Wellington Leg: Last week the publishing world unveiled the latest in the fake memoir fill in the blank scandal overshadowing the publication of numerous novels, biographies, and Obama outtakes that might otherwise have gained traction. Let’s not even mention Elliot Spitzer or the lady who called Hillary “a monster” or the resignation of Geraldine Ferraro who wasn’t even working the last time I looked.
Certainly our scandal is not very competitive compared to these. The news cycle is relentless and besides the publishing capital of the universe packed up and moved when no one was looking.
The New York Times proclaimed Seattle as the center of the publishing universe, but that’s a dodge, of course, because of the scandals. Six months from now the Times will move the center of the universe again; my guess is Fort Myers Florida. Center of the publishing universe.
Lingering with the Times article for a moment Starbucks Entertainment moved their book team to Los Angeles to be closer to Hollywood. Starbucks chooses a book every two or three months, and according to Alan Greenspan’s memoir, that’s low productivity. Perhaps the proximity to Hollywood bodes ill for bookish people from Seattle who are probably stunned by the daily sunshine. That’s what they talk about when they’re supposed to be choosing a book. I suggest moving them back to Seattle where the cruel stars of the night are rarely visible. They know an occluded front when they see one; they know it will rain on their parade.
I should apologize to author Kjell Eriksson whose novel CRUEL STARS OF THE NIGHT was published before the switch in the center of the universe occurred. Gotebord Sweden might be another candidate for center of the publishing universe or maybe Havana what with Jose Latour’s rather excellent HIDDEN IN HAVANA now available in stores.
Here in Wellington Leg many of the citizens are working on memoirs of their own. No one knows if any of these manuscripts will find their way onto the scandal pages but hope springs eternal. Meanwhile the staff at the Hotel Faz is diligently searching their records for any sign of Humpty Dumpty’s recent stay. Mr. Dumpty charged $4,340 to his mini-bar but claims he never ate the Snickers bar in question. The Flying Squad is investigating what may become known as Mini-Gate.
Concetta Comedia Del’Arta reporting.
That’s why I never stay at the Hotel Faz – they always rip you off with dubious but non-disprovable charges. Instead I always stay at the Mecklenburg Brig & Suites. The staff there may be rude (some might say abusive) but they charge a fair price. And their gruel is to die for.
(By the way, is there any chance we’ll ever see The Wellington Leg Chronicles published in book form?)
Ah the Faz. Poems have been written about it ( Annoyance at the Hotel Faz)
The Chronicles of Wellington Leg? I don’t know. Somewhere in the vast archives of this blog is a query letter written by the earl…perhaps as a memoir of trying to forget what happened only to discover it’s all written down ?