On the Books: Ellen DeGeneres is writing an interior decorating guide

– Ellen DeGeneres is writing an interior decor book called HOME that will help readers “create the homes of their dreams,” according to a press release from publisher Grand Central Life & Style (an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette). “A lot of people don’t know that I have a passion for interior design, so I’m excited to be releasing this book,” said DeGeneres, who has renovated 12 properties before. “I’m inspired by art and nature and architecture. Now everybody can see how things come together inside my home and in some of my favorite places.”

The talk show host has a slew of other home decor-related projects leading up to the book’s release in fall 2015. She recently debuted her line of home goods on QVC; Ellen’s Design Challenge will premiere on HGTV in January; and her lifestyle brand E.D. will launch with an e-commerce site in the spring. DeGeneres has written three books of life experiences and humorous observations, all of which debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list. This year, she hosted the Academy Awards for a second time, where she took the memorable star-studded selfie that broke Twitter records.

– Another famous woman has a different sort of literary venture in the works. Evangeline Lilly (Lost, The Hobbit) Kickstarted a campaign to raise money for First Book, a nonprofit that brings books and digital resources to children in need in the U.S. and Canada, via Prizeo. Rewards for donations include copies and memorabilia of her forthcoming children’s book The Squickerwonkers, out Nov. 18. One winner will accompany Lilly to the world premiere of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies in London next month. [GalleyCat]

– Lilly ought to consider giving author Joshua Ferris a call—he won the £30,000 Dylan Thomas Prize last week for his novel To Rise Again at a Decent Hour. The Guardian describes the winning title as a funny yet serious read, “in which dentistry, baseball and existential dread combine with contemporary New York, unlikely Old Testament peoples and the modern malaise of being emotionally disconnected in a hyper-connected age.” Among Ferris’ competition for the fiction award were Eleanor Catton. (The Luminaries) and Eimear McBride (A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing).

– PBS announced plans to livestream three days of the Miami Book Fair International, the annual weeklong fest beginning Nov. 16. The fest, expecting over 200,000 attendees, will feature over 500 authors and special guests—including YA author Judy Blume, novelist Emma Straub (The Vacationers) and musician Questlove of The Roots. Executive producer of the PBS livestream Rich Fahle said the book industry hasn’t been “aggressive about creating a media opportunity around their business,” adding that the fair is “an amazing collection of people and stories in one place.” [The New York Times]