Philip Roth Remembers His Friend and Mentor, Dani Shapiro on Distraction, and More

by
Evan Smith Rakoff
4.22.13

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:

Thanks in part to the American Booksellers Association, GalleyCat details how self-published authors can sell their books at independent bookstores.

Philip Roth remembers Dr. Bob Lowenstein—his friend, mentor, and Roth's homeroom teacher. (New York Times)

The Los Angeles Times remembers E. L. Konigsburg, author of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Konigsburg died on Friday at age eighty-three.

“The Internet is the writer's crack cocaine. It just is.” Author Dani Shapiro discusses distraction.

Authorities in Canada have approved the Penguin and Random House merger. (Shelf Awareness)

World Book Night starts tomorrow!

A free, open-source online public library has launched—the Digital Public Library of America. (Publishing Perspectives)

Speaking of libraries, Flavorwire rounded up images of the wildest libraries on earth, including one in Thailand where children can sit and read in a giant bird cage.