Bad-boy UK publisher Jamie Byng of Canongate has acquired world rights to litblogger Mark Sarvas' debut novel, Harry, Revised, in what Mark characterizes on his blog as a "'good preempt' (in the vernacular of Publishers Lunch, although it felt more like a 'fucking awesome preempt' to me)." Jamie has called Mark's book "the hottest début novel on the planet." And maybe it is! Sure! It's entirely possible that the same guy who writes sentences like: "[Jamie] has tucked Harry under his arm and is running hard, head down, to the end zone. For the last week, I've basically been going along for the ride, sitting in the eye of a hurricane" could write a perfectly great novel.

Lit blogger Mark Sarvas displays the condescension and rudeness for which he's become notorious in a recent interview with Fishbowl LA. Asked "Last book you read?" he responds, "Hah! You're kidding, right?" Also, "I have neither TiVo nor TV. It's not a snob literary thing—I just don't have the time." Also! When asked what his enemies feel is his worst quality, "That I have a bigger audience than they do." [FishbowlLA]