Poor suckers

A new book by a former FBI agent exposes the publish-yourself racket run by a cabal of self-appointed "literary agents:"

Dorothy Deering, an out-of-work bookkeeper saddled with a felony embezzlement conviction... had written a science fiction novel and been swindled by three "fee agents" who promised to find her a publisher. Rather than react bitterly, though, she was inspired to start a new career: Taking advantage of aspiring writers just like her.

In other book news, here's a profile of the new editor of the NYT Book Review, "a smart conservative."