Ian Rankin is talking about his work
23 Jan 2012 04:21:09
Ian Rankin, the author of the Inspector Rebus series, is calling for tax incentives to support new writers, as cash-strapped publishers cut advances.
Speaking ahead of an appearance this week at a festival celebrating first novels, Rankin believes that a scheme modelled on the artists' exemption arrangement in Ireland would invest in the next generation of creative talent.
"If you want to give new writers a start, then a tax incentive is one thing you can do," he said.
Under the 1997 Irish sc... Read Full Story
What will be with Twilight Saga?
23 Jan 2012 04:17:00
It is a quandary faced by studio executives over the years: what to do with a successful movie franchise that has run out of books to adapt. But this may not be an obstacle for the Twilight films, after Lionsgate chief executive Jon Feltheimer suggested his company may continue the series beyond the November release of Breaking Dawn Part 2, supposedly the final instalment in the vampire romance saga.
Lionsgate bought Twilight studio Summit for more than $400m on Friday, and one of Feltheimer's ... Read Full Story
John James Audubon's "The Birds of America"
22 Jan 2012 02:07:26
The four-volume, bound "Duke of Portland" set of 435 hand-colored engravings in excellent condition and more than 3 feet (1 meter) in height is considered one of the most prized books of ornithological art ever produced.
Francis Wahlgren, Christie's international head of books and manuscripts, said the $7.9 million sale was the third highest price for a printed book at auction.
"This strong result for Audubon's masterpiece confirms its iconic status and now holds the top three auction records fo... Read Full Story
The "Treme" in HBO
22 Jan 2012 02:00:22
The network has confirmed that season three of the David Simon series won't hit the airwaves until sometime in the fall. A specific premiere date has not been announced.
The fall premiere date is a departure from the norm for the series. The show's previous two seasons had April premiere dates.
In a tell-tale sign, the show was MIA on a HBO scheduling announcement for April premieres of shows including "Game of Thrones" and "Veep."
"Treme" chronicles the efforts of residents to rebuild a New Orl... Read Full Story
The interview with Jim Henson
22 Jan 2012 01:56:57
In 1968, Henson and collaborator Jerry Juhl wrote the screenplay for a live-action western, "Tale of Sand," but the movie never got off the ground despite Henson's efforts. It is a darkly comic story of a man pursued across a desert by swordsmen, a lion, a football team, and a mysterious villain with an eye-patch.
"Tale of Sand" is now a graphic novel. Frantic, nearly wordless, and full of absurdist touches such as a light switch that turns day into night, it shows a side of Henson, who died in ... Read Full Story
Burt Bacharach starts the work on new book
20 Jan 2012 11:39:11
The award-winning collaborator on such hits as "I Say a Little Prayer" and "What the World Needs Now" has a deal with HarperCollins for a memoir due in November. The publisher announced Wednesday that his book will be called "Anyone Who Had a Heart," named after one of many songs Bacharach and lyricist Hal David wrote for Dionne Warwick.
HarperCollins said Bacharach will open up about professional success and personal troubles. He has been divorced three times, from singer Paula Stewart, actress... Read Full Story
Robin Quivers will tall everybody about her diet in new book
20 Jan 2012 11:34:12
Robin Quivers doesn't kid around — not too much — when it comes to her diet.
Howard Stern's longtime sidekick is working on a memoir about her struggles with her weight and health and her decision to eat vegan.
Avery, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), announced Wednesday that the "The Vegucation of Robin" will be published at the end of the year. The book will feature jokes and stories, along with 75 recipes for a healthy life.
Quivers says in a statement that since giving up animal products i... Read Full Story
Does large books better than small?
20 Jan 2012 11:31:37
An Afghan calligrapher has worked for five years to create the world's biggest Koran, a bid to show the world that Afghanistan's rich cultural heritage and traditions have been damaged but not destroyed by 30 years of war.
The lavish book has pages 2.28 meters (90 inches) by 1.55 meters (61 inches) in size, and has been certified as the world's largest by the Afghan ministry of Haj and Religious Affairs, according to the Kabul cultural centre that houses it.
The previous claim to the title was f... Read Full Story
Ridley and Tony Scott
17 Jan 2012 12:05:51
The documentary will air on the National Geographic Channel, which is a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Cable Networks.
Production is due to start in the spring, with an early 2013 premiere planned. O'Reilly will serve as an executive producer. The Scotts will produce through their Scott Free Productions banner.
The film about the Lincoln assassination will feature re-enactments (some of them CGI) and rare archival material.
"National Geographic has a great legacy of telling so... Read Full Story
"Game Change," Julianne Moore
17 Jan 2012 12:04:45
"Game Change," starring Julianne Moore as Palin and Ed Harris as McCain, is based on the 2010 book by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin that documented the behind-the-scenes action of the presidential campaign four years ago.
But the new film, which will premier on March 10, focuses on the rise of Palin as McCain's 2008 Republican Party running mate.
"We felt that story of Sarah Palin is truly one of the great American political stories of our time," writer Danny Strong told television reporters ... Read Full Story
About online Piracy and author's opinion
17 Jan 2012 12:03:31
"It is amazing to me that the opponents apparently don't want to protect American consumers and businesses," Republican Representative Lamar Smith told Reuters in a telephone interview.
"Are they somehow benefitting by directing customers to these foreign websites? Do they profit from selling advertising to these foreign websites? And if they do, they need to be stopped. And I don't mind taking that on."
The Stop Online Piracy Act, which is before the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee... Read Full Story
From "Twilight saga" to "The Hunger Games"
16 Jan 2012 02:30:10
"It's really nice that 'Twilight' is coming to an end and I think a lot of our fans are going to feel that same love and that same passion for 'The Hunger Games,'" the actress told AccessHollywood.com's Laura Saltman on Wednesday night at the People's Choice Awards.
PLAY IT NOW: 2012 People’s Choice Awards: Ashley Greene Talks Passing The Torch From ‘Twilight’ To ‘The Hunger Games’
"[The fans will] have something else to... feel that way about," she explained. "I'm really excited for people to b... Read Full Story
