links here, there, everywhere

(Typepad’s misbehaving this morning, so apologies for this post appearing later than it ought to.)

So yesterday’s tentative exercise into NSFW (everybody got that now?) territory was met with considerable shock and dismay–and even getting my site blocked at one faithful reader’s workplace. But have no fear, there are no graphic images, though I can’t promise the text will be all warm and fuzzy. Onward…

For all you enterprising and wannabe authors, tomorrow is the last day to enter the 2nd annual Lit Idol contest. I’d actually given serious thought to entering but was rightfully talked out of it. It might actually help to finish a first draft and edit the crap out of it before anyway as formidable as Val McDermid lays her hands on it….

Thought Bill Clinton’s biography had sold enough copies in hardcover? Think again, and Knopf announces its plan to split the 957-page tome into two paperback releases this summer. The first will deal with the early years; the second, the not-so-early ones….

Michael Crichton must be getting kind of tired of having to respond to allegations that he’s underestimating the effects of global warming (as outlined in his new bestseller STATE OF FEAR) but nevertheless, he responds to such questions posed by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Book of the Month Club only thinks it’s dying but hasn’t quite realized that time has passed them by. The article here amuses me for mentioning Mordecai Richler’s involvement since he was very on-and-off about it, sometimes slavishly enthusiastic but mostly indifferent.

The editor-in-chief at Canada’s MacLean’s magazine has decided to move up his leave date by a year. The problem is, there’s no successor in sight and naturally, staffers are pretty damn nervous.

Sally Beaumann picks her top ten novels with a strong sense of place for the Guardian.

USA Today’s Ayesha Court interviews the current literary darling of the moment, Rattawut Lapcharoensap, whose debut short story collection is racking up a ton of fantabulous reviews.

Not that any of you need further convincing to read Kate Atkinson’s CASE HISTORIES, but what the hell, here’s another great review, this from the Agony Column’s Terry D’Auray.

Another day, another interview with Helen Oyeyemi, this courtesy of the Sunday Telegraph.

And finally, one of the most cringe-inducing stories I’ve ever read (courtesy Maccers, who has allegedly stopped drinking, although I remain slightly skeptical.)