Snippets

The devil roams again

Vanessa Thorpe in an article entitled A new lease of life for the Devil writes in the Observer that the stories of Satanism and black magic by Dennis Wheatley are to be re-released. Television serialization is also being planned. The deal is being struck by Dominic Wheatly, who was 18 when his grandfather died, and Chorion Ltd., an entertainment content company that, through a combination of ownership and long term licenses, exploits a portfolio of copyrights. Among the copyrights owned by Chorion include works of Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple), Georges Simenon (Inspector Maigret), Raymond Chandler (Philip Marlowe), Enid Blyton (Noddy, Famous Five) and Mr. Men and Little Miss, created by Roger Hargreaves.

I used to read these books as a teenager. Maybe I will wait for the TV show.

The Guardian



Garcia Marquez writes again

Graham Keeley writes The Guardian that Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez is rediscovering his muse two years after telling the world he was finished with writing. It is said that the new work, which does not yet have a title and is described as "a novel of love", should appear before the end of this year according to a friend, Darlo Arizmendi, head of news at Radio Caracol in Colombia.

In 2006 Marquez, 81, said that he was finished with writing. "Last year was the first in my life in which I haven't written even a line. With my experience, I could write a new novel without any
problems, but people would realise my heart wasn't in it."

His last novel, Memories of My Melancholy Whores, was released in 2004.

The Guardian


Social networking site for writers

Rachael Hawkes writes in the Social Media Portal that HarperCollins UK has released a new social networking site Authonomy in private beta. Aspiring authors can upload a minimum of 10,000 words of their manuscript for feedback and comments. This is the quote from Victoria Barnsley, chief executive and publisher of HarperCollins UK: 'Very often we hear from budding new authors who tell us their script was loved by their family, book group or wide circle of friends. Authonomy is an opportunity for these authors to ... really test whether their work has got what it takes to make it.'

Authonomy is currently by invitation only, but you can try and get yourself one at the website.

The Social Media Portal


Lessing's Nobel prize 'disaster'

Doris Lessing, 88, tells BBC Radio 4 that winning the Nobel Prize in 2007 has been a 'bloody disaster'. She says that she is finding it impossible to write anymore due to unrelenting media interest since she won the award. She says that she would probably give up writing novels altogether. 'All I do is give interviews and spend time being photographed.' And her advice to younger writers: 'Use it while you've got it because it'll go, it's sliding away like water down a plughole.'

Good advice.

BBC Radio 4