Michael Janairo

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Author: Michael Janairo

  • Bush the author

    Jenna Bush has a book deal. Hey, if it helps UNICEF, it can’t be all that bad?

    From the Guardian:

    Jenna Bush, the daughter of US president George Bush, is to write a young adult, non-fiction book based on her experiences as an unpaid intern working with Unicef in central America.

    The book, called Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope, will focus on a 17-year-old orphaned single mother with HIV. It has been bought by HarperCollins for an undisclosed sum – believed to be above $300,000 (£155,500) – is due to be published this autumn. A “portion” of author and publisher proceeds will go to the US fund for Unicef, which supports child survival, protection and development worldwide through education, advocacy and fundraising.

  • Albany Author and Nelson DeMille

    The Mystery Writers of America announced its new board today, and it includes UAlbany professor Frankie Y. Bailey, who has written at least four mysteries. She’ll be the secretary, serving with DeMille, who will be president for the 2007-08 term.

    From the press release:

    Bailey is serving on the board of the organization at a very exciting time. This year the MWA will hold its 61st annual Edgar® Awards, which recognize the very best in mystery fiction, non-fiction, television and film, and will honor legendary master of suspense Stephen King with the Grand Master award, the highest honor bestowed by the organization. The MWA just announced the launch of the first ever website dedicated solely to the Edgar Awards, www.theedgars.com. Additionally, MWA is launching the MWA:Reads Library Initiative, a program developed to aid financially struggling libraries throughout the U.S.

    Bailey is an associate professor in the School of Criminal Justice at the University at Albany (SUNY), and is also the author of mystery series featuring Southern criminal justice professor/crime historian Lizzie Stuart. The series includes the novels Death’s Favorite Child (Silver Dagger, 2000), A Dead Man’s Honor (Silver Dagger, 2001), and Old Murders (Silver Dagger, 2003). The fourth Lizzie Stuart novel, You Should Have Died on Monday, will be out in March 2007. Bailey is currently at work on Writing Justice: The Worldviews of African American Mystery Writers (McFarland).

    Mystery Writers of America (MWA) recently announced the election of its national officers for the 2007-2008 term, including President Nelson DeMille.

    DeMille is the bestselling author of: By the Rivers of Babylon, Cathedral, The Talbot Odyssey, Word of Honor, The Charm School, The Gold Coast, The General’s Daughter, Spencerville, Plum Island, The Lion’s Game, Up Country, Night Fall, and Wild Fire.

    Serving alongside President DeMille are Secretary Frankie Y. Bailey, Treasurer Bob Williamson, and Executive Vice President Daniel J. Hale.

    In his new role of Executive Vice President, Daniel J. Hale will be guiding the organization through a year of groundbreaking initiatives. Hale stated, “It is my great honor and pleasure to serve as the Executive Vice President of Mystery Writers of America, the premier organization for crime writers, professionals allied to the mystery writing field, aspiring crime writers, and those devoted to the genre.

    “Mystery Writers of America is an organization dedicated to service. Through the newly announced MWA:Reads Library Initiative, we aim to provide books for American youth who might not otherwise have access to the wonderful world of mystery. We have also formed an Education Committee, one whose planned programs are designed to help increase the educational opportunities for the mystery community. Through it all, MWA remains steadfast in its dedication to promoting higher regard for crime writing, as well as raising the level of recognition and respect for its membership.”

    Hale continued, “In the near future, MWA will launch its new website, one that has been completely redesigned. Not only visually stunning, it will usher in unprecedented opportunities for the 3,000 members of MWA, as well as those in the general public wanting to know more about their favorite authors.”

    Mystery Writers of America’s membership includes publishers, editors, literary agents, and screen and television writers, as well as authors of fiction and non-fiction books.

    The organization will celebrate the 61st anniversary of the Edgar® Awards on April 26th in New York City. The awards will be hosted by Al Roker of NBC’s Today Show and will honor Stephen King as the 2007 Grand Master.

  • A new blog!

    The New York State Writers Institute has just launched a blog, run by its director, Donald Faulkner.

    It’s still in the early stages, but give it a look. It is sure to be a great supplement to the quality slate of authors NYSWI always bring in.

    The URL is: http://nyswiblog.blogspot.com/index.html

  • What library patrons are reading (and watching)

    From Philip Ritter, executive director of the Upper Hudson Library System (The UHLS is a cooperative association of 29 libraries in Albany and Rensselaer counties), evidence about the rise of DVDs over books as items requested from libraries:

    Following is a list of the most requested books in the Upper Hudson Library System during the month of February 2007.

    1. STEP ON A CRACK by James Patterson
    2. THE SECRET by Rhonda Byrne
    3. THE DOUBLE BIND: A NOVEL by Christopher A. Bohjalian
    4. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS by J. K. Rowling
    5. PLUM LOVIN’ by Janet Evanovich

    I realize that your blog is about books, but I thought you might be interested in seeing the most request videorecordings or DVDs during February 2007.

