News, news, news

Stella Rimington is best known as the former boss of the MI5 (or, for those in the UK who like to watch tv, “Spooks.”) Now that she’s retired, she’s gone and written a novel, and the Guardian asks some other espionage types to review it. Their verdict? Not bad, but could be better.

Oh good lord–seventeen THOUSAND entries for the End of Story campaign? Are they all insane? Anyway, a whole lot of aspiring writers have entered the contest to finish stories by the likes of Ian Rankin, Sue Townsend and Ed McBain.

Peter Straub has won the Bram Stoker Awardfor best Horror novel for 2003’s lost boy lost girl. (link from PM.)

The Kinkster for governor? Well, he’s kicking his campaign into gear–high might be an overstatement–by talking to NPR’s Ketzel Levine (love the first name!). Of course, he’s also plugging his newest mystery, THE PRISONER OF VANDAM STREET, as well.

The Scotsman asks a notable bunch–including the young woman who penned “Zlata’s Diary” which caused a sensation a decade or so ago–for their thoughts on the Diary of Anne Frank, which has led to a special commemorative day this Saturday.

Richard Dyer of the Boston Globe looks at the two latest installment in the Robert B. Parker oeuvre–the newest Spenser, BAD BUSINESS, and his well-received standalone, DOUBLE PLAY.

Nancy Pearl, the only librarian to have her own action figure, is retiring to devote more time to writing books (her first was BOOK LUST) and other projects.

David Schwartz, the longtime owner of the Harry W. Schwartz independent bookshops in Wisconsin, died on Monday. The Journal-Sentinel remembers him and his contribution to the communities his bookstores served.

And finally, Jeff Vrabel of the Chicago Sun-Times explains how you, too, can be like Hef. Me, I just want to know why I keep being fascinated by the Playboy founder, or at least, with certain aspects of his fame…