James Frey, J.T. Leroy, Nasdijj. These literary frauds recently captured headlines and office gossip around the gin-coolers of publishing houses everywhere. Oprah, feigning ignorance of the book biz, blamed the publishing companies for not checking their facts. The publishing companies pointed the finger at economic realities and said it’s not financially feasible to examine every claim made…
We all know that turning point, the key moment, maybe it’s the climax, maybe we call it the crucial moment, or maybe we just leave it unnamed, but we all know it should be there. That pivot in your story whene a character faces a hinge in his life and nothing will ever be the same.…
Jeff at Syntax of Things always locates the coolest items and yesterday was no different. He found this Reuters report about a letter written by William Faulkner that drew nearly $18,000 at auction on Sunday. In the missive, Faulkner complains about being conned into signing a seven year contract with Warner Bros film studio. Some F. Scott Fitzgerald…
Jay McInerney, literary chronicler of New York City, stood in his large window struggling with a broken shade. He wasn’t actually paying attention to the view–he’d seen it many times before: the wide expanse of water towers and fire escapes, the blossom of Wall Street, and the Twin Towers lurching out of the sea. Focusing…