    1. THE DEPARTED
    2. BABEL
    3. MARIE ANTOINNETTE
    4. STRANGER THAN FICTION
    5. RUNNING WITH SCISSORS

    Overall, the DVD of THE DEPARTED was the most requested item. It should be noted that DVDs are quickly becoming the most requested materials in library system. In fact, if you combine the above lists, following are the most requested items, regardless of format, during February 2007.

    1. THE DEPARTED
    2. STEP ON A CRACK by James Patterson
    3. BABEL
    4. MARIE ANTOINETTE
    5. THE SECRET by Rhonda Byrne

    Therefore, you can see that of the top five requested items, three of them are DVDs.

  • Flights of Fantasy book sale expands

    Eleanor at Flights of Fantasy checks in with news of the ongoing sale:

    Flights of Fantasy is now giving 25% off on all used & new fiction published before 2007 – not just paperbacks. The Web site isn’t updated yet.

    The reason for the sale is an upcoming move by the store, as reported on the Times Union business blog, which is here:
    http://blogs.timesunion.com/business/?p=944

  • America’s oldest comic book up for sale

    Who came before Superman and Archie? Mr. Obadiah Oldbuck, of course.

    This from http://www.finebooksmagazine.com:

    The earliest known sequential American comic book, published in 1842, was The Adventures of Mr. Obadiah Oldbuck, based on original material by Swiss writer/artist Rodolphe Töpffer. Originally published in Switzerland in 1837 under the title Les Amours de Mr. Vieux Bois (aka Histoire de Mr. Vieux Bois), the work was pirated, translated, and re-drawn by British publisher Tilt and Bogue in 1840. As noted early comics historian Robert Beerbohm noted, “In a world where international copyright conventions did not exist, this was perfectly legal, if morally questionable.” The British printing plates were re-used for the U.S. version, released by New York’s Wilson and Company in 1842.

    “The significance of this incredible artifact is hard to overstate,” said Ed Jaster, Vice-President for Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries. “As the first American comic book, this seminal publication set the stage for a four-color revolution that would take hold almost a century later. It’s interesting to note that this copy is printed in black and white and bound with string, as both color printing and staples had yet to be invented!”

    “This is an exceptional opportunity for collectors to acquire what is arguably the most significant comic book in existence,” Jaster said. “Less than a dozen copies have been confirmed to exist, several of which are owned by institutions and unlikely ever to be offered to the collecting public. Once gone, the opportunity to possess this rare volume may never come again.”

    The Adventures of Mr. Obadiah Oldbuck – First Printing will be offered in Heritage Auction Galleries’ upcoming Comics Signature Auction, to be held May 3-5, 2007 in their Dallas, Texas world headquarters.

  • Granta’s list

    The British literary magazine has, for the second time, drummed up a list of the best young American novelists. The first list came out in 1996. So if you are looking for a new young writer to check out, this list can dish up some great ideas.

    Of note to fans of the New York State Writers Institute are former visitors Nicole Krauss and ZZ Packer. Congrats all.

    From the LA Times:

    The British literary magazine Granta announced Thursday the 21 writers who have made its second Best Young American Novelists list. The authors include some of the rising stars in the American book world. They are Daniel Alarcon, Kevin Brockmeier, Judy Budnitz, Christopher Coake, Anthony Doerr, Jonathan Safran Foer, Nell Freudenberger, Olga Grushin, Dara Horn, Gabe Hudson, Uzodinma Iweala, Nicole Krauss, Rattawut Lapcharoensap, Yiyun Li, Maile Meloy, ZZ Packer, Jess Row, Karen Russell, Akhil Sharma, Gary Shteyngart and John Wray.

  • “Extracts from Adam’s Diary”

    Among the latest releases from LibriVox — the volunteer group that publishes free audio files of public domain books — is Mark Twain’s “Extracts from Adam’s Diary,” a fun and funny collection of ruminations from humanity’s first man.

    Here’s a print excerpt:

    Friday

    The naming goes recklessly on, in spite of anything I can do. I
    had a very good name for the estate, and it was musical and pretty
    –GARDEN-OF-EDEN. Privately, I continue to call it that, but not
    any longer publicly. The new creature says it is all woods and
    rocks and scenery, and therefore has no resemblance to a garden.
    Says it looks like a park, and does not look like anything but a
    park. Consequently, without consulting me, it has been new-named
    –NIAGARA FALLS PARK. This is sufficiently high-handed, it seems to
    me. And already there is a sign up:

    KEEP OFF
    THE GRASS

    My life is not as happy as it was.

  • Brits top 100

    The Telegraph out of Britain lists the top 100 books here.

    The top book by an American author, at No. 5, is Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird.”