It was almost one year ago exactly that Barrelhouse invited readers to create their own power ballad, and while the literary magazine has moved on to roller derby, Algonquin Books has picked up the fascination with the songs. The independent publishing company is teaming up with Shelf Awareness on a bookstore-themed songwriting contest, where contestants are instructed to "[show] us how you can spew out your angst-ridden, bookseller heart." The winning entry gets one of the vinyl toys that's on the cover of Dan Kennedy's Rock On, plus T-shirts for all his or her coworkers.

Why is it always power ballads? Why not polkas, waltzes, schottishes... you know, the kind of tunes that people like to hear?