Save the books!

Books are an endangered species. Well, not books per se - believe me, we publish more and more of them every year. But book coverage is shrinking - already in the last year we've (collective we, as in "the book publishing industry," of which I am part of) seen 4 major metro newspaper nix coverage altogether. And now, the latest casualty, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. But finally, an uproar!

The industry will not take this. Already I see more reviews and coverage of video games than books anymore. It's an uphill battle that I wage daily, as a publicist who's main job description is to get review coverage for books. In the more than 6 years that I have been in this industry, I've seen it change dramatically - for the better and worse. I won't get into the boring details here.

But, if you read books, as I do, or you like books, or even if you just use them to wipe your ass (blasphemy!), sign the petition to save book coverage (and perhaps, books) here.

And after that, read a hilarious posting from one of my favorite all-around great authors (and people) George Saunders, certified genius. And join his Army here.

CNN NOT Breaking News

Contrary to popular belief, this is not breaking news, CNN. Or anyone else for that matter, unless you're a tabloid.

Are we fighting a war here, people, or what?!

Happy 20th, Fox!

Dear Fox,
Thank you for bringing us Married, With Children, the Gary Shandling Show, the Tracey Ullman Show, and the Simpsons (and more recently Arrested Development).

Sorry you ever went to the dark side and had to bring us Bill O'Reilly and Geraldo, and Joe Millionaire, and I Want to Marry a Millionaire and other crappy reality shows.

So fondly I remember Al Bundy and Francesca. Happy birthday!

The Latin Mint

So who knew? Tic Tacs are a product of Ecuador (says so right on the package).

Damn I love the orange ones. So un-minty, but sweetly delicious for just 1.9 calories per mint! Sugar kick, hi-yaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Crap, I also can't stop eating them.

I love you FCC!

Finally, the FCC does something smart by banning cell phone use on airplanes!

Just having to deal with morons talking on their cell phones on city buses, which is the most annoying thing ever (and don't even get me started on the dumb girl behind me in the lunch line yesterday who was talking to someone about what to get for lunch...lame!), the air travel cell phone debacle would be disruptive an unbearable. Especially when you think about how loudly people would have to talk to be heard over the plane noise. I know I have to crank my headphones when I'm on a plane because of this large, noise-inducer called an engine.

Let's hope this rule sticks (and if the FAA can please just relax the damn carry on rules so I don't have to check everything? Thanks).

Crazy Train Rides Again

I'm just thrilled (sense the sarcasm) to see that batshit Judith Regan is back. And clearly more childish and moronic than ever. Goodie gumdrops! Crash and burn, lady, crash and burn!


Regan Launches New Venture
Judith Regan, whose publishing company was shut down last December by imprint HarperCollins, has founded a new publishing venture. Like ReganBooks, Chutzpah Press will specialize in what Regan, in a long, rambling statement, called "books that go to the edge, call into question, get in the face, never surrender and are distinguished by utter originality."
Chutzpah's first title, scheduled to be released in the second half of July, is called Harry Potter and the Secret of the Purpose-Driven Da Vinci Code Life.Chutzpah's literary imprint, Schizophrenic House, has already signed up several volumes of poetry and thoughtful first fiction.
In her announcement, Reagan also complained of being unfairly forced to stay after school one day in fourth grade.