Book News

• A bit of a kerfuffle over at the British Fantasy Awards when author Sam Stone, the first woman to win the August Derleth award for best novel since 1980, returned the prize after criticism over the nomination and judging process erupted.  You can read all about it here.  Subsequently, the BFS released a statement that no corruption or wrongdoing took place during the process. 

• Holy smokies! Talk about kerfuffle!  Celina Summers, a former senior editor at Aspen Mountain Press, has broken her silence about  the disintegration of the company which led to the senior staff walking out at the end of July.  It's a can't-look-away, car wreck of a read.  Make sure to check out the comments too.

• Lev Grossman's The Magicians has been optioned by Fox with plans to turn it into a tv series.  Tor.com has the skinny. 

• Some changes are being made over at Crossed Genres Publications.  After three years of publication, Crossed Genres Magazine is closing.  The last issue will be January 2012 and the publishing company will turn it's focus towards novels and anthologies.

• After three (long) years, Dial has finally announced the publishing date for Kristin Cashore's Bitterblue, a companion novel to Graceling and Fire.  There is no description available but the plot will involve codes and cyphers.  Katsa, Po and King Leck will all appear in the novel. 

• Lost in Austen, the story of a modern day gal who somehow is transported into Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, is Nora Ephron's latest project.  Originally an ITV mini-series, Ephron will re-write the script as well as direct.  I do not have high hopes for this.  Ephron is a great writer but a crappy director.  Unless she has learned something about pacing, I'll be skipping this one.

• Amazon has launched a science fiction/fantasy/horror imprint called 47North, publishing original, previously published and out-of-print works.  I wonder if Barnes and Noble will carry Amazon books?  Especially considering the kerfuffle over the DC graphic novels/Kindle Fire Deal.

• With her Southern Vampire series winding down (the last two in the series will come out in 2012 and 2013), Charlaine Harris has begun plans for her next project.  Along with Christopher Golden, Harris will write a graphic novel trilogy called Cemetery Girl for the Ace imprint.  GalleyCat has the scoop.

• Stephen King and son Joe Hill too adapt their story Throttle as a comic.  From the press release: IDW Publishing is proud to announce ROAD RAGE, a new partnership with best-selling authors Stephen King and Joe Hill, to produce a comic-book adaptation of their co-written adventure tale, Throttle. This monthly two-part series begins in February, and will be followed by two issues adapting the story that inspired Throttle, Richard Matheson’s classic tale of suspense, Duel, beginning in April.  Further details here.