•Just a few weeks after I first heard his work, author Barry Hannah passes away. And now it seems that local bookstores are extremely low on stock. The short story read at the Literary Mix Tape event was hilarious, with a strong sense of voice, insightful descriptions, manic energy, and palpable sadness. So go buy a book of his (after I find myself a copy).

•If you're a fantasy fan and you're tired of waiting five plus years for the new George R.R. Martin book, HBO has given the official greenlight to a series based on his novels.

•After taking a hiatus of two years I'm going to finish Dubliners this weekend. After that I'm thinking some Steinbeck. East of Eden or The Grapes of Wrath?