Laura Lippman on Craig Ferguson's show

She and Craig talk about their "bad urges." I can't wait to get her new book (can't believe I don't already have it). Should I get a print copy or ebook? I'm leaning toward the hardcover. I hope I like the jacket.

Wine, Writers, & Song Festival this weekend in Brownville, NE

Every year, we spend the last weekend in April celebrating wine, literature, food, music and history with a program of fun events for all ages.

I'm super late posting this (sorry, Cinnamon!), but I don't think it's too late to get in on the action--it starts tomorrow. Check out the Brownville website for the full schedule and info about the authors and musicians.

There's a little more coverage on the UNP blog:

Several University of Nebraska Press authors--Paul Johnsgard, Beef Torrey, and Sean Carmichael and Maggie Pleskac--are participating in the festivities

Events include:
- a writers' workshop
- a songwriters' roundtable
- pairing food & wine program
- music by Jumpin' Kate
and much more!

J.D. Salinger

I don't even know what to say about the death of J.D. Salinger. The Catcher in the Rye is one of my all-time favorite books and has been since I read it in my freshman year of high school. I like what John Hodgman said

I prefer to think JD Salinger has just decided to become extra reclusive

And here are some links to people who are more articulate on the subject than I:

• From the Washington Post: Publisher Roger Lathbury recalls book deal with J.D. Salinger that went south 
• From the Guardian's Books Blog: JD Salinger: A tribute roundup 
• From The New York Times: J. D. Salinger, Literary Recluse, Dies at 91. See also the list of related articles.

Robert B. Parker

I started reading the Spenser novels in high school. My mom started reading them first and recommended them to me. I couldn't get enough of them. My friend Heather and her mom loved them, too. I even convinced my family to name our dog Spenser.

At some point I stopped reading Parker, but in the last few years I've started up again. It's such a cliche, but I thought he'd always be around, that the Spenser books would just keep coming. I really hate the thought that some day I'll have read them all.

Here's a nice roundup of tributes (from Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind).