Dead Dog Slideshow Gets Six-Figure Book Advance

In January, Yahoo published a piece by a woman named Lauren Fern Watt titled "I Took My Dying Dog on a Bucket-List Adventure." The piece wasn't really an essay, per se, but some introductory text and eleven photos accompanied by captions that described Watt's relationship with her dying dog, Gizelle, who had been…
Book Publisher Makes $1 Million Charitable Donation to Jill Abramson
Jill Abramson, who was unceremoniously ousted last year as editor of the New York Times, has signed a $1 million book deal. Her book's topic will be "the future of media in a rapidly changing world." This development can be interpreted as folly, or farce.
Check Out This New Person to Hate
Stephanie Clifford, a New York Times reporter who is 36 years old, has just received a seven-figure book deal for her first novel. It's already been optioned for a movie as well.
How much would you pay Aziz Ansari to write you a book about modern love and the woes of seeing your crush post a photo of their snacks on Instagram rather than reply to your texts? $3.5 million ($3,500,000)? Sounds about right!
George Zimmerman Juror B37 Hates Media, Called Trayvon "Boy of Color"
A mere two days after finding George Zimmerman innocent of the murder of Trayvon Martin, juror B37 in the case has signed on with a prominent literary agent, as a prelude to a book deal. This juror is a woman who hates the media and went into the trial mistakenly believing there were "riots" over the case.
Complaining About the Sex Lives of Yale Kids Considered Good Topic for Book
If you don't have a book contract right this minute, you should very ashamed. Consider: Nathan Harden (pictured), a 2009 graduate of Yale, not only got a book contract, but has already written and published his book, and that book is about how bad it is that kids are into sex things at Yale—a topic that a professional…
Tucker Max and Dov Charney, Together in a Single Book
Yesterday, news broke of a massive ($500K, allegedly) book deal for 24 year-old Ryan Holiday (pictured)—whose name will be familiar to savvy Gawker readers as the spokesman for American Apparel. So what's so interesting about him?
Fake Syrian Lesbian Tried to Get Book Deal
Say what you will about Tom MacMaster, the married American grad student who pretended to be a kidnapped Syrian lesbian on the internet—at least he started his horrible fake blog to create (as he put it) "an important voice for issues that I feel strongly about." Well, that, and to cash in on a memoir written from the…
Julian Assange Signs $1 Million Book Deal
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange signed a $1 million deal with Random House for his memoirs to help pay his legal bills and keep Wikileaks afloat. He should call it Julian Assange and the Chamber of Secrets! Or, something funny.
Christine O'Donnell to Pen Memoir
Bed-hopping Puritan Christine O'Donnell has signed a deal with St. Martin's to write a "behind the scenes" account of her 2010 Senate race. Let us know if you need any photos or anything, Christine.
America's Great Literary Hope, Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi, to Publish First Novel
One of the great literary minds of her generation, Jersey Shore's Snooki, will publish her first novel next January. A Shore Thing! is sure to be a keenly observed bildungsroman about a girl looking for love on the boardwalk.
The Parenting Backlash: The Book
Jennifer Senior has landed a book deal from her recent New York magazine story on "Why parents hate parenting" (Spoiler: because kids suck). Could this be the start of an anti-parenting cultural backlash? Let's hope so! [GalleyCat]
Tyra Banks Takes Her Stab at Writing the Great American Novel
Retired-model-turned-Oprah-wannabe Tyra Banks is writing her first novel, Modelland. It will be part of a trilogy, since Random House signed her to a three-book deal. Oh, goodie! The details sound scary and fierce, like Tyra in a jumpsuit.
Cutbacks at The Onion; New York A.V. Club Folded
In your value-added Tuesday media column: The Onion shuts down a section, SmartMoney may be taken over by Dow Jones, an n+1 guy gets a book deal, and Magic Johnson's still not a media mogul.
Even More Dana Milbank Quips to Inundate Weary Readers
Washington Post-approved white humorist Dana Milbank, last seen being handed his own Sunday op-ed column, is now writing a book about Glenn Beck entitled Tears of a Clown. It will feature japes, jibes, jests, jokes, and possibly zingers. [Michael Calderone]
Poster Boy: The Book
Coming in March: Poster Boy: The War of Art. The kid got a book deal, huzzah! You might say it's "too soon," but is it really? Hopefully the law's not taking all his money, yet. Exciting publisher's boilerplate description below.
Jenny Sanford's Six-Step Guide to Capitalizing on Disgraced Politican Pussyhound Husbands
Jenny Sanford's husband, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, cheated on his wife with an Argentinean lover. Now, with his political career is in shambles, it's time for Jenny Sanford's star to shine bright! And make a decent buck, too.
