Houellebecq Responds to Plagiarism Claims; One Story, One Borough; and More

Every day Poets & Writers Magazine scans the headlines—from publishing reports to academic announcements to literary dispatches—for all the news that creative writers need to know. Here are today's stories:

One Story magazine is handing out free short stories by Brooklyn-based authors at several subway stops in the New York City borough this morning. (Jacket Copy)

French author Michel Houellebecq admitted to stealing passages from the French Wikipedia Web site for his latest novel, but insists the theft isn't plagiarism. "If these people really think that [this is plagiarism], they haven't got the first notion of what literature is," he said. "This is part of my method." (Independent)

National Public Radio explores the pleasures of reading multiple books at a time.

Australian novelist Peter Carey is one step closer to becoming the first ever three-time Man Booker Prize winner after making this year's shortlist. (Sydney Morning Herald)

The Richard and Judy Book Club, a British equivalent to Oprah's Book Club, announced its first eight titles, including one by an American author, Naseem Rakha's The Crying Tree.

A literary festival for teenagers in Texas was canceled this week after several authors withdrew in protest after another scribe, Ellen Hopkins, was "disinvited" to the event because of the controversial nature of her books. (Guardian)

Is the big novel back, or did it ever leave? The Millions takes a closer look.

The London Book Fair has chosen China as the market focus for its 2012 event. (Bookseller)