Edinburgh resident JK Rowling gives a million quid to campaign against Scottish independence from Britain. And is promptly labeled a specky bastard, a ginga and a squeaky wee bitch . Way to go, ScotsNats! In this episode, we cover some of the issues behind the forthcoming referendum on Scottish independence (not currently on the news agenda Stateside – you heard it here first). Also discussing these stories: Latter-day Saints claims IP rights to “Mormon” name “Amazon of Middle East” is launching...
Jul 04, 2014•25 min
Enter the eminently other world of Malte Laurids Brigge – and don't plan on coming back in one piece. The big window shatters and the little pieces giggle. What? You didn't hear that? We talk about Rainer Maria Rilke's one and only novel with literary critic Scott Esposito.
Jul 03, 2014•33 min
Tonight's guest on the Garry Bushell Talk Show is the legendary reggae star Roy Ellis , also known as Mr Symarip. Roy is one of the genuine icons of sixties reggae in the UK and his band Symarip were famously the first to target the emerging skinhead youth cult with their best-loved song, 1969’s Skinhead Moonstomp . The young skins were feared by the press and the establishment; but the Jamaican-born star found love and acceptance amongst all those cropped heads, braces and bovver boots. Roy gre...
Jul 02, 2014
Things are not what they appear to be, and not even what they appear later to be. Foxes are animals that cannot be trusted, and sometimes they are not even animals. This is that in Sjón's slender novel. Intriguing.
Jul 01, 2014•12 min
Is there anything better than the story of a master forger? If there is, I don't know it. This time we take a trip to the realm of non-fiction, looking into the complex world of Han Van Meegeren, a forger working in the style of Frans Hals and, especially, Johannes Vermeer, who sold his work to Hermann Goering, then tried to convince the world it was in the name of patriotism.
Jul 01, 2014•20 sec
An interview with author, professor and psychoanalyst Josh Cohen, spy of our inner selves, examiner of the lies we live, and creator of the smash new meme, '#pervingon'. No secrets, please – we're going English.
Jul 01, 2014•27 min
Hans Erich Nossack's rare first person account of the 1943 destruction of Hamburg is served with a side of WG Sebald, who employs the word 'should', with grave consequences. BFFs.
Jun 30, 2014•22 min
King Charles, Oliver Cromwell, a vagrant narrator, hedge mazes and dreaded puritans – Jeanette Winterson goes historical fiction on us again in her 1989 novel that is less than the sum of its parts. For a short book, it's quite long.
Jun 30, 2014•33 min
Traitor? Spy? Loyal American or self-serving amoralist? Howard W Campbell Jr tries to write his own get out of jail free card in in Kurt Vonnegut's 'Mother Night'. Vintage.
Jun 28, 2014•17 min
Canonical fodder about a little boy with a man's mind, who becomes a fully grown man in a little boy's body, born and raised in the foreshadow and shadow of the Second World War. Blechtrommel is one word for it: execrable.
Jun 28, 2014•33 min
Review of the 2011 debut novel by Ben Lerner in which a young American goes to Spain on the US government's buck, meets two girls, and learns to fall in love with himself. Excellent book.
Jun 27, 2014•19 min
Good news! This is a brief audio note from Ian and Peter about our RSS feed. Litopia is expanding, with more shows and more RSS feeds. This feed – the one you’re currently subscribed to – will become our MASTER feed: in other words, every show we produce will appear here automatically. Hopefully, that will suit you just fine. If not, Ian and Peter explain other options. See you soon!
Jun 27, 2014•10 min
The latest struggle between Amazon and a major publisher is anything but a regular business negotiation. It will, we believe, profoundly affect the future of the global publishing industry. Hear our analysis – and decide for yourself. Links to other stories mentioned in this show include: Author awarded $100,000 in 'Billy the Kid' lawsuit SCOTUS rules in favor of Fox News reporter Holder declares 'No reporter is going to go to jail' Supremes Disallow 'Laches' Defense in Copyright Suit Led Zeppel...
May 30, 2014•25 min
The growing media furor occasioned by the dismissal of former New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson finds a strange connection this week to a far larger media scandal in the UK. How much did former BBC Director-General Mark Thompson know about the activities of BBC star and serial paedophile Jimmy Savile – who may have abused up to 1,000 victims on BBC premises , apparently under the noses of BBC staff for more than 40 years? According to Mr. Thompson, he knew zilch. “During my time as d...
