novel Hero, a delightful, empowering story about a gay teenage superhero.

Sure, the Kindle now lets you highlight and take notes, but there’s nothing like a well-worn, scribbled-over book. The Times examines the fading of marginalia and the importance of preserving the side-notes of Twain, Austen, and Whitman. I have to admit, I love highlighting and taking notes on books with my iPad, but I’d never be able to create an amazing stick figure swordfight flipbook in an e-Margin like I did with my seventh grade copy of The Hobbit.

On the Books: February 1

Late night host Jimmy Fallon will pen a two-book series entitled Thank You Notes for Grand Central Publishing. Based on a popular weekly feature from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, he’ll express his undying gratitude to various people, inanimate objects, and abstract ideas.

What are our future leaders reading? A list of the top ten bestsellers on college campuses reveals few surprises—Tucker Max at number seven is disappointing but predictable—but the W memoir besting Jon Stewart is pretty shocking.

Brooke Burke admits to “not always liking her children” in her new book The Naked Mom.

Outgoing Google boss Eric Schmidt is on the hunt for a book deal about “the effect of technology on authoritarian governments.”

Kathy Freston’s new book, Quantum Wellness: A Practical and Spiritual Guide to Health and Happiness inspires Oprah and her 378 staffers to go vegan for one week.

On The Books: January 25th

Frank Cascio, once personal assistant to Michael Jackson, signed a deal with William Morrow to pen My Friend Michael. The book promises to be “uplifting and definitive” while exposing the dark side of the late superstar’s fame.

Orson Scott Card launches two new “boy on the run” fantasy series, almost simultaneously.

We all judge a book by its cover—but why isn’t there more original, creative cover art these days?

From a London art exhibit to the Dalai Lama, manga gets some major respect.

Have you had enough the “Tiger Mother” yet? Me neither. So much has been said about Amy Chua’s parenting that her book can get lost in the discussion. Here’s a roundup of critical reviews of her controversial memoir.

National Book Critics Circle Awards finalists announced

Jonathan Franzen — whose Freedom was snubbed last November by the National Book Awards — was nominated today for the more prestigious National Book Critics Circle award. Other fiction finalists include Jennifer Egan (A Visit From the Goon Squad), David Grossman (To the End of the Land), Hans Keilson (Comedy in a  Minor Key), and Paul Murray (Skippy Dies).

Nonfiction finalists include Barbara Demick (Nothing to Envy), S.C. Gwynne (Empire of the Summer Moon), Jennifer Homans (Apollo’s Angels), Siddhartha Mukherjee (The Emperor of All Maladies) and Isabel Wilkerson (The Warmth of Other Suns).

Finalists in the autobiography category are Patti Smith (who nabbed a National Book Award for Just Kids), Christopher Hitchens (Hitch-22), Darrin Strauss (Half a Life), Kai Bird (Crossing Mandelbaum Gate), David Dow (Autobiography of an Execution) and Rahna Reiko Rizzuto (Hiroshima in the AM).

The winners will be announced March 10.

Google launches e-books store: Are you ready to get your head in 'the cloud'?

Google’s new e-books store launched today, offering over 3 million titles in a new format that will compete directly with established retailers like Amazon. The store offers everything from the latest bestsellers (mostly in the $9 to $15 range) to public domain classics like Moby Dick (free, unless you think in terms of time=money, in which case it has its usual price of around $800,000).

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Dan Rather to write memoir

Dan-Rather-last-CBS-showImage Credit: CBS/LandovGrand Central Publishing announced late this afternoon that they have acquired Dan Rather’s autobiography, Summing Up.

According to a press release, it will be written in the same “‘boots-on-the ground’ spirit that Dan Rather has pioneered in his long and illustrious journalism career,” and will range from JFK’s assassination to Vietnam, Watergate, and the wars in Afghanistan and and Iraq. The company tentatively plans to publish in Spring 2012.

Count me in as a reader: I’ve always admired Rather. How about all of you?

Chelsea Handler gets her own imprint and a three-book deal

chelsea-handlerImage Credit: Jason Merritt/WireImage.comGrand Central Publishing has given comedienne and late-night host Chelsea Handler her own imprint, Deadline reports.  It makes sense, considering that Handler has written three books already, all of which have sold like hilarious, readable hotcakes—Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea and her latest Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang both spent weeks numbering in the double-digits on the bestsellers chart. Handler already has a three-book deal for the new imprint, Borderline Amazing / A Chelsea Handler Book, the first of which, titled Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me, is set to release in May 2011.

While Chelsea Lately may not get quite as many eyes as her competitors, being a successful enough writer to garner your own imprint at a major publishing house is no mean feat. I’m sure Chunk is quite proud of his owner.

Grove Atlantic to relaunch the Mysterious Press

Grove Atlantic has announced that they will be bringing back the Mysterious Press, a mystery-specific imprint that was originally launched in 1975. What’s more, Otto Penzler, the well-known editor of mysteries and thrillers, as well as the proprietor of New York City’s The Mysterious Bookshop, is on board to help the imprint publish 10 to 12 books a year in both hardcover and paperback. The plot thickens, or at least the mystery-publishing business does.

Jonathan Franzen says his British publisher screwed up, printing an early draft of 'Freedom'

Jonathan Franzen reportedly told an audience in London last night that his British publisher, HarperCollins, printed the wrong computer file instead of his final draft. The company—which is disputing the error—is nonetheless reprinting the book, with new editions available on Monday.

On the Books: August 5

The Kama Sutra, that ancient sexual almanac, is being published as an audiobook. Hopefully, it won’t be read by Gilbert Gottfried.

Sean Penn is in negotiations to play Max Perkins, the famously oddball editor who worked with Fitzgerald and Hemingway.

NPR listeners love thrills, and apparently not just the thrill of finding a bug in their Kashi. Fans of public radio cast their ballots for the top 100 thrillers of all time.

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