File it under smart people who do dumb things. Instead of ignoring, or laughing off, the book ON HER MAJESTY’S SERVICE by Ron Evans, who guarded Rushdie when he was in hiding, the knighted author is threatening to sue–which doesn’t really invalidate the book’s assertions. Rushdie tells the Guardian, “He is portraying me as mean, nasty, tight-fisted, arrogant and extremely unpleasant. In my humble opinion I am none of those things.” He gives them paragraphs of quotes and denials, culminating in this: “This is not a free speech issue, this is libel – there is a difference between those two […]
Authors
Lace Reader on NPR
Follow the link below to hear LACE READER author Brunonia Barry on NPR’s Morning Edition. Part of the story focuses on her successful adventure in self-publishing. “Barry’s husband, Gary Ward, encouraged her to self-publish; she says if it had not been for him, the book might still be sitting in a drawer. Barry and Ward have their own software publishing business, which served as a base for the venture. “We thought, ‘We can do this, we’re already publishers,’ Barry remembers. ‘It’s kind of a laugh now, because you run into so many things you never anticipated.'” Manager of the Spirit […]
More Stephenie Meyer
USA Today insists, “Stephenie Meyer is the most famous writer you’ve never heard of. But not for long. Meyer’s growing popularity is like a flashing billboard on our pop culture landscape.” But Meyer says “I think that after 30 years of being the most normal person in the whole world, it’s really hard to become ungrounded. When I’m not out on tour or doing photo shoots, I tend to just forget about it all.” BREAKING DAWN goes on sale just after midnight on Friday, with a first printing of 3.2 million copies. (Her first, and bestselling, book, TWILIGHT, has 3.3 […]
Ann Patchett on Touring
The most important things Ann Patchett learned about the art of book touring were conveyed at a Southeast Booksellers Association conference in the 90s by Allan Gurganus and Clyde Edgerton, she writes in an Atlantic essay. Edgerton advised, “You’ve got to drink plenty of water” or you get dehydrated. Gurganus noted, “The only thing worse than going on book tour, is not going on book tour.” Patchett says: “The reason I have so assiduously followed Clyde’s advice (I drink it by the bucketful whenever I’m out on the road) and chanted Allan’s words like a mantra in my head (It […]
Former Rushdie Guard Complains in Book
Former UK detective Ron Evans has written ON HER MAJESTY’S SERVICE to complain about his three years guarding Salman Rusdhie “at the height of the threats on his life generated by a fatwa issued by the Iranian Ayatollah.” The Telegraph writes: “Evans paints an unflattering picture of Rushdie as tight-fisted, rude and arrogant, and claims the team of protection officers nicknamed him Scruffy because of his unkempt appearance. He said the protection team were expected to pay him rent for their sparse lodgings in a safe house.”Telegraph
The Two Mr. Banvilles
John Banville claims mixed feelings about his work. On his thriller-writing alter ego he says, “I’m proud of the Benjamin Black books in the way that a craftsman would be proud of a nicely finished table.” As for the Booker-winner’s titles, “John Banville books I loathe and despise and hate. They’re a standing affront to me.” He adds, “I have this fantasy,” says the much-lauded Irish novelist. “I’m walking past a bookshop and I click my fingers and all my books go blank. So I can start again and get it right.” What else is different between the two writers? […]