Get Shorty: American Short Fiction comes to Austin, Texas

Hey Austin literati, there's some fun happening this week:

American Short Fiction Summer Reading

American Short Fiction is celebrating their Summer issue with us Austinites, and sent over this mini-release to us:

"Come for an evening of music, fiction, and drinks! Christie Hodgen is flying in from Kansas City to read from her brilliant story featured in the current issue, actress Kelli Bland will be performing from Patrick Somerville's "The Universe in Miniature in Miniature," and poet (and new Austinite) Laurie Capps will also read. Emceed by ASF favorite, Owen Egerton! Refreshments will be provided by Live Oak Brewing Company."

So there you have it: beer and books! What could be better? Details on the event:

Friday, June 26
7:00-9:00pm
Cafe Caffeine
909 West Mary St.
Austin, Texas

Hope to see some of you locals out there!

Take me back to Manhattan: Jack Ford's book launch recapped

This week, I had the wonderful privilege of attending Jack Ford's book launch for his new book, "The Osiris Alliance" (Ovation Books, April 2009). Held at the prestigious Yale Club in NYC, the event was a great success and those in attendance were truly genuine in the regard they held for Jack. Many may recognize Jack as the former chief legal correspondent for NBC News, but let me briefly give some background:

Jack is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning television news anchor and former trial lawyer. Since becoming a journalist, he has served as an anchor and correspondent for NBC News, ABC News and Court TV. He is recognized as one of the top legal journalists in America and currently co-anchors TruTv’s “In Session.” A graduate of Yale University, where he is currently a visiting professor, and the Fordham University School of Law, Ford has also been the recipient of a number of honorary degrees, recognizing his professional accomplishments and his extensive public service work.

For all of his accomplishments he is quite the gentleman, refreshingly humble and truly a one-of-a-kind guy. The trip to New York was a whirlwind. I flew in and caught a cab into the city on Tuesday afternoon. The event was that evening and right around the corner from my hotel and Grand Central Station.

Numerous friends, family and colleagues were in attendance to support and celebrate Jack and “The Osiris Alliance,” some of which included Dan Abrams, NBC News chief legal correspondent, Ashleigh Banfield, “In Session” anchor, Katie Couric, “CBS Evening News” anchor, and Jamie Floyd, “In Session” anchor. I was pleased to meet Jack’s wife, Dorothy, and his extended truTV family. Jack signed copies of “The Osiris Alliance,” told his story about how John Grisham pulled him aside and told him to just write the book and posed for pictures with friends and family.

I flew back to Austin the next day and was surprised to see snow flurries on my trek back to JFK. Snow in April was a big deal to this Texas girl!

BOOK BASH: Philip Carlo's 'Gaspipe' launched in Tribeca

Rusty, Tolly and I had the pleasure of surprising long-time P&P client, Philip Carlo last night at the launch party for his new book, Gaspipe: Confessions of a Mafia Boss (July,William Morrow). Tribeca's Ago Restaurant (owned by the venerable Robert De Niro) teemed with editors, agents, media and 100 of Carlo's closest friends and family - not to mention a few stars of mafia pop culture - Sopranos' John "Cha Cha" Ciarcia, Danny Aiello, Tony Danza and Chuck Zito.

L to R: Rusty Shelton, Carlo's agent Matt Bialer (Sanford J. Greenburger), Tolly Moseley, Stephanie Mayabb and Philip Carlo

Shelton poses with Carlo and Tony Danza.

John "Cha Cha"Ciarcia, former castmember of "The Sopranos" and "Goodfellas"

Bialer and Carlo's editor at William Morrow, Sara Durand

A veteran to the true-crime genre, Carlo reveals the most intimate, personal look into the world of La Cosa Nostra to date, in Gaspipe. Kirkus Reviews says "Carlo has the real goods. …the inside information about the lifestyle, rituals, killings and betrayals is priceless. An authoritative look at a once-rampant predator now at bay." And in a starred review from Publishers Weekly, Gaspipe was called "... required reading for anyone with a yen for the Mafia, the criminal underworld and a law enforcement system struggling to keep up."

Props to one of our favorite NY publicists, William Morrow's Sarah Burningham, who brought out A-list media to capture the event including HBO who started rolling tape on their upcoming documentary about Casso. Thanks to some lovely friends who hosted us about town Tuesday and Wednesday - Dot Lin over at Tor/Forge and the Picador team, Yen Cheong at Penguin, Matt Bialer of Sanford Greenburger & Associates, William Morrow's Sarah Burningham, Robert Guinsler at Sterling Lord, Ami Greko at Folio Literary Management and the John Kaminski and Clair Israel from NetGalley.

Warmest wishes to Phil and Laura!