Young adult author, science-fiction novelist, blogger, website editor, magazine contributor, expert on publishing and copyright law. They all fit the bill when describing Cory Doctorow, but he's more than a one-man band. He has a symphonic voice when it comes to the bloody edge of technology and the publishing industry.

Dan Ewald has written 13 books focusing on renowned Michigan sports figures, including Bo Schembechler, Al Kaline and George Kell, but he says his new book "Sparky and Me," a biography of legendary Detroit Tigers manager George "Sparky" Anderson, may disappoint people.

Bill and Cecile Fehsenfeld have seen a lot when it comes to the life of the modern bookstore. They were there for its conception, its first clumsy steps, its ugly teenage years and its bloated post-adolescence. But now their baby, Schuler Books & Music — the state's largest independent regional bookstore, with three locations in Grand Rapids and two in the Lansing area — is celebrating its 30th anniversary, just as the entire industry is entering a turbulent middle age. No one said being a parent was easy.

As some of the overindulged freshmen of 2012 move their flat-screen TVs, laptops and mini-fridges into comfortable dorms with gourmet dining, they could probably use a cold dose of the harsh reality presented in Katherine Boo’s debut book, "Behind the Beautiful Forevers."

The window at Barnes & Noble in the Lansing Mall beckons the mall walkers like a suburban siren with more than 50 copies of "Fifty Shades of Grey" proudly on display. Since it first appeared as an online-only fan fiction spin-off of the "Twilight" series, British author E.L. James' lurid novel series, which includes the two sequels "Fifty Shades Darker" and "Fifty Shades Free," has become an unprecedented publishing phenomena.

Michael Poore must have had a devil of a good time writing his debut novel "Up Jumps the Devil" about a modern-day Lucifer on the make for souls.

They hailed from Benzonia, Elk Rapids, Saline, Hudson, Harbert, Grass Lake and numerous other whistle stops between Marquette and Monroe.

The Lansing area has two locations of Schuler Books & Music, an independently owned chain that´s been in operation for 30 years, and two used book stores, Curious Book Shop and Archives Book Shop. However, none of these are located within the city of Lansing.

A new report from Nielsen BookScan shows it's been a hot summer for books — so to speak — with the "Fifty Shades of Grey" trilogy accounting for one in five of all "real" books sold. It's time to break that filthy habit. To help with any withdrawal symptoms, several major authors will be visiting Lansing in the next 10 days.

Last weekend, Steve Hamilton was in the Upper Peninsula, enjoying the cool breezes off the big lake and a whitefish fry at the local Lions Club. He was staying in Brimley, not far from Paradise, the literary home of Alex McKnight, the protagonist of his award-winning mystery series.