LOCAL

LOCAL
Liberty High gradwins poetry contest
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Carly Sachs, a graduate of Liberty High School Class of 1997, has been named by Washington Writers' Publishing House as the winner of its 2006 poetry contest for her work, "the steam sequence," a glimpse into the mind of a Holocaust survivor struggling to find herself.
Ms. Sachs, a daughter of Sandi Sachs of Girard, teaches creative writing at George Washington University and founder and co-curator of the Burlesque Poetry Hour at Bar Rouge. Her poems have been published in Alimentum, Another Chicago Magazine, Runes Review, poemmemoirstory, Goodfoot, No Tell Motel, and Wicked Alice, and anthologized in "Best American Poetry 2004, Regrets Only" (Little Pear Press) and "Literary Lunch" (Knoxville Writer's Guild).
The WWPH, a non-profit cooperative poetry press, sponsors annual competitions for poets living in the Washington-Baltimore area. Winners receive a monetary prize and their work is published by the WWPH. Sachs' "the steam sequence" will be released in August as a 62-page paperback. It retails for $12 and be available in book stores, on Amazon.com, and from the WWPH at www.wwph.org or (301) 652-5636.
NATIONAL
Reclusive Pynchonto pen new novel
NEW YORK -- Thomas Pynchon fans, the long wait is apparently over: His first novel in nearly a decade is coming out in December. But details, as with so much else about the mysterious author of such postmodern classics as "V." and "Gravity's Rainbow," have proved a puzzle.
Since the 1997 release of "Mason & amp; Dixon," new writings by Pynchon have been limited to the occasional review or essay. And, he has made no media appearances or allowed himself to be photographed. In one cameo on "The Simpsons" he is sketched with a bag over his head.
This much is known about the new book: It's called "Against the Day" and will be published by Penguin Press. It will run at least 900 pages and the author will not be going on a promotional tour.
Like J.D. Salinger (who at one point Pynchon was rumored to be), the 69-year-old Pynchon is the rare author who inspires fascination by not talking to the press. His new book has inspired another round of Pynchon-ology on Internet sites.
Late last week, the book's description -- allegedly written by Pynchon -- was posted on Amazon.com. But, it was soon pulled, with Penguin denying any knowledge of its appearance. Penguin publicist Tracy Locke declined to comment on why it was removed, but reluctantly confirmed the book's name (no title was listed on Amazon.com) and that Pynchon indeed wrote the blurb.
INTERNATIONAL
New Bond novel is in the works
LONDON -- The next author for 007? It's a secret. A new James Bond novel by a mystery writer will be published next year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bond creator Ian Fleming, the late author's family announced July 21.
The family-owned Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. announced it had struck a contract with a "very well known and highly respected" author whose identity "will be a closely guarded secret until publication."
"We are delighted to have secured this particular author who we have had in mind for some time now," said Corinne Turner, managing director of the company.
Fleming, a British spy-turned-novelist, wrote 14 Bond books before his death in 1964. For more information, visit www.ianflemingcentre.com
Combined dispatches
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