Author Tom Clancy will offer novels online

February 2, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

NEW YORK — Tom Clancy is going digital.

The author of such blockbusters as “Patriot Games” and “Clear and Present Danger” is finally making his work available electronically, starting Tuesday with his breakthrough novel, “The Hunt for Red October.”

Publisher Penguin Group (USA) Inc. made the announcement last week. Clancy’s books will be available in all e-formats.

Executives Laura Porco of Amazon.com and Chris Smith of Sony Reader said Thursday that Clancy had been in great demand by customers.

Springsteen: Wal-Mart deal was a mistake

NEW YORK — The Boss is owning up to a mistake.

In an interview with The New York Times, Bruce Springsteen says he shouldn’t have made a deal with Wal-Mart. In January, the store started exclusively selling a Springsteen greatest-hits CD.

Some fans were critical because Springsteen has been a longtime supporter of workers’ rights, and Wal-Mart has faced criticism for its labor practices.

Springsteen’s team didn’t vet the issue as closely as it should have, and that he “dropped the ball on it,” he told the Times for a story in Sunday editions and previewed on its Web site.

Springsteen went on to say: “It was a mistake. Our batting average is usually very good, but we missed that one. Fans will call you on that stuff, as it should be.”

“Millions of Springsteen fans have counted on Wal-Mart over the years to deliver his music into their lives, and we it will continue to offer those fans this ‘Greatest Hits’ exclusive and his other popular albums at unbeatable prices,” Wal-Mart said in a statement, adding: “We are proud of the good jobs, benefits and career opportunities we provide to more than 1.4 million U.S. associates who choose to work at Wal-Mart and serve our customers every day.”

Philharmonic to play schoolboy’s composition

SCARSDALE, N.Y. — He’s not sure what he wants to do when he grows up, but 13-year-old George Frankle is getting a good jump on a music career.

The New York Philharmonic will play his short composition “Laboratory” next month.

George, an eighth-grader at Scarsdale Middle School in Scarsdale, N.Y., studies piano, viola and composition at the Hoff-Barthelson Music School. George says he’s “kind of still deciding” what he wants to pursue for a career, but music is an option.

George’s composition teacher heard the Philharmonic was looking for a young composer for its School Day Concert on Feb. 13, and George’s two-minute piece was accepted.

Attorney wants Zellweger’s diary

LOS ANGELES — An attorney wants Bridget Jones’ diary.

Allen Michel told a judge in Los Angeles on Friday that he wants Renee Zellweger to turn over her diary, give a deposition and provide any other documents to explain how she spent her time during a seven-week delay in the filming of 2005’s “Cinderella Man” in Toronto.

Zellweger’s agents had negotiated a $3 million payment for the “Bridget Jones’ Diary” star because of the delay, caused by Russell Crowe’s dislocated shoulder.

Michel represents an insurer that says it’s already paid nearly $6 million for the delay, and wants to detail Zellweger’s actions during that time. The insurer claims it shouldn’t be liable for the money paid to Zellweger, who isn’t named as a party to the lawsuit.

Today’s birthdays

Actress Elaine Stritch is 84. Actor Robert Mandan (“Soap,” “Three’s A Crowd”) is 77. Comedian Tom Smothers is 72. Singer Graham Nash is 67. Actress Farrah Fawcett is 62. Actor Brent Spiner (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”) is 60. Bassist Ross Valory of Journey is 60. Model Christie Brinkley is 55. Actress Kim Zimmer (“Guiding Light”) is 54. Actress Marissa Jaret Winokur is 36. Singer Shakira is 32.