Vonnegut Protégé Will Share His Wisdom

Mistress jotted suspicions in archives purchased by Harvard

(NEWSER) - One of Norman Mailer’s mistresses suspected the writer of having a gay affair—or perhaps several, reports the Times of London. Mailer also asked lover Carole Mallory to have three-way sex with a gay man, according to her notes in archives recently purchased by Harvard University. One of the men Mallory suspected of being romantically linked to Mailer, close friend Rick Stratton, said there was “no truth to” speculation that the writer had gay affairs. More»

'Pen and ink were his medium,' says publisher

(NEWSER) - "Society only likes dead artists," John Lennon once wrote in a heartbreaking letter. "I'm afraid Yoko and myself cannot oblige." That note was scooped up by a private collector for $13,000, but soon some 200 other letters, postcards, and doodles of Lennon's will be available to the public in a new book published next year. Yoko Ono has finally given her permission for publication, and will help Lennon biographer Hunter Davies compile the book, reports the Guardian . He'll use Ono's own archives and letters from private collections, but is also actively seeking any correspondence from Lennon's countless friends and pen pals. More»

'The Day I Shot Cupid' is a mess, but an entertaining one

(NEWSER) - Jennifer Love Hewitt wrote a book of advice about love, which is just as ridiculous as it sounds. “Here are 10 completely awesome things that happen in this book,” writes Linda Holmes for NPR :

1. Hewitt admits to visiting and trying on her “dream ring” once a month since she was 12. She is now 31. “If this is true, she has made roughly 225 trips to the jewelry store to try on engagement rings. I do not know where to go with this.”
2. Among her recommendations: Make out with a stranger to get over a breakup—but only if he’s “gorgeous”—and always spray tan before a date.

Going Rogue likely to continue trend of hits from right-wing figures

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin’s memoir is expected sell so well that it will singlehandedly boost the fortunes of the ailing book business. The book is already topping preorder lists, and publisher Harper plans an extensive slate of promotional appearances to make full use the former Alaska governor's drawing power. "They may feel one way or another about her, but they will want to read about her," says a Borders exec. More»

Unpublished correspondence up for sale

(NEWSER) - A collection of letters written by Lord Byron to a clergyman, some of them unpublished, sheds new light on the Romantic poet—who discloses his sexual escapades with servants and angry opinions of fellow writers. Several letters refer to a serving girl whom he took as his mistress; he dumped her after discovering she was unfaithful, even though he was, too. He also writes of his admiration for the Albanian pasha's hundreds of women and boys, "and very pretty creatures they were." More»