Book News, In Brief

HarperCollins seems to forget that they're not dealing with a Margaret Seltzer-style publishing wangsta here: Publisher sues Victoria Gotti over book advance. Um, this chick is fo' reals, yo. (Well, her husband is.) (Was.)

Hyperion today announced plans to publish the first adult novels by Cecily Von Ziegesar, New York Times bestselling author of the Gossip Girl series. I'll do the math for you: Hyperion is owned by Disney, who own ABC, who would love a Gossip Girl size hit show. (And no, "Gossip Girl size" is not a fat joke. Those girls are all anorexics, fer chrissakes.)

R.I.P. Jonathan Williams, unorthodox American poet, publisher, photographer - and disciple of Ezra Pound. For a fitting tribute, head over to the Guardian UK.