TODAY'S NEWS

Cornelia Funke Moves to Little, Brown
By John A. Sellers
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers has inked a multi-book deal with bestselling author Cornelia Funke, whose previous titles have been published in the U.S. by Scholastic’s Chicken House imprint. “Cornelia Funke is that rare breed of writer in the tradition of the master storytellers from the Brothers Grimm and Charles Dickens to Roald Dahl and Philip Pullman,” said Megan Tingley, senior v-p and publisher at Little, Brown BFYR, in a statement. “We are honored to be the new U.S. publishing home of this magnificent talent.” Read on »

U.K. Booksellers Say Google Deal Creates Monopoly
The British trade press reports that the U.K.’s bookselling trade group The Booksellers Association, has criticized the settlement agreement between Google and the AAP and Authors Guild, believing that the deal gives Google “a de facto monopoly” over the distribution of digital content. The agreement, which was reached late last month, has no effect outside of the U.S. Nevertheless, in its statement the BA said that “if this one-stop shop direct to consumer approach of Google comes to Europe, it will surely result in a world that is culturally poorer for the consumer.” It called the agreement “a bridge too far.” Read on »

Boyden Takes the Giller
By Josh Kerbel
Joseph Boyden took the 15th annual $C50,000 Scotiabank Giller Prize for his novel, Through Black Spruce (Viking Canada). In winning the award, Boyden beat out Anthony De Sa (Barnacle Love, published by Doubleday Canada), Marina Endicott (Good to a Fault, published by Freehand Books/Broadview Press), Rawi Hage (Cockroach, published by House of Anansi Press and Mary Swan (The Boys in the Trees, published by Henry Holt/H.B. Fenn). Through Black Spruce is set to be released in the U.S. next March by Viking. Read on »

Gore Vidal to Do Illustrated Memoir
Gore Vidal is going with words and pictures for a new memoir he's signed with Abrams. The book, slated for a fall 2009 release, was sold to Abrams by Richard Morris from Janklow & Nesbit and Ann Schneider, a photo editor from Vanity Fair who's worked with Gore in the past, will be handling the "image research and selection" for the book.

Vidal, known for traveling in celebrity social circles, will open his personal library of pictures for the book and Abrams promises it will include heretofore unseen shots of various "political and cultural icons" from the Kennedys to Tennessee Williams to Paul Newman. The publisher is likening the book to "a scrapbook of Vidal’s considerable library of mementos, documents, photos, and records" that will take readers through "six decades of American social history."

Booksellers Support Library
by Claire Kirch
Two mystery bookstores, Mystery Cat Books in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Once Upon a Crime in Minneapolis, Minn., are reaching across the state line and taking the lead in replenishing the Cedar Rapids Public Library after last June’s devastating floods. The Cedar Rapids Public Library structure was almost completely decimated; while FEMA plans on rebuilding the severely damaged building in downtown Cedar Rapids within two or three years, there are no federal funds available to replace the 20,000-30,000 books destroyed in the flooding.

Mystery Cat and Once Upon a Crime are soliciting collectable books, manuscripts, and DVDs for sale on eBay, as well as books suitable for library sales. All funds raised will be used to purchase new books for the Cedar Rapids library. Items for donation may be sent to Mystery Cat Books at 112 32nd St S.E., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52404. Mystery Cat will provide mylar covers for collectables, as well as framing for any object needing it.

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AUTHORS ON THE AIR

Authors on the Air: Annie Leibovitz at Work; T. Boone Pickens; The Jazz Ear
This morning on Today, photographer Annie Leibovitz revealed Annie Leibovitz at Work (Random House, 978-0375505102, $40), which pubs on November 18. After the jump: billionaire T. Boone Pickens joins Jon Stewart; Maya Angelou visits Martha Stewart; and Stephen Colbert puts Bob Woodward in the hot seat. Read on »

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Getting 'Wicked' Down South
Two hundred people recently came out to Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse in Atlanta to see Wicked author Gregory Maguire read and have him sign copies of his latest book, A Lion Among Men. Maguire (c.) is pictured here with Outwrite owner Philip Rafshoon (r.) and Rafshoon’s partner, Robert Gaul. Submit your pictures here »

JOB OF THE DAY

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