Last links

The weekend is almost upon me (thank god) but before taking Friday off, some more choice goodies to tide you all over:

Alexander McCall Smith is now officially suffering from hypergraphia. How else to explain, even as he’s launching a brand-new series in September, that he’s just embarked on a second series of his daily serial 44 SCOTLAND STREET? It makes me wonder if someone ought to forward Terry’s reflections on R&R to the poor man….

So what is up with all these novels that try to put words in the mouth of real life writers? Caryn James tries to find out, but this NYT piece somehow denigrates a bunch of books in order to showcase Colm Toibin’s brilliance. Is that really fair? Although I must say, when I come across novels starring a real-life person of note, I usually shy away–except when I don’t (an example of that will be in evidence in the next week or two.)

Get your triple dose of Ken Bruen right here! Craig MacDonald profiles 3 brand-new novels from the Irish wonder, although two of them are UK-only. And I concur about the ending to THE DRAMATIST. Sheer gobsmacking genius.

Ian Smith, medical correspondent turned thriller writer with THE BLACKBIRD PAPERS, was on the Tavis Smiley show. Listen to the program here.

The Bookseller goes rather hog-wild with author profiles this week as they look at David Lodge, Karen Joy Fowler, M.G. Vassanji, and A.L. Kennedy.

James Robertson has won the Scottish Arts Council’s Book of the Year award for his historical novel JOSEPH KNIGHT.

Another day, another profile of Louis de Bernieres. Well, I suppose that’s not really the case, but expect the author to be even more ever-present in the days to come. First book in 10 years…will do it every time.

So you think I’ve been ripping the veil on the reality of publishing? Meet Daniel Stolar, whose debut collection of short stories met with a resounding thud when its release date clashed with Harry Potter V, and read Dan Green’s pessimistic take on the piece.

And finally, in honor of the Canadian election that’s making me crazy (because I’m seriously considering not voting at all): Ed’s Back!