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The novelist who wrote “How to Murder Your Husband” is now on trial for murdering her husband

A few years after Nancy Crampton Brophy—a self-published romance novelist—wrote an essay called “How to Murder Your Husband,” her husband was found shot to death in his classroom at the Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland. While that essay might have been a little bit of a red flag to investigators, the trial judge has deemed it inadmissible as evidence on the grounds it might prove prejudicial (you think?). Read more

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Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System

“No one in America will ever know the number of innocent people convicted, sent to prison, and even executed because of the flood of rotten forensics and bogus scientific opinions presented to juries. In this intriguing and beautifully crafted book, Innocence Project lawyer M. Chris Fabricant illustrates how wrongful convictions occur, and he makes it obvious how they could be prevented.” — John Grisham, author of A Time for Mercy

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Selections from Maurice Sendak’s Personal Collection to be Sold to Benefit the Rosenbach

Christie’s New York is pleased to announce the sale of selections from artist and author Maurice Sendak’s personal library in its upcoming Fine Printed Books & Manuscripts Including Americana auction taking place online from 11-25 April … These items include a wonderful selection of books reflecting Sendak’s creative and literary interests. There are over two dozen first editions by Beatrix Potter … There are several books from the Brothers Grimm, including a rare presentation from them as well as the original autograph manuscript for their long-lost story Dear Mili, which Sendak illustrated for its first publication in 1988. Accompanying the Grimm tales are other works of German Romanticism, namely folk and fairy tales. There is notably a fine selection of Henry James, representing Sendak’s love of nineteenth-century literature, including first editions and presentation copies. Moving to the 20th century, writers and artists include Dr Seuss, Crockett Johnson, and William Steig, together with special editions of Sendak’s own works. Read more

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Remembrance of Bookstores Past

New York City is home to wonderful bookstores, but there used to be so many more of them to choose from — from Coliseum Books, just south of Columbus Circle; to Ivy’s Curiosities and Murder Ink on the Upper West Side; to the dearly departed St. Mark’s Bookshop in the East Village. By one count, there were 386 booksellers in Manhattan in 1950, including almost 40 on a six-block stretch of Fourth Avenue. (By comparison, there are fewer than 100 in the city now.) Here’s a look back at a few old favorites. Read more

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L.G.B.T.Q. Romance Is Booming

L.G.B.T.Q. romance novels have been around for decades, but they have been a quiet presence, almost entirely self-published or put out by small niche presses, and often shelved separately from other romances in bookstores. Now, they are coming from the biggest publishers in the industry. They are prominently displayed at independent bookstores and on the shelves at Walmart, and advertised on New York City subway platforms. Read more

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