I caught some interesting statements floating around the blogosphere from my author friends recently at the news that Janet Evanovich signed a four-book deal with Random House. She had been with St. Martin’s for years and has been selling her “Stephanie Plum” mystery series like hotcakes. She’s hot. No doubt.

In an age when most writers are trying to or hold on to a new book deal, James Patterson is showing us all how it’s done. PW reports that he just inked a 17 book deal. (Yes, folks! 17!) with Hachette publishing through 2012.