Google Editions to Launch This Year, God to Publish Memoir, and More

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:

The Boston Review takes a long look at the state of book culture when Amazon, a company "with the sole goal of underselling competitors," is "indisputably the king of books."

Dave Eggers, Joshua Ferris, and Francine Prose, along with other high-profile authors, are auctioning off the names of fictional characters in their upcoming books as a fundraiser for the First Amendment Project, a nonprofit that provides legal services in free speech and free press cases. (Jacket Copy)

According to Publishers Weekly, memoirs lead the way on a mostly successful Black Friday for indie booksellers.

The much-anticipated launch of Google Editions may happen before the end of the year, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Apparently God just inked a deal to publish a memoir with Simon & Schuster. (Press Release)

An Australian author is suing a critic over a negative review of his new book, which celebrates and mourns the loss of distinctly Australian vernacular phrases like "it's raining dingoes." (Sydney Morning Herald)

Speaking of negative reviews, a British author and Orange prize finalist has asked Amazon UK to investigate a suspicious pattern of anonymous "poison-pen" reviews of her books on the site, which may amount to online stalking. (Guardian)

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Sammy Hagar is set to publish a memoir next year with HarperCollins. (Gibson)