Ctr for Fiction: Peter Straub on writing.

This practical presentation by Peter Straub (Ghost Story, A Dark Matter, etc.) from April 2011 covers, among other topics, Straub's first attempt at writing a novel ("a mash-up of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Henry James"), point of view, process, and "Five Rules to Avoid Looking Like an Idiot." Along the way, he mentions Ed McBain and the film of Chandler's Lady in the Lake (1947) with Robert Montgomery. Says Straub re writing, "You have to get used to immense amounts of loneliness"; he also thinks outlines can be too constrictive.

Lovecraftian bits in time for Halloween.

There is a fascinating account about the original manuscript of H. P. Lovecraft's "The Shadow Out of Time" (published in Astounding Stories in 1936, although Lovecraft was dissatisfied with the edited version, and reprinted in the Library of America volume edited by Peter Straub). Thought lost forever, it came to Brown University, which details its provenance here, including the part played by "an August Derleth." Also of interest: audio clips of Straub as part of the Lovecraft Reading series and Straub's editing of an issue of Conjunctions with sci fi, horror, and fantasy contributions. Further details on Brown's Lovecraft Collection can be found here.

Nat Bk Festival video: Grimes, Turow, et al.

Scott Turow

The Library of Congress has posted various presentations from the 2010 National Book Festival. These feature, among others:

• Ken Follett
• Martha Grimes
• Karin Slaughter
• Peter Straub
• Scott Turow