Bits and pieces from the web and beyond:

• Stephen King has announced that he has an idea for a new Dark Tower book, the working title of which will be THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE.  He has not yet started this book and anticipates that it will be a minimum of eight months before he is able to begin writing it.

• Friend and fellow writer Margaret Yang wins the Ann Arbor Book Festival Short Story contest 2009.  Here is the story.
• Fan of Michael Connelly’s “Harry Bosch” series?  If so, you can read an excerpt from his newest release ‘Nine Dragons’ here.

• Author and playwright Jesse Kellerman (son of bestselling authors Jonathan and Faye Kellerman) has announced that he has recently submitted the completed manuscript for his next novel to his publisher.  If you haven’t enjoyed his unique storytelling style, I urge you to read Sunstroke and The Genius. You can find out more on his website.
• Just finished reading Dracula: The Un-Dead by Bram’s great-grandnephew Dacre Stoker (with Ian Holt).  It was definitely entertaining, mixing old-style melodrama with more modern action scenes.  Though I only rated it 4 stars (out of 5), I thought it was good!
• In the midst of reading Anne Rice’s newest novel, Angel Time, which (thankfully) veers away from the Jesus stories that I found to be entirely dreadful and boring.  As I’m only 100 pages into the newest, I’m finding it quite delicious so far!

If you haven’t checked out the list of blogs I recommend (located in the sidebar to the right), you might discover writing that fundamentally changes your life.

One blog I wholeheartedly recommend is my dear friend Rachel’s blog, which you can also link to here. I’ve known Rachel for several years, and can say that my life will never be the same. Now her deep wisdom and insight is available for everyone (though sharing her will be a difficult transition for me!), and you are encouraged to allow her to grace your life as well.

Welcome to the world, baby girl!