Guardian Unlimited Books | News | Writer Koontz accused of racism:

Best-selling author Dean Koontz, raved a recent reviewer, is a master storyteller. His novels, promising mystery, intrigue and fantasy, sell by the thousands, earning him the soubriquet “the poor man’s Stephen King”.

A recent speech he gave, however, is proving less popular, bringing accusations of racism.

At a convention of mystery writers last weekend in Irvine, near Los Angeles, Koontz told the story of his tussle with a Japanese film executive to have his name removed from a film of one of his books. Dubbing him “Mr Teriyaki”, Koontz recounted a series of letters he sent to the unresponsive, unnamed executive.

“Dear Mr Teriyaki,” he read to the audience. “My letter of 10 November has not been answered … I would assume your silence results from the mistaken belief that World War II is still in progress and that the citizens of your country and mine are forbidden to communicate. Enclosed is a copy of the front page of the New York Times from 1945, with the headline, ‘Japan Surrenders’.”

In other letters Koontz talked about the Bataan Death March and Godzilla.

“What if the CEO was black?” asked author Lee Goldberg, who attended the event. “Would Koontz have addressed his letters to Mr Fried Chicken and joked about the good old days of slavery and racial discrimination?”

Koontz told the Los Angeles Times he would stand by his remarks, arguing that “there’s some political incorrectness in it, but nothing mean”.

Here’s the blog thread.

Good grief. First of all, the putative offense is not racism. It’s nationalism.

Second, the patronizing comment by the Guardian about being “the poor man’s Stephen King” is really quite unfair. Koontz’s long and impressive career stands on its own merits.

This is obviously going to be a terrible book, but it’s a great title …

Dennis Rodman LUCKY TO BE ALIVE Ex-NBA Star Emerges From Coffin at His Book Signing NEW YORK, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ — Dennis Rodman really should be dead by now, and his entrance at the official book signing of his upcoming biography proved he has a sense of humor about it. *

The NBA legend has been making headlines for years with his outrageous antics and decadent lifestyle, and now he is releasing a new book entitled “I Should Be Dead By Now,” that will showcase his history of wild living and outlandish publicity stunts.

With the logo of his sponsors GoldenPalace.com prominent everywhere, Rodman arrived at his book signing at Borders Books & Music on 100 Broadway in full spectacle. The enormous crowd that had gathered in front of the store looked on in disbelief when a giant hearse pulled up at the store and several scantily clad women wearing the infamous GoldenPalace.com ad tattoo acted as pallbearers for a monstrous coffin. Rodman emerged from the coffin dressed to the nines and wearing a Beetlejuice wig and makeup to greet the many fans and media that were attending the event. Rodman plans to be buried in the very same coffin when he dies and GoldenPalace.com has promised to keep the coffin until that day.

“We are always curious and fascinated by Dennis’ flair for the dramatic,” laughed GoldenPalace.com CEO Richard Rowe. “Anyone that knows Golden Palace knows that we also enjoy coming up with creative ways to get attention. We wish Dennis the best of luck with his book and we know that people will love to read about his exploits over the years.”