• Karen Joy Fowler on Octavia Butler. (via Gwenda)
• M.S. Smith on William Gass’s A Temple of Texts. (via Oakland’s Sexiest Man Alive)
• RIP John R. Gardiner.
• The New Yorker rejecting an advertisement for a book called White Trash Cooking? Who would have thought? After all, they have no problems capitulating their pages to a superstore for the masses.
• Rosemary Neill investigates the current state of Australian fiction.
• I’ve defended chick lit in the past, but this is a bit silly.
• V for Vendetta: 71% Rotten Tomatoes.
• Well, here’s a new angle for a podcasting article: The medium gives voice to the Faceless Other. But what you might now know is that podcasting is also the pipeline for the Two-Faced Stranger, the Long-Haired Entity, the Undetectable Shadow and the Twelve-Step Program.
• Peyton Place turns 50.
• David Kipen gets the Baltimore Sun treatment.
• They remade Just One of the Guys? Jesus, I need to pay attention.
• The Dan Brown plagiarism suit: All signs point to the missus.

The last 20 images posted at LiveJournal (via Tayari Jones)

Friend of RotR Jennifer Weiner will be hosting a live chat on Wednesday at 12:30 PM. She’ll also be conducting a lecture and book signing at the Salem Public Library at 7 PM on March 16. Do check it out if you can. Ms. Weiner is always good for some reliable laughs.

The Storysouth Million Writers Award Notable Stories of 2005 have been announced. Congratulations to Sarah for her nominated story. Other notable entries: Gina Frangello’s “How to Marry a W.A.S.P.,” Jim Ruland’s “On a Clear Day You Can See Scotland,” Cory Doctorow’s “I, Robot,” Rudy Rucker’s “The Men in the Back Room,” Richard Grayson’s “Three Scenes from My Life (With Special Guest Star Truman Capote,” Felicia Sullivan’s “Night Work,” Daniel Olivas’ “Hit,” and Kirby Gann’s “Tether.”

• Jeff VaderMeer, inclduing an overview of Austin bats!
• Felicia Sullivan.
• To shit talk the man further, Stone Cold Poetry Bitches, bitch!
• Photos from Zachary Schomburg.
• A full report to come from Adam Clay.
• Best AWP Photo?
• Reb Livingston on reactions to her Bedside Guide cover.
• The best part of AWP? Sitting around with a bunch of random men, apparently.
• Various posts from Shanna Compton.
• Man, I’m going to have to go next year. Looks like much fun was had!

[UPDATE: And a blog panel summation from Mr. Cheney.]

[UPDATE 2: The indefatigable Mr. Wickett has a sampling of responses from many.]