A few things that caught our attention this week:

• Tom Jenks, editor of Narrative magazine, is selling his book on the craft of fiction for the low, low price of $225 ($199 if you hurry). (A list of alternate craft books from Kelly Luce.)
• A short history of Christmas stories.
• Marlon James is going to write an African Game of Thrones to follow up his Booker Prize–winning A Brief History of Seven Killings.
• Waterstones, the largest British bookstore chain, is thriving after nearly filing for bankruptcy a few years ago.