Links dropping from the sky

Who’s the most popular author in Japan at the moment? A good argument could be made for Koji Suzuki, the man responsible for RING and its equally popular sequel, SPIRAL.

The International Festival of Authors closed last night with a gala reading by each of the Giller Prize nominees, including Alice Munro. Judy Stoffman of the Toronto Star reports.

Meghan O’ Rourke introduces us to Edward Stratemeyer, the man responsible for recruiting zillions of writers for his Nancy Drew enterprise. In other words, one of the very first book packagers.

So who’s Tom Wolfe voting for? One would think it would be President Bush, but for whatever reason, he ain’t telling, as this lengthy Guardian piece eventually figures out.

The Literary Saloon links to a curious new project undertaken by Gregory Chkartashvili: he’ll be collaborating on a series of novellas with his alter-ego, Boris Akunin. Shades of Ed McBain and Evan Hunter in CANDYLAND? (And would Donald Westlake and Richard Stark ever collaborate?)

John Connolly’s NOCTURNES gets a very nice write-up in the Independent on Sunday by someone who knows the horror genre all too well: Christopher Fowler.

The Modesto Bee catches up with former journalist and acclaimed crime writer Denise Hamilton, whose book is the featured read for the newspaper’s book club.

How far is too far when it comes to talking to children about death? Rosemary Goring attempts to find out for the Glasgow Herald.

And finally, what’s this NaNoWriMo business everyone’s talking about? Marta Salij of the Freep attempts to enlighten in a rather snarky piece.