Cover Stories

When Elvis died, Marc Bolan remarked that he hoped he didn't go that week: he'd have no hope of adequate media coverage. As it turned out, the Almighty granted Bolan a little grace. Sir Alec and Sir Robin were forced to go head-to-head this week but, on the book front, Guinness looks set to command more space. Penguin is to reprint his trilogy: the memoir Blessings in Disguise, and two recent volumes of diaries. Weidenfeld is passing on Day's early-1990s diaries; perhaps someone can satisfy demand with a re-release of his memoir, Grand Inquisitor.

When Elvis died, Marc Bolan remarked that he hoped he didn't go that week: he'd have no hope of adequate media coverage. As it turned out, the Almighty granted Bolan a little grace. Sir Alec and Sir Robin were forced to go head-to-head this week but, on the book front, Guinness looks set to command more space. Penguin is to reprint his trilogy: the memoir Blessings in Disguise, and two recent volumes of diaries. Weidenfeld is passing on Day's early-1990s diaries; perhaps someone can satisfy demand with a re-release of his memoir, Grand Inquisitor.

* The pips have squeaked at Citron Press. Supported by the likes of Martin Amis, who though the self-styled authors' co-operative a "brilliant idea", Citron was, essentially, a vanity publisher - a term co-founder Nikki Connors expensively contested - and likely to fail. Even mainstream publishers find generating sales for unknown novelists tricky, and Citron had no big names to provide ballast. Authors who say they have waited a long time for royalties will probably wait in vain. Citron's offices have been empty and their website has been taken down.

* Good to see that children's authors can sometimes claim their share of laurels. The University of Sunderland has just conferred on Terry Deary an Honorary Doctorate of Education. Deary is the author of more than 300 books but is perhaps best loved for his Horrible Histories series.

* After the acquisition of Fourth Estate by Murdoch-owned HarperCollins, Michael Crick's biography of the tycoon has gone to Simon & Schuster. S&S rarely courts controversy, although it did do Paul Foot's investigation of Mark Thatcher.

* Following her 100th birthday, the Queen Mother attended Ascot, and received an early copy of Shattered, the latest - probably last - thriller by her former jockey, Dick Francis. It is dedicated to her, "with endless gratitude, love and every good wish". Michael Joseph publishes next month.