Skeletons In The Publishing Closet

Dan Brown's dating tips. Annie Proulx's advice on making cider. Susan Orlean's weight-loss plan. Thanks to the Net, says Radar magazine, "literary fiascos may never again slip softly into the safety of oblivion. 'Out of print' no longer means not available", not only because of Amazon but also used bookstores and blogs. So if you've indulged in hack work before attaining popular credibility, beware. (Come to think of it, one wonders whether one can get one's hands on the book on Mumbai's nightlife, including the salacious bits, supposedly authored by one Vinod Mehta in his salad days.)