Salman Rushdie's New Memoir, Hip-Hop Poetics, and More

by
Evan Smith Rakoff
9.18.12

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:

The New York Times remembers Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Louis Simpson, who recently passed away at age eighty-nine.

In a story on online-giant Amazon, CBS MoneyWatch reports, "early results suggest no loss of business because of its adding state sales taxes."

Jacob Weisberg recently spoke with Salman Rushdie about his new book, Joseph Anton: A Memoir, which "delves deeply into his experience of living for nine years under a death sentence," and why he chose to write his memoir in the third person. (Slate)

Comedian and television host Chelsea Handler has inked a new book deal with Grand Central for 50 Shades of Chartreuse. (GalleyCat)

The Daily Beast looks at the work of University of Colorado professor Adam Bradley, who teaches a class on hip-hop poetics, pairing Emily Dickinson with Lauryn Hill.

The Millions explains how to make a movie about an author. (Hint: tweed.)

Otter Country author Miriam Darlington lists her ten favorite literary otters. (Guardian)

Less than one hundred miles west of London, the annual Jane Austen Festival is underway, with events scheduled through September 22, 2012.

Flavorwire rounded up photographs of famous authors with their bicycles, including Leo Tolstoy, Patti Smith, and Sylvia Plath.

Meanwhile, Melville House features a slideshow of writers in their underpants, including William Carlos Williams, James Agee, and Jonathan Ames.