Amy Tan’s opera libretto, based on her book The Bonesetter’s Daughter, debuts in San Francisco in September. More at Sandra Dijkstra’s website and RedRoom.

Firoozeh Dumas visits with Patt Morrison on KPCC to chat about her new book, Laughing Without an Accent, and told the interesting story of her first book’s publication in Iran — where she has no rights to her own work. Funny in Farsi is a strong seller in Iran, but earns Dumas nothing from its publication there. From translation dilemmas (no Rice a Roni in Iran) to censorship (passages about her father’s love of ham were cut), it made for an interesting conversation, with a light touch. Listen here.

Speaking of Patt, she’s got a new blog at the KPCC website. So does Larry Mantle, a fellow California author and host of AirTalk. (Thanks, Kevin)

Cory Doctorow notes “Random House is asking some of its authors of young adult books to sign contracts with ‘morality clauses’ that allow the publisher to take back your advance and cancel your book if you’re caught doing anything that ‘damages your reputation as a person suitable to work with or be associated with children, and consequently the market for or value of the work is seriously diminished.’” More at BoingBoing.

David Freeman, the co-author of 100 Things To Do Before You Die, died August 17 following an accident in his Venice, CA home. Read more from the AP at the HuffingtonPost.

Adrienne Crew points us to author Barbara DeMarco-Barrett’s guide to Southern California Literary and Book Festivals in Westways magazine (not online yet). She also notes that Saturday is the Grand Re-Opening & Expansion Celebration at Skylight Books in Los Feliz. “Festivities begin at 3 PM, but an 18.14% discount will apply to purchases made at both stores all day long. ”

– Kate & Donna