festivals

A new app for remembering great ideas; a posthumous story collection by Maeve Binchy; meals from classic literature; and other news.

Sarabande Books opens new offices in New York City; Gary Shteyngart to decrease blurbing habit; a “poetry fence” in Alexandria, Virginia; and other news.

Joan Didion reviews Maggie Shipstead’s Astonish Me; looking ahead to the Los Angeles Festival of Books; British libraries branch out to attract visitors; and other news.

New York City’s Rare Book Week; the exploitation of Detroit’s decay; writers reflect on the portrayal of Appalachia; and other news.

Christina Baker Kline novels move from mid-list to bestseller; a day in the life of Meg Wolitzer; two authors consider the strength of the adage “write what you know”; and other news.

Amanda Nelson explains the definition of first edition; Sam Sacks explores the demise and persistence of the novel; Claire Vaye Watkins wins the Dylan Thomas Prize; and other news.

Reagan Arthur has been named the next publisher of Little, Brown; David L. Ulin discusses the newly-published work of New Yorker legend Joseph Mitchell; novelist Alix Ohlin considers the intricate relationship between male writers and female readers; and other news.

Actor Johnny Depp is launching a HarperCollins imprint called Infinitum Nihil; Microsoft announced the pricing for its new line of Surface tablets; the battle over the ownership of Franz Kafka's papers has been decided in court; and other news.

The Association of American Publishers reports sales rose over 13 percent for the first half of 2012; Robert Atwan lists the ten best essays written since 1950; literary podcast Other People with Brad Listi has created an app; and other news.