(and yes, I've decided to include musical references in at least one of my posts here every day, even if only certain people get it...)

The celebrity book will never die out. Why should it, when people are so willing to buy? But of course, what constitutes celebrity these days is a very curious thing, though I guess the rule of thumb is that as long as there's some peripheral connection, you're good to go.

Which brings us to this deal reported yesterday at Publishers Marketplace. Take an agent (Deborah Schneider) noted for celebrity-ish clients (like Lauren Weisberger). Add an editor (Jennifer Weis) whose publishing house is putting big money for schlocky Hollywood novels (by Jackie Collins). Mix a couple of second-generation types (Amanda Goldberg, daughter of producer/author Leonard, and Ruthanna Hopper, daughter of Dennis) and what do you get? STAR WHORES: Tales From Oscar Week, billed as "a thinly-veiled roman a clef set in real Oscar week venues as told through three aspirants to A-list fame: the daughter of a Best Director Nominee, an ambitious young talent agent, and an actress who longs for a starring role as something other than the lead coma victim on ER."

Because it's such a hard life to play coma victims, after all...