Widow of Ex-Navy SEAL contributes to his new book
The widow of Chris Kyle, the former Navy Seal and best-selling author shot dead in February, has contributed a foreword and afterword to a book her husband had been working on at the time of his death.
William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, announced Monday that Taya Kyle’s tribute will be included in “American Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms.” The book comes out June 4 and was written by Chris Kyle and William Doyle. Chris Kyle’s previous work was the million-selling autobiography “American Sniper.”
Taya Kyle writes that she hopes readers “feel the presence” of her husband while reading the new book, which covers innovations in weaponry from the Revolutionary War to modern times.
Kyle and a friend were killed at a Texas gun range. An Iraq war veteran who they were trying to help deal with PTSD has been charged.
Simon & Schuster to offer e-books to libraries
The publisher of Stephen King, Bob Woodward and other top-selling authors has changed its policy of withholding e-books from libraries.
Simon & Schuster announced a 1-year pilot program Monday with library systems in three New York City boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. Simon & Schuster had been the last of the “Big Six” publishers to keep its entire e-catalog off-limits from libraries. Publishers have worried that free library downloads could lead to lost sales.
Such popular Simon & Schuster books as Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals” and Walter Isaacson’s “Steve Jobs” will be made available in digital editions. The pilot program begins April 30. Simon & Schuster CEO Carolyn Reidy said Monday that she hopes to add more libraries even before the 1-year trial period is over.
Streep to narrate Ephron ‘Heartburn’ audiobook
Meryl Streep’s voice will be heard on a special project this summer: the first audiobook edition of the late Nora Ephron’s “Heartburn.”
Random House Audio announced recently that Streep will narrate Ephron’s autobiographical novel based on her marriage to journalist Carl Bernstein, first published in 1983. The Oscar-winning actress starred in the film version, which came out three years later.
Streep was a close friend of Ephron, who died last year. They worked on several movies together. The audiobook is scheduled for July.
Audio editions are planned for other Ephron books, including the essay collections “Wallflower at the Orgy” and “Crazy Salad.” The narrators haven’t been chosen.
