The PW Morning Report, August 6, 2008

By Dermot McEvoy -- Publishers Weekly, 8/6/2008 6:05:00 AM

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

A daily round-up of the latest publishing news: Suskind Bombshell; Critical Rushdie Book Delayed; Anti-Obama Books Selling; Borgnine on Merman; Bob Woodward’s Pay Cut; Zuckerman Book to Doubleday; and Poor Jerry Falwell

Ron Suskind: CIA Forged Al-Qaeda-Link Letter, reports HuffingtonPost.com
It’s from The Way of the World, published yesterday by Harper. Former CIA director George Tenet denies the allegation. Suskind responded by saying it’s "part of George’s memory issue"

Book Critical of Salman Rushdie Delayed in U.K., reports The Bookseller
Publisher John Blake has decided to delay publication of On Her Majesty’s Service by Ron Evans so that Rushdie can read it in its entirety. Rushdie has threatened to sue because Evans—who was Rushdie’s bodyguard after his life was threatened for writing The Satanic Verses—called him "mean, nasty, tight-fisted, arrogant and extremely unpleasant" Other than that, they got along famously

Shocking Revelation From the AP: Anti-Obama Books Sell
Steve Ross, president and publisher of the Collins division of HarperCollins, had an interesting analysis of the audiences reading Obama’s own bestsellers and the anti-Obama tomes: "The anti-Obama readership is largely one that has already made up its mind and is looking for validation, while the Obama readership comprises both those who have already made up their minds and those who are curious about him"

Ernest Borgnine Writes Autobiography, reports Los Angeles Times
The actor, famous for his roles as McHale (as in navy) and Marty (as in lovelorn butcher) has a new book, Ernie (Citadel). At 91, his most famous role was probably his 32 day marriage to Ethel Merman. In her autobiography she devoted a blank page to their marriage. "It was a shame, really," he says of Merman, "because she could sing. But I’m telling you she could drive a person crazy." Marty couldn’t have said it better

Bob Woodward Takes Pay Cut, reports Editor & Publisher
Things are tough all over. Woodward’s new Washington Post contract cuts his pay from $10,000 a year to $1,200. I guess he’ll try and make it up with his fourth Bush book, coming from S&S in September

Wall Street Book to Doubleday, reports Keith Kelly in New York Post
The Greatest Trade Ever by Greg Zuckerman goes to Doubleday for $250,000. Book explores how John Paulson scored big by betting the housing bubble was about to burst

Book: Jerry Falwell Died Poor, reports Rush & Molloy
According to Dirk Smillie’s Falwell, Inc. (St. Martin’s) the ursine pontificator didn’t have a cent when he went to meet his maker. Seems he lost it all in a land deal, proving once again the Lord’s wisdom (and divine sense of humor): "The rich and the poor meet together; The Lord is the maker of them all." (Proverbs 22:2)