Literary Tidbits

The New York Times Motoko Rich predicts this will be a tough year for the publishing business and advances to authors will decline. But Jossey-Bass editor Alan Rinzler argues otherwise in this post about how his company recently bid six-figures on tow different projects but lost out both times to publishers willing to pay more.

Rodes Fishburne’s new novel Going to See the Elephant got a strong review in the Chronicle book section on Sunday. He will be talking at the Booksmith on January 13 and at other venues as well.

Some other interesting books set to come out this month from San Francisco writers include Catherine Brady’s short story collection The Mechanics of Falling and other Stories and Brenda Webster’s Vienna Triangle. This is Webster’s 10^th book!

The Bancroft Library is re-opening today in its brand new, spiffy digs. The library moved out of its home on the UC Berkeley campus three years ago for a major remodel and seismic retrofit. It was temporarily located in downtown Berkeley in a building owned by the Judah L. Magnes Museum, but has been closed entirely since late fall. Scholars around the world are rejoicing today. During the interim period they would have to wait two days to get some manuscripts. Now the materials will be much more readily available.

In another note, the reading room is called the Edward Hellman Heller Reading room, named in honor of Isaias Hellman's grandson. The Bancroft also has some of his illuminated manuscripts.

Towers of Gold (my book) is going into its third printing – just eight weeks after its release.