TOP GEAR’s ‘The Stig’ Wins Battle to Publish Autobiography

Top Gear‘s “The Stig” and HarperCollins have won their court battle with the BBC over the right to publish his autobiography and reveal the mystery man’s identity. The BBC had argued that the confidentiality agreements they had with The Stig should prohibit him from writing about his time on Top Gear. The court rejected that argument and HarperCollins will proceed with their plan to publish The Man in the White Suit on September 16th. So (spoiler alert?) the man behind the white helmet has been revealed to be…Ben Collins. He’s been involved in racing since 1994 and has driven in Formula 3, NASCAR, and at the Le Mans 24 hour. He also was a stunt double for Daniel Craig in the James Bond movie, The Quantum of Solace. Collins has been The Stig for the past 7 years, but his future with the show is uncertain. The BBC hasn’t announced [...]

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Kim Gatlin’s Book, GOOD CHRISTIAN BITCHES, To Become TV Show

The title Good Christian Bitches certainly gets your attention, doesn’t it? Maybe it’s part of the reason why, according to Deadline, three networks—ABC, NBC, and CBS—all want the new show based on Kim Gatlin’s book. GCB is produced by Sex and the City creator Darren Star and will be written by Robert Harling, who also wrote Steel Magnolias and The First Wives Club. The project is described as “Desperate Housewives in Dallas.” Gatlin says she wrote the book about the ladies who use bible study as a forum to gossip or who talk about people behind their backs under the guise of asking for prayers. Here’s more about Good Christian Bitches (from the publisher): For Heaven’s sake…Never let God get in the way of a good story. Good Christian Bitches is the lighthearted tale of Amanda Vaughn, a recently divorced mother of two. To get a fresh start, she moves [...]

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HUNGER GAMES Movie News: Chloe Moretz as Katniss?

With the release of Mockingjay, the Hunger Games trilogy is complete, leaving us fans with time to speculate on the upcoming movie. The question we’re all asking is “Who will play Katniss?” According to USA Today, Kick-Ass star Chloe Moretz is currently the front-runner for the role. They say Kristen Stewart is probably on the shortlist as well. Author Suzanne Collins wrote the screenplay for The Hunger Games movie herself. Production on the movie will start next year. Personally, I’d like to see the kids played by unknown actors, like they did with Harry Potter. I think a well-known actress like Kristen Stewart would just be distracting. What do you think? Can you see Chloe Moretz as Katniss? How about Kristen Stewart? Follow me on Twitter @kristendaemons

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JK Rowling Donates $15 Million to MS Research

Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling has donated $15.4 million to set up a clinic to research multiple sclerosis. The degenerative disease took the author’s mother in 1990, when she was just 45-years-old. According to The Guardian, Rowling says she wanted to support the clinic because “I have just turned 45, the age at which my mother, Anne, died of complications related to her MS.” The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic will be based at the University of Edinburgh, and will research a range of degenerative neurological diseases. The clinic will work with MS patients to develop treatments, rather than just focus on laboratory research. The University of Edinburgh says this is the largest single donation they’ve ever received. Follow me on Twitter @kristendaemons

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McCain Takes On Palin

Meghan McCain, daughter of John McCain, released a book this Tuesday August 31, 2010 titled “Dirty, Sexy, Politics”. The book gives a behind the scenes look at her father’s recent campaign as well as her thoughts on the state of the Republican party. What’s been making headlines recently is statements Meghan McCain makes in the book in regards to her mixed feelings about Sara Palin. In an interview today McCain was questioned about Palin and said “I’m speaking out now because I do have conflicting feelings about her,”. Although Meghan had plenty of nice things to say about Palin she says in the book that she began having her doubts about Palin during the campaign when she started giving interviews.

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Borders News Roundup: Build-A-Bear, Kobo Price Drop, Paid Rewards Card

There has been a lot of news coming out of Borders headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan over the past few days. On August 31, they issued a press release announcing a new paid rewards loyalty program. They’re keeping the free rewards program, but will now also offer a “Borders Rewards Plus” program for $20 per year. According to Borders: Members of the free, enhanced program will receive 30 percent off the list price of hardcover bestsellers and free shipping on online orders of $25 or more. Members of the Borders Rewards Plus program will receive 40 percent off the list price of hardcover bestsellers, 20 percent off the list price of select hardcovers, 10 percent off the purchase price of most everything else — and free shipping on virtually all online orders. The other big news is that Borders is cutting the prices of its ereaders to stay competitive. The [...]

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ROOM by Emma Donoghue Book Trailer

The ripped-from-the-headlines premise of Emma Donoghue’s Room probably reminds you of recent kidnapping cases like Elizabeth Fritzl and Jaycee Dugard. It’s about a woman and her child who are held captive in a small room, and it’s actually the five-year-old boy who narrates the novel. The book has received a ton of advance praise and has been longlisted for the prestigious Man Booker Prize. Check out the book trailer for Room below, though I warn you, it’s chilling. Publisher’s summary for Room by Emma Donoghue: To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it’s where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits. Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it [...]

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6-Year-Old Lands a Book Deal…Or Does He?

Last week, the big news in publishing was that six-year-old Leo Hunter had landed a deal to write 23 books for Strategic Book Publishing. His mother, Jamie, claimed Leo wrote Me and My Best Friend, which is based on his relationship with his pet dog. She’s an author (writing under the pseudonym JS Huntlands) and apparently took the book to her publisher, Strategic, who liked the book so much they asked for 23 more. It’s a cute story, but several blogs are saying not so fast. Apparently Strategic is being sued by the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Florida for sketchy business practices. According to the Writer Beware Blog, Strategic charges authors $995 for a contract and then more fees for marketing and editing services. Another interesting wrinkle to this story is addressed by Mick Rooney (a publishing consultant) over on his blog. He points out [...]

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What Do Keith Richards and Jay-Z Have in Common?

The New York Public Library has released its calendar of events for Fall 2010 and there are two surprising names on it: Keith Richards and Jay-Z. Both musicians are publishing memoirs and will speak (in separate events) at the NYPL to promote their books. Jay-Z’s memoir, Decoded, is due November 16th. The book was written several years ago, but he has been reluctant to release it because the parts about his family are personal and painful. Decoded details Jay-Z’s rise from teenage drug dealer to hip-hop star, and, unlike a traditional memoir, includes interviews with his family and friends (the book was co-written by Dream Hampton). According to Amazon, the book comes with a hefty retail price of $40 (although they currently have it marked down to $24). Keith Richards’ memoir, Life, will hit bookstores on October 26, 2010. While most people are interested in what he has to say [...]

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Saturday is Read Comics in Public Day

Calling all comic book fans! This weekend you’re going to want to grab some of your favorite comics and head outside. That’s because this Saturday, August 28th, is international Read Comics in Public Day. It’s the idea of Brian Heater and Sarah Morean at The Daily Cross Hatch, and all they ask is that you spend an hour of your time on Saturday reading comic books in a public place. They came up with the idea after Heater joked that he was too embarrassed to read comics on the train. They decided there should be a day for readers to be out and proud about their love of comic books. Their website urges participants to “Take to the streets. Be proud. If someone asks what you’re reading, say, “a comic book” (the phrase “graphic novel is also acceptable, but let’s face it, it sort of defeats the whole purpose). Heck, [...]

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