Happy Birthday Franz

It was this day that writer Franz Kafka was born in 1883. Franz Kafka is the writer of such works as The Metamorphosis and The Trial.

And now as a special treat, here's a special look at Franz Kafka: The Rock Opera.

Quoth the Raven: "Happy Birthday!"

It has been 200 years since the birth of Edgar Allan Poe and in honor of that, there are two new books (books make great gifts by they way) out now.

The first is On a Raven's Wing, an anthology released by The Mystery Writers of America. It features new tales in honor Mr. Poe and his work. Contributors include Stuart M. Kaminsky (who also edited), Mary Higgins Clark, Thomas H. Cook, Don Winslow, John Lutz and the late Edward D. Hoch.

The other book (also from Mystery Writers of America) is a new collection of some of Poe's work titled In the Shadow of the Master. The stories are followed by essays by some of today's top writers such as Stephen King, Jeffrey Deaver, Lisa Scottoline, Sue Grafton, Michael Connelly and Tess Gerritsen.

Also, in an earlier post I detailed some of the events hat would be going on in Baltimore as part of a year-long celebration of Poe called Nevermore 2009.

James Earl Jones reciting "The Raven"


Vincent Price performing "Tell-tale Heart" (Part 1)

Oh Lord Won't You Buy Her a Mecedes Benz?

It was on this day in 1943 that singer Janis Joplin was born.

"On stage I make love to twenty five thousand people; and then I go home alone. "

Janis performing Piece of My Heart

Odds and Ends

Born on this day:
Writer Franz Kafka (1883)
Playwright Tom Stoppard (1937)

Literary Hot Spots
So where are some of the most literary friendly cities? Writer's Digest recently compiled this list of "Literary Hotspots:"

• Boston
• San Francisco
• New York City
• Seattle
• Miami

If you have any hot spots that you'd like to add, please feel free.