James Ellroy’s L.A. Is Dead — But Not The Crimes: ‘It Feels Un-Glamorized’
James Ellroy, the master of Los Angeles noir, has launched his latest novel, *Red Sheet*, the fourth installment of his second L.A. quartet. Set in 1962 amid the Cuban Missile Crisis, the book follows LAPD investigator Freddie Otash as he probes communism, murder and corruption. Ellroy, who grew up in a crime‑scarred L.A. and now lives in Denver, says the city feels “desaturated” and “un‑glamorized.” The release adds another chapter to Ellroy’s decades‑long effort to reshape the crime‑fiction genre.
Author Interview – Brice Ominski: Digital Momentum
Brice Ominski, a veteran enterprise architect, launches his new book *Digital Momentum*, arguing that today’s organizations must shift from periodic, technology‑centric projects to a continuous capability for adaptation. He highlights that AI, automation, and emerging paradigms are converging, making traditional...
Anne Lambelet’s Beatrix and Her Friends Is Charming Biography
Anne Lambelet’s picture‑book biography *Beatrix and Her Friends* hit shelves on May 26, 2026 as a $19.99 hardcover for ages 4‑8. The volume celebrates the life of Beatrix Potter, highlighting her work as author, artist, farmer and preservationist, and includes a timeline, author’s...
The Last Safe County: A New World, and the Most Beautiful Thing I’ve Written Since Graham’s Resolution
A.R. Shaw announced that the paperback edition of *Roads Home*, the first novel in the post‑apocalyptic series *The Last Safe County*, is now available. The story centers on Mabel, a hardened survivor who reluctantly takes in a parachuting boy, Caleb,...
Book Review: Stacey Levine, ‘Mice 1961’
Stacey Levine’s novel *Mice 1961*, a recent Pulitzer finalist, has been re‑issued by Ecco, drawing renewed attention to its unconventional narration. The story is filtered through Girtle, a housekeeper narrator who doubts her ability to contain the tale, while the...
Posing and Passing in Translation: From Amara Lakhous to Elena Ferrante and Jhumpa Lahiri
The essay examines how "posing" and "passing" function as narrative and linguistic strategies in contemporary Italian literature, focusing on three exophonic works: Amara Lakhous’s *Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio* (2006), Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels (2011‑2014), and...
Zoulfa Katouh’s The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue Is Story of Healing
Zoulfa Katouh’s debut novel *The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue* follows 17‑year‑old Jihad Dabbagh, a Syrian‑American teen who uses a magical sketchbook to transform grief over her mother’s death into vivid art. The story unfolds at an elite boarding school...
'Poor Stylists Just Haven’t Read the Right Books Yet'
The post, part two of an interview with author Andrew Krivak, explores why many writers struggle with style, blaming market pressures, publishing trends, and limited exposure to exemplary literature rather than MFA training. Krivak argues that agents and editors prioritize...
Submit You Essays and Become a Co-Author in My Publication!
Hasif, the creator behind the Substack publication "Postcards by Hasif," has opened its August collaboration window, inviting readers to submit 500‑600‑word personal essays. Each month he selects four to five contributors, writes a 500‑word response, and publishes the joint piece...
Book Review: “The Adjunct” By Maria Adelmann
Maria Adelmann’s 2026 novel *The Adjunct* offers a bleak, first‑person portrait of an adjunct professor navigating sub‑minimum wages, crushing debt, and precarious contracts. The narrative contrasts Sam’s survival anxiety with her former advisor Tom’s comfortable tenure‑track position, highlighting gendered power...
Impact of Bay Area Book Festival 2026
The Bay Area Book Festival 2026 convened authors, readers, publishers, and community groups in Berkeley for a weekend of readings, panels, and workshops. The event featured a diverse program ranging from fiction and nonfiction talks to youth and family activities,...
Mark’s Reading List: Truth Under Siege, Trump Unhinged, and More
Mark, the founder of Stop the Presses, publishes a weekly "Reading List" that curates articles, newsletters, and occasional podcasts for his subscribers. This edition highlights pieces on the erosion of factual discourse, the chaotic post‑Trump political environment, and other timely...
J. A. Morgenstein’s League of Dangerous Young Ladies Is Exciting Mystery
J.A. Morgenstein’s debut YA novel, *The League of Dangerous Young Ladies*, hit shelves on June 2, 2026 as a $19.99 hardcover. Set in 1909, it follows the daughters of iconic literary and historical figures as they hunt monsters, blending mystery...
What to Read: A Summer Book List
Rest of World’s summer reading list spotlights eight new titles that dissect the political, social and environmental dimensions of today’s tech landscape. The selections range from Nick Srnicek’s analysis of AI power struggles between the United States and China to...
(Unedited) Podcast Transcript 581: In Good Faith
Ryan Avent, former Economist journalist turned author, discusses his new book "In Good Faith: How the Nature of Belief Shapes the Fate of Societies" on the Talking Headways podcast. The work argues that both lowercase faith (belief without evidence) and...