On The Shelf
Friday, June 10, 2005
"More than 100,000 books are published every year in the UK. Some go on to become multimillion bestsellers, the vast majority do not. Oliver Burkeman follows the 18-month-long journey of one novel, from the author's flash of inspiration in a pub, to the moment it hit the shelves at Books Etc." Burkeman, writing for the Guardian Unlimited, tells the tale of a book called The Pirates! In An Adventure with Scientists by Gideon Defoe. Yes, it's suppose to be funny. The book. And the title.
"Emerson Spartz, 18, who started a Harry Potter Web site six years ago, recently caught the attention of the author of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling. He will get the chance next month to meet and interview Rowling personally." You can find Emerson's site at www.mugglenet.com -- it features a countdown to the next installment in the series as well as an opportunity to send in possible questions for Emerson to ask Rowling.
Chocolate scented doors? A bench disguised as a large crocodile? That could really only mean one thing : A museum dedicated to children's author Roald Dahl is getting ready to open in the U.K.
Have you ever wondered what R.M. Renfield's life was like after meeting Dracula? Who hasn't, right? Well, the time has come to find out. Author Tim Lucas has taken on the character in his latest novel, The Book of Renfield, A Gospel of Dracula. "Through this new treatment, Renfield's troubled childhood, and his character's later strange behavior is finally given full meaning. The conflict he endures over his compulsion to consume insects, spiders and other creatures is examined and the reason for his devotion to such an evil presence is revealed." If you are interested in this novel, you may also want to check out Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, which also deals with the legend of Dracula.
"William Peter Blatty, the author of the best-selling novel The Exorcist and Academy Award-winning screenwriter of the 1973 film of the book, has sued the producer of two Exorcist sequels, Morgan Creek Productions, for breach of contract." The author claims that he did not receive an agreed upon payment for one of the film's sequels.
