All the news that’s fit to capsulize!

ON LAYMON’S TERMS
In July, Leisure Books will release a “restored and uncut” version of Richard Laymon’s THE WOODS ARE DARK. Originally published by Warner in 1981, the novel was cut by about 50 pages, per the editor, who also demanded the ending change. As a result, two characters who were introduced just disappeared in the revisions. Laymon’s daughter Kelly helped put the new edition together and will provide the introduction.

KA-CHING!
Wanna win free books for a year? Of course you do.

IT’S ENO-RIFIC!
Wanna free, hour-long, ambient-mix MP3 of MUSIC FOR READING? Of course you do.

KIDD-ING AROUND
We all know Chip Kidd is an awesome graphic designer. But who knew he did impressions? To promote his new novel THE LEARNERS, the author has posted a YouTube video of himself as Peter Lorre doing Sheena Easton, Jimmy Stewart doing Eminem, Helen Hayes doing Janet Jackson, the Wicked Witch doing God, and a hamster doing Shakespeare. Let’s see Frank Caliendo try to design a book cover.

KING ME!
Nov. 11 will bring the release of JUST PAST SUNSET, the latest short-story collection from Stephen King, and his first since 2002’s EVERYTHING’S EVENTUAL: 14 DARK TALES. Included in the Scribner release will be “The Gingerbread Girl,” which appeared last year in the pages of Esquire; “Graduation Afternoon”; “Harvey’s Dream”; “The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates”; a new story called “N”; and many more.

GETTING HARD NEXT YEAR
Hard Case Crime editor Charles Ardai has announced some titles he’ll be publishing in 2009, starting with a “truly obscure long-lost title” from Lawrence Block. “Let the guessing begin!” he said. Others he can spill about:
• THE CUTIE, a reprint from Donald E. Westlake;
• THE DEAD MAN’S BROTHER, an international thriller from sci-fi writer Roger Zelazny; and
• HOUSE DICK, a hotel detective novel by Watergate figure E. Howard Hunt.

LINKGASM
• CHUD interviews Steve Alten on ditching shark thrillers for political ones with THE SHELL GAME.
• HarperCollins has a new CHRONICLES OF NARNIA site, to tie in with the re-release of C.S. Lewis’ PRINCE CASPIAN, itself tied to the upcoming movie.
• James Patterson doesn’t think he’s selling enough, the big baby.

EXCERPTS FROM PRESS RELEASES ABOUT BOOKS WE WON’T BE REVIEWING
from THE MAGIC IN YOU by Sally Taylor

“THE MAGIC IN YOU tells the story of a flower that has taken root by a roadway at the edge of a beautiful forest. She is small in comparison to the other flowers and is teased for her insignificant stature. A Billy goat comes along and eats one of her pretty golden petals. Then a car drives by and runs over one of her leaves, leaving the flower in quite a forlorn state. She begins to cry, which gains the attention of a nearby woodland fairy. ‘Why are you crying little flower?’ ‘Well,’ began the little flower, ‘I just don’t know why I am growing here, by the side of the road, I mean. All the other flowers make fun of me. I wasn’t feeling very pretty, and I wasn’t feeling very smart..’ ‘Maybe.’ the little flower continued, ‘you could wave your magic wand and make me beautiful. Then I would surely be happy.’ ‘Oh, no,’ replied the fairy as she gracefully poised herself to fly away. ‘You do not need my magic to become beautiful, or happy. You can become a happy, beautiful little flower any time you want.’”

from WE ARE ALL ONE: A CALL TO SPIRITUAL UPRISING by J.M. Harrison

“Harrison is no newcomer to life-changing events. Back in 2002 while having dinner with his wife and friends, he unwittingly fell into a deep shamanic trance during which he began to speak in tongues, have prophetic visions and to channel, continuing to do so for several hours. His ability as an authentic seer has been confirmed several times. In 1997 he predicted that a member of the British royal family would be ‘killed or assassinated’ just four days before Princess Diana died in Paris. In 2002 he had a vision in which he saw Hillary Clinton delivering her rostrum victory speech after successfully becoming the first female President of the United States of America in 2008 / 2009.”

–Rod Lott

Buy it at Amazon.