May 18, 2014•25 min
Bestselling author Tess Gerritsen thinks shes been ripped off by the movie “Gravity” – and she may have a point! Presented from Florida by leading lawyer Donna Ballman and from London by literary agent Peter Cox . Download the show as mp3 file Subscribe in iTunes...
May 03, 2014•25 min
Book-banning seasons is here again! Gather round the bonfire, folks, warm your hands and enjoy the mulled wine and scent of lightly-toasted paperbacks... Plus, why do people get so mean on the net? Presented from Florida by leading lawyer Donna Ballman and from London by literary agent Peter Cox . Download the show as mp3 file Subscribe in iTunes Be a wonderful human being and support us with a donation...
Apr 25, 2014•20 min
Allegedly, they made love every Tuesday, like clockwork. They would sing and dance all night long. Chinese foot binding comes into it, too. Not one of Holmes’s more outré cases – but in fact, a real-life legal drama – which is what The Debriefer is all about! Presented from Florida by leading lawyer Donna Ballman and from London by literary agent Peter Cox . Download the show as mp3 file Subscribe in iTunes Be a wonderful human being and support us with a donation...
Apr 25, 2014•20 min
A setback for authors who want to reclaim their e-book rights from publishers; Peter reveals one of his negotiating techniques; and someone in South Carolina has the world’s most highly-tuned Gaydar! Presented from Florida by leading lawyer Donna Ballman and from London by literary agent Peter Cox . Links to stories mentioned in this show: Judge Rules for HarperCollins in Open Road E-Book Dispute Musicians May Lobby To Change Royalty Regs After Manhattan Court Ruling Holocaust novel focus of cop...
Apr 13, 2014•20 min
It started in Sochi — the most expensive winter Olympics in history. A winter Olympics which, let us not forget, saw Great Britain take the gold in curling! Then Pussy Riot— which is decidedly not a niche pornography market — were being publicly horsewhipped by men in funny hats while the world recoiled in horror and… didn’t do much of anything, really. Then, in the beating Orange heart of Kiev’s Independence Square, came the protesters — or maybe they weren’t protesters at all: maybe they were ...
Mar 24, 2014•55 min
We’re talking advances again, and following the cautionary tale of a pair of writers who went from self-made success... to “traditional” publishing failure... and now, hopefully, back to the self-publishing world again where the advances aren’t stellar - but at least you are your own boss. Follow along, it’s well worth studying. Links to items mentioned on this show... Author cheated Bronx dog trainer out of book profits Adult Magazine Publisher Sues LeaseWeb for Providing Services to Copyright ...
Mar 24, 2014•20 min
Jim Davidson gives his first major interview since winning Celebrity Big Brother! Cockney comic Jim Davidson was written off as a dinosaur by a younger breed of middle class stand-ups. Falsely suspected of all the "isms", Tory-backing, troops-loving, womanising Jim had been sacked by the BBC and snubbed by TV. And when he was arrested by Operation Yewtree in January 2012... well, it seemed that after four explosive and lucrative decades of fame, Davidson was finally finished. Media commentators ...
Mar 04, 2014
One of the nice things about our listeners is that they share their views and experiences with us. So it is that, after we last covered the lawsuit brought by “To Kill a Mockingbird” legend Harper Lee against a museum in her south Alabama hometown, both Donna and Peter have changed their views on the case. Thank you, Debriefists! Well, that suit has been settled now – and a very good thing, too. And while we’re speaking of past shows, here is the link Peter mentioned to our show featuring author...
Feb 23, 2014•20 min
We’re back! With more stories, more opinion and even more insight into that murky confluence that lies somewhere between the edge of publishing and the beginning of matters legal. Big stories this show are: Sherlock Holmes is definitely in the public domain, judge rules Warning Drivers Of Speed Traps With Flashing Headlights Is Free Speech Tom Cruise Sued For $1 Billion By Angry Screenwriter Single Mom Sob Story? JK Rowling Sues Daily Mail For Libel Science writer files lawsuit against NASA afte...
Feb 07, 2014•30 min
