Italian mobsters will try anything to convince judges they are suffering from depression or anorexia.

Seeing Hemingway through his first wife's eyes is an intriguing view.

Self-publishing has traditionally been a surefire route to obscurity and dismal sales. Now a British thriller writer who sells his novels as ebooks for as little as 71p ($1.50) is proving the naysayers wrong.

Ross Dobson's latest book makes the most of storecupboard essentials.

Australian illustrator Shaun Tan's life in recent weeks has been as fantastical as his children's books.

Where are they now? It's so often the public catch-cry following reality TV shows.

Nicky Pellegrino explains how her latest 'love story' could well be something else.

Commander of the Continental Army which won the American colonies independence from Britain, first president of the United States: there's no doubt George Washington is one of the key figures who shaped the world we live in.

Actress Michelle Ang, who stars as Emily in the newly released film My Wedding and Other Secrets, shares what she's learnt from being a bookworm.

The former Two and a Half Men actor is said to have parted ways with Peter McGuigan of Foundry Media Group after the agent failed to sell the star's life story at a big enough price.

With so many ways of storing data, are we forgetting how to remember? Not according to US writer Joshua Foer, who reveals new and remarkable strategies for memorising. By Robin McKie.

Mexico City is notorious for its kidnappings, muggings and other criminal activities so why would a young Australian author choose to live there?

German Nobel Prize-winner Gunter Grass always weaves some kind of magic through his stories and, in the case of his autobiographical work, this further blurs the demarcation line between his facts and his fictions.

It was 1956 and Eric Newby, the man who would become one of Britain's most admired travel writers, was stuck in a fitting room with a designer, a model and a lady with a mouth full of pins.

Thriller writer Robert Crais talks to Craig Sisterson about the allure of Hollywood and turning an enigmatic sidekick into a leading man.

Actress Michelle Langstone shares her secrets as a bookworm.

Kiwi chef Leanne Kitchen's latest cookbook celebrates the many flavours of Turkey, as well as its culinary history.

Jeffrey, Lord Archer, to the photographer: "Isn't she awful?" Me, to the photographer: "Isn't he awful?"

Simon Sebag Montefiore tells Stephen Jewell about writing ‘the greatest story ever told’ and why the history of Jerusalem is the story of the world.

As she grows older and hones in on the big issues of life, Joanna Trollope just gets better.

Bernard Beckett tells Graham Reid about writing for the savvy teens of today.

Charlotte Randall is an award-winning New Zealand author whose novels reflect someone utterly in love with the potential of language.

British author Joanna Trollope, who is in Auckland next week, talks to Stephen Jewell about her new book and the trouble with raising boys.

Scarlett Thomas has penned a chatty, delightful easy read about friendship, love, and making those hard, life-defining choices.