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:
PEN International condemned the arrest of Chinese PEN Center Web master Ye Du, who was forced to leave his home on February 22 of this year. The official charge against him? "'Inciting subversion of state power,' a charge regularly used to silence writers in China," according to the press release.
Steve Jobs made a surprise appearance at the Apple press conference yesterday to introduce the new version of the iPad. (New York Times) For a book-centric perspective on the happenings, check out Jacket Copy.
Kim Scott has become the first Aboriginal writer to win the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for the best book in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, for his novel That Deadman Dance. When asked if he felt any extra pride as the first Aboriginal winner of the award, Scott said, "No. It bothers me a bit because it says what a history of disadvantage we've had when indigenous Australians have always been storytellers. It's really sad.'' (Sydney Morning Herald)
The San Francisco Public Library main branch hosted its first speed-dating night on Tuesday, following in the footsteps of European librarians who started such sessions back in 2005. According to the New York Times, libraries around the United States are getting into the love business in an effort to attract younger folks.
To celebrate the four hundredth anniversary of the King James Bible, roughly four hundred volunteers are reading the entire tome in a five-day nonstop marathon at St. Michael's Without in Bath, England. (Guardian)
Speaking of the bible, a new version of the bible has been ordered by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that will, among other changes, replace the word "booty" with "spoils." (USA Today)
The Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago and Tony Award winning director Frank Galati are developing a stage adaptation of E. L. Doctorow's Civil War novel, The March, which is set to premiere in April 2012. (Arts Beat)
Former British poet laureate Andrew Motion is writing his first play, which will premiere later this year at the High Tide festival in England. (Guardian)
