Timothy Schaffert’s first novel is to be published by BlueHen, a new literary division of publishing giant Penguin Putnam, in June 2002. The Phantom Limbs of the Rollow Sisters is about sisters damaged by abandonment. Schaffert, managing editor of the Omaha Reader says his day job is like a baby squalling in the next room, "a distraction from creativity, certainly, but an important distraction."

Continue ReadingOmaha Reader ME Signs Book Deal

Steve Jackson serves up a compelling expose of what happens when a sexual predator enters a teen chat room. Mike and Cassandra Harris of Colorado’s Jefferson County District Attorney's Crimes Against Children unit were among the first to set up stings of Internet predators, with Cassandra as bait, playing both boys and girls. “The advantage here, of course, over dailies is that instead of telling readers that these men get online and say bad things to children, I could put down in black-and-white what they say and how they say it ... hit the reader over the head with the reality of it,” Jackson tells AAN News in an e-mail.

Continue ReadingWestword Follows Pedophiles Into Cyberspace

"Twelve years is too long for a writer to stay anywhere, particularly in the field of alternative journalism," Greg Land says in his farewell column. He’s off to different pastures, leaving his spot at Creative Loafing to "new blood."

Continue ReadingWriter Hangs It Up After a Dozen

Mara Shalhoup got a lead on a story that's all-too-familiar, and nearly always ignored by the dailies. Tim Peck, a freelance computer guy, walked down the street from his home to get a carry-out burger at the Fox & Hounds. He left the premises in an ambulance with two broken legs after an altercation with off-duty Sheriff's Deputy Kelvin Smith. Creative Loafing's exclusive opens Deputy Smith's personnel file, and it's packed with similar incidents. Shalhoup spent a month researching and writing the story after waiting a month before Peck would agree to talk to her.

Continue ReadingCreative Loafing Opens File on Abusive Officer

Charles Gerencser, former publisher of New Times Los Angeles, has been named publisher of Pasadena Weekly, one of the seven papers that were admitted to AAN last month. Gerencser comes to the alt pub from NuSign Industries and will help lead Ventura Newspaper Inc.'s efforts in the Los Angeles suburbs, says Group Publisher David Comden.

Continue ReadingGerencser Going to Pasadena Weekly

The Mercury, which is distributed every week wrapped around the Las Vegas Review-Journal's entertainment section, had to ditch the entire 30,000-copy print run of its Aug. 3 issue because of an article that enraged African-American employees at its daily-paper parent, reports Las Vegas Weekly. Editor Geoff Schumacher defended the satirical article — which was headlined: “Sun City Anthem residents: 'What's next, blacks?'” — as "funny and not racist and fine to go. (But) having heard the concerns, I understand this could be taken in more than one way."

Continue ReadingLas Vegas Review-Journal’s Faux Alternative Enrages Black Employees

The Local Planet of Spokane, Wash., which was approved for AAN membership last month in New Orleans, is changing its name to The Local Planet Weekly. President and Co-Publisher Matthew Spaur credits Folio Weekly Publisher Sam Taylor for the suggestion: “He said it would add $100,000 to our value. I’m still waiting for the check,” Spaur jokes in a news release posted on the AAN Web site.

Continue ReadingNew Member, New Name (New Motto Too!)

Part 2 of Susan Goldsmith's series on LA's Mexican Mafia tells the "Greek Tragedy" story of Max Torvisco, a "nerdy kid" who grew up to become one of the underworld's most feared and sadistic capos. Using exclusive documents obtained from the FBI and Torvisco's testimony against other gang members, Goldsmith spent two months researching and writing the series for New Times Los Angeles..

Continue ReadingNew Times LA Opens Chilling Window into LA Underworld