Devoted to publishing, publishers and to those who craft the written word

We've covered a lot of of politics lately. It's time to get back to our bread and butter--reading.

If you want to be a writer, then you need to read and read, and then read some more. Without further ado, here are two links to great writers discussing what they like to read.

Over at Ecstatic Days, novelist Nick Mamatas reflects on the writings of John Fante. Start with Ask the Dust, and read this guy when you are hurting, poor or stuck in your writing. He'll remind you why you write. Meet this new old writer here:

"Fante’s gimmick is an “open” one, or at least open to me. Young guy, son of boisterous immigrants, wants to be a writer and wants love from inaccessible women. He starves and struggles and begs the universe for something, anything at all, to keep the dual tortures of hunger and loneliness from overwhelming him. I fit right in. The agony of it all keeps me writing, just as it did him."

Then, over at Literary Saloon, one of my favorite writers in Spanish is being featured again. Juan Rulfo's spooky novel still challenges me, and his work with ghosts, poverty, and Latin American landscape is unforgettable.

Dig it: "At Slate Jim Lewis introduces what he thinks is The Perfect Novel You've Never Heard Of, Juan Rulfo's Pedro Páramo. Given all the coverage it's gotten the past couple of years -- including our review -- we're pretty sure you've heard of it."