Paul Newman died a year ago today, which is as notable an occasion as I can think of for updating this woefully dormant page.

First, catching up on some old-ish business.

Here’s the podcast of my July appearance on Live Wire!, which was enormous fun.

I’ve got two reviews to share as well, both kind and flattering:

“Paul Newman:  A Life” (Oak Hill Gazette (Austin, TX), 9/9/09)

“Life of a Legend” (Internet Review of Books, 9/09)

And here’s a TV-watching tip.  If you’re in the Portland area and an early riser, catch me tomorrow morning (Sunday, September 27) at 6:30 am on NW 32’s “Outlook Portland,” when I will sit with Rick Emerson for what turned out to be one of the best interviewing experiences I’ve ever had.

Finally, the UK edition of the book is on sale in a week or so.  That’s the jacket above.  I, naturally, prefer the sexy, sexy American edition, but I preferred the American edition of “Rat Pack Confidential” and the Brits did bang-up business with their version, so….

Had a nice review last week in the Boston Phoenix:  “Newman’s Own:  Mainstream Life, Good Read”

Then Parade Magazine picked the book as one of its “Great Summer Reads.”

And just today I spent an hour talking Newman on WOSU in Columbus, Ohio.  You can listen/download here.

A few new (or at least newish) reviews to throw on the bonfire:

“On the Beach” — Hour magazine (Canada), June 18

“Paul Newman:  Actor Laureate” — Examiner.com, June 9

“The Unknowable Paul Newman” — Toronto Globe and Mail, June 2 (the only negative review so far, and from a guy who, though I admire and respect him, wrote a Nicole Kidman bio that was an incomprehensible, embarrassing mess, so….)

And this note:  On Monday I’ll be talking to the folks from the Oregon Writers Colony at a free, open-to-the-public event at Looking Glass Books in Portland’s groovy Sellwood neighborhood.  Kickoff at 7pm.

Friday night I was the guest on the twin installments of Strange Love Live, the popular Portland-based webcast that deals with tech issues and other aspects of popular culture each week on the interwebs.  The hosts, Cami Kaos and Dr. Normal, have an inordinately cool setup in their Sellwood home — a real professional class studio that even includes a small (but deeply committed!) live audience.

Anyway, we talked tech and the newspaper and book businesses in the first part and Paul Newman and the Timbers Army in the second.  These things are long, but I hear they’re good, so….

This weekend’s notices:

“A Hot Book About Cool Hand Luke” — New York Times News Syndicate (via Taipei Times), June 7

Movie Talk –  KBOO radio, June 5

“Books:  ‘Paul Newman:  A Life’” — Washington Times, June 7

And a couple others that I’d missed:

“‘Paul Newman:  A Life’” — Edge Boston, May 27

“Paul Newman Biography Shows Why Millions Loved Him” — Palm Beach Post, May 28

And my interview on KPCC’s “Air Talk” with Larry Mantle from June 5 plus an appearance on WCPN — in Cleveland, Newman’s home town — with “Around Noon” host Jim Goldurs.

The Kansas City Star, May 24

New York Post, May 24 (This one is especially amusing/irritating as the writer laments the tabloid publicity surrounding the book in the early days of its release without acknowledging that it was instigated by the Post.)

New York Daily News, May 24

And a few words about the audio book edition in this round up from the News Chief of Winter Haven, Florida.