Out of the Cave

Most of the time we don’t hear about the world of authors–outside of book signings and award nominations, that is. But lately I’ve been reading a lot about authors and their out-of-the-cave times. Since most of this isn’t really applicable to what I’ve been trying to accomplish with the Books & Business Google Notebook daily updates (HERE), but interesting nonetheless, I thought I’d compile some of the scoop for today’s post.

Did you know…

An author recently claimed he’d been interviewed by Oprah and chosen as her book club pick when he hadn’t? He even went so far as to post a transcript on his website. HERE.

OJ Simpson’s ghost writer isn’t taking any writerly criticisms lying down? Everything was approved by the Juice himself, Pablo F. Fenjves says, despite the former pro-football player’s recent backpedaling. HERE. (The back-and-forth over If I Did It has ended, btw, and the Goldmans will be publishing the book through Beaufort Books in October of this year…though you won’t be able to buy it at Barnes & Noble.)

Ian Rankin, a crime writer in Scotland, has either leaked some serious JK Rowling scoop or planted a red herring? The evidence, it seems, is circumstantial at best. HERE.

Another author in Poland, whose harrowing details of murder were a little too believable, was charged as the murderer in an unsolved case? Turns out his wife and the deceased were acquainted. Details HERE.

Yet another author faces charges of libel for printing the name of the man he believes to be a murderer in his memoir? The author, Joseph Horak, isn’t just any old Joe either: he’s a former police chief. HERE.

A Russian author also faces libel charges? Pavel Astakhov has been accused of insulting Moscow’s chief police investigator and the Russian police in general…even though Astakhov never named names. More HERE.

A Bangladeshi writer was attacked earlier this month in India for her controversial religious writings? “The author herself faces up to two years in jail if found guilty on a charge of inciting religious tensions.” HERE.

A French author was recently beat up by his townsmen? The fictionalized events in his novels, based on real events in his hometown, were recognized for their distinctive dramatic unfoldings. HERE.

Stephen King, who recently entered a bookstore to sign copies of his work, was mistaken for a book thief? (Oops! I wonder if he’ll ever go back.) HERE.

And this, because it’s so interesting: The secret of Edgar Allan Poe’s rose-and-cognac bearing visitor is laid to rest. Read all about it HERE.

Here’s hoping that all our dramas stay firmly on our pages. Write on, all!

Therese Walsh

Therese Walsh (she/her) co-founded Writer Unboxed in 2006 and is the site’s editorial director. She was the editor of WU’s only book, Author in Progress, and runs the Writer Unboxed UnConference.

Her second novel, The Moon Sisters, received starred reviews and was named one of the best books of the year by Library Journal and Book Riot.

Learn more about Therese on her website, and sign up for her newsletter to be among the first to hear about any new projects.

www.theresewalsh.com/