The PW Morning Report, March 26, 2008

By Dermot McEvoy -- Publishers Weekly, 3/26/2008 5:34:00 AM

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

A daily round-up of the latest publishing news: Canseco Points Finger at A-Rod; Publishers Hot for Mrs. Obama; Hugh Jackman Joins Virgin Comics; Hugo Nominees; Andrew Wylie Nabs Waugh Estate; Book on Bear Stearns Collapse; Amy Schiffman to IPG; and Jon Hassler Dead

Jose Canseco Book: I Introduced A-Rod to Steroid Supplier, reports New York Times
Of course—wink, wink—that doesn’t mean that Alex Rodriguez used steroids. Canseco also says he personally injected Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordóñez—whom he allegedly tried to blackmail—with steroids; and talked to Roger Clemens about steroids. New York Daily News says A-Rod also tried to bed Canseco’s ex-wife Jessica, author of Juicy, one of the great baseball reads of all time. Vindicated will be published by Simon Spotlight next week. The frenzy has begun

Publishers Are Hot for Michelle Obama, reports New York Observer
More than a dozen publishers are in courting mode. Must be getting serious, high-powered Washington lawyer Robert Barnett has been brought in to play matchmaker

Hugh Jackman Pairs With Virgin Comics, reports Reuters
Actor will pen a comic book series called "Nowhere Man"

2008 Hugo Nomination List Announced
Winners will be announced at the 66th World Science Fiction Convention in Denver, August 6-10, 2008

Andrew Wylie Snatches Evelyn Waugh Estate From PFD, reports The Bookseller
Apparently the Waugh family had had enough of the turmoil at PFD and turned to the U.S. agent

Charlie Gasparino Gets $400,000 for Book on Bear Stearns Collapse, reports New York Post
CNBC correspondent brings The Sellout to HarperCollins

Amy Schiffman Leaves the Gersh Agency for IPG, reports Variety
She brings with her such authors as Dennis Lehane, Don DeLillo, Jane Heller and David Zucchino

Jon Hassler Dead at 74, reports Los Angeles Times
Minnesota novelist (Staggerford; Grand Opening) suffered from progressive supranuclear palsy, similar to Parkinson’s disease

Meet Chetan Bhagat, India’s Biggest Selling English-Language Novelist
New York Times profiles the author of One Night @ the Call Center, which is published in this country by Ballantine

Booker Creator Bashes Booker Awards, reports Reuters
"I must say that some Booker winners to me are ridiculous," said famed British publisher Tom Maschler, "but I don’t have any influence over that"