Today marks an exciting development in the literary world as Steve Brill's newly launched e-commerce platform, Contentville, prepares to release the first chapter of a highly anticipated book. This title, set to hit the shelves in October under Knopf, is not just any run-of-the-mill publication; it’s “Merrick,” the newest addition to Anne Rice’s renowned Vampire Chronicles.

Fresh off Contentville's recent acquisition of the e-publishing rights to James Ellroy's upcoming novel, “Widespread Panic,” this first serial deal exemplifies the site’s ambition to carve out a niche in the evolving landscape where e-publishing intersects with online commerce.

Contentville operates as a digital marketplace, offering a diverse array of products ranging from books and articles to television transcripts, screenplays, and academic dissertations. The platform enjoys the support of major sponsors, including NBC, CBS, and the Ingram Book Group, which handles their book orders.

Securing exclusive first serial rights to “Merrick” is a notable achievement for Contentville, especially since such rights typically belong to prestigious print publications like The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, or the leading news weeklies. Heather Byer from Contentville explained that their successful proposal included a comprehensive web marketing strategy. They established an Anne Rice boutique, featuring the book cover, an exclusive interview with the author, and direct links to the e-commerce site. “It’s an all-in-one shopping experience,” Byer stated. “Readers can engage with the content, feel inspired, and act on that excitement right away.” The next chapter of the novel will be available next month.

In another buzzworthy release, Joe Eszterhas's “American Rhapsody” hit bookstores this Tuesday, generating significant interest and prompting Knopf to print an additional 35,000 copies on top of the initial 175,000. However, the question remains: who will be purchasing this book?Knopf has launched an ambitious promotional strategy for the release of "American Rhapsody," including the distribution of 2,500 posters on the same day as the highly anticipated Harry Potter VI launch. This marketing effort is based on the premise that the contents of the book remain largely unknown, even to many booksellers and Knopf staff. The allure of mystery can be a powerful tool, especially if the book lives up to the hype.

As reviews start to emerge, opinions appear to be divided. Publisher’s Weekly awarded the book a starred review, declaring it “impossible to ignore,” while the Daily News describes it as “compelling.” However, Time magazine expresses uncertainty, and Newsweek criticizes it harshly. The Wall Street Journal goes a step further, labeling the book as “unrelievedly excruciating.” Anticipation builds as New York Times critic Janet Maslin is set to provide her insights later this week.

In a surprising twist, author Joe Eszterhas finds himself in competition with another controversial release, Jerry Oppenheimer's “State of a Union,” which is scheduled for release this Tuesday by HarperCollins after a short delay. Oppenheimer has gained media attention following revelations from Matt Drudge, who disclosed that the First Lady allegedly made derogatory comments about a campaign worker 26 years ago. "American Rhapsody" is currently ranked as the 20th fastest-selling title on Amazon, while "State of a Union" sits at 29th.

Drudge, referred to as “the scavenger” in Eszterhas's book, was present at a reading event held by Talk magazine at Gotham's Douglas Fairbanks Theater. The Florida-based gossip columnist is riding high, as his own book, "Drudge Manifesto," co-authored with Hollywood veteran Julia Phillips, is set for release by New American Library in October.

Acquired quietly last summer by NAL publisher Louise Burke, "Drudge Manifesto" delves into Drudge's media journey and, according to its publishers, “addresses his critics and resonates with his supporters while challenging the foundations of 21st-century journalism.”Agents Marcy Posner and Dan Strone are leaving the literary division at William Morris in New York.
Their departures are not linked, and it remains uncertain what impact this might have on the agency's future.

Strone will continue working with William Morris until September 1.
He expressed to Daily Variety , “It’s been an amicable parting of the ways.
I look forward to announcing my plans for the future in the coming weeks.”

Posner, who specializes in foreign rights and manages her own roster of clients,
will also stay on for a while longer with the agency.
However, she was not available for comments regarding her departure.

In other news, producers Daniel L. Paulson and Susan Rose have secured the rights to Jeff Benedict’s book,
“Without Reservation: The Making of America’s Most Powerful Indian Tribe and Foxwoods, the World’s Largest Casino.”

Benedict’s work, which critiques what he claims are misleading business practices and false assertions of tribal heritage
that contributed to the establishment of the massive Connecticut casino, was released by HarperCollins in April.
The issue has gained traction since it was featured in a recent episode of “60 Minutes,”
and Benedict is set to debate casino representatives on Court TV next week.

Paulson and Rose have collaborated on previous projects, including “A Cooler Climate” and “Mr. and Mrs. Loving,”
both of which aired on Showtime.

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