“It’s the world against us, and us against the world.”

“A merry life and a short one.”

These pirate declamations aptly describe the two authors I want to talk about. Can you guess which one each refers to? (Pirate speech in token of today being international Talk like a Pirate Day. Check out George Choundas’ fabulous The Pirate Primer to learn some helpful, and fun, phrases.)

I find a lot of irony in literary news. My latest favorite is the reactions to the future offerings of two well-known literary figures. Last week it was announced that James Frey has a new book deal (for a novel this time) with HaperCollins. Many people went up in flames and said they did not want to read another book from Frey because he had abused their trust. Personally, I have no feelings either way, but I doubt I’ll buy Frey’s novel.

Best-selling fantasy novelist Robert Jordan died on Sunday, and I’m a little surprised that I haven’t heard more howls of complaint about the unfinished Wheel of Time series that he left with his death. I’ve been waiting to read the series until he finished it, but I’m not sure what I’ll do now. I really, really hope they discover a first draft for a final book, or at least an outline so we know how it all ends.

There’s the difference. One writer whom few people have been waiting for is about to publish again, while another whom thousands have been waiting on will not be able to finish the work he began. That’s the book biz. Now we’ll never now what in the world Jordan had planned. But we will get to read Frey’s new novel. Goody.