Links ‘n stuff

So Edinburgh, which is hosting the annual Book Festival this week and next, wants very much to be declared a World City of Literature. Is that claim justified? Alan Taylor, writing for the Sunday Herald, ponders the question.

Lawrence Weschler spent much of his life writing profiles for the New Yorker and after a time, got sick of it. Now he’s trying incredibly hard to launch a new magazine, OMNIVORE, devoted to “thoughtful non-fiction.” It will be launched–provided he can find “one good millionaire” to help him out….

Bob Hoover of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette decides to weigh in on the whole issue of book criticism and such, because he can, of course.

Speaking of Pittsburgh, Tess Gerritsen’s in town and she speaks to the Tribune-Review’s Regis Behe about her new medical thriller, BODY DOUBLE.

The Maine Press-Herald interviews John Searles and is shocked, absolutely shocked to discover he doesn’t own a cell phone. Well hell, I don’t either, but that’s because there’s no real reason to sign up for a yearlong contract when I have no idea where I’ll be next week, let alone for the next year….

Think the shelf life of BY A SPIDER’S THREAD in review-land is over? Of course not! The San Jose Mercury News waited a while to deliver its verdict, but they sure did like the book a whole lot.

Minnesota-based novelist Jon Hassler’s been rather busy of late–he’s about to publish two short novels this fall and is completing the final touches on a longer work that’s due out sometime next year. He speaks to his home paper, the Star-Tribune, about his output and future plans.

Brigid Hughes, the new and much-scrutinized editor of the Paris Review, is interviewed by the Christian Science Monitor about the magazine’s new issue–the first post-Plimpton–and its upcoming project to make available all its author interviews online.

Look for Michael Litchfield, a reporter for the Oxford Mail, to join the crime writing ranks soon, as he’s just inked a three-book deal with UK publisher Robert Hale.

Ed’s started the Tanenhaus Watch, which we presume will be a weekly fixture. Although we’re curious–what kind of brownie, exactly, will Ed be awarding? Chocolate? Blondie-style? Hash–oh, wait….

And finally, I have to admit, this story’s making me confused. Because didn’t the exact same thing happen in January? Advice to would-be drunken starlets contemplating marriage after a few too many: Stay the hell out of the Palms….