Has Orpah’s new book pick been leaked? Most interestingly here, is that it’s SHORT FICTION!

A mysterious cardboard box arrived Thursday morning at D.C. bookstore Politics and Prose. It was labeled: “Oprah’s Book Club Selection #63. Do not open until September 18.” Politics and Prose co-owner Carla Cohen had no idea what #63 would turn out to be, but she had ordered 40 copies anyway. It was Oprah, after all.

Dear GOD! Does the short story still exist? Despite evidence to the contrary the answer is: Apparently!

“More crappy news for short story writers,” is how The Rumpus interpreted a literary agent’s polite rejection note to short story writer writer Mark Tainer:

… I have no confidence in being able to place a collection at this time in the world of publishing. Publishers don’t like to publish short story collections in general unless they are VERY high concept or by someone very strange or very famous or Indian. In the current climate, it is harder to publish even those. Some of the authors I represent have story collections I have not been able to talk their loyal publishers into publishing. I can’t in good conscience encourage you to send them to me. It will just make both of us feel bad. I am very sorry. If you write another novel, I will gladly read it…