Bob Dylan Signs Six-Book Deal

He’s a poet, and he knows it, but Bob Dylan wants to be known as a prose artist as well.

Crain’s New York Business is reporting that Bob Dylan’s literary agent has signed a six-book deal with Simon & Schuster. Dylan plans to deliver the next two volumes of his autobiographical Chronicles series. He also intends to pen three other books for the publishing giant (subjects unknown), and will compile a book of banter from Dylan’s satellite radio show Theme Time Radio Hour.

Dylan’s Chronicles Vol. 1, released in 2004, was nominated for a National Book Critics Award and was a NY Times bestseller. According to a 2006 Rolling Stone interview Dylan gave author Jonathan Lethem, Chronicles Vol. 2 may deal with Blonde On Blonde, The Traveling Wilburys, and the difficult sessions for Under A Blood Red Sky.

“The reviews of [Chronicles], some of ’em almost made me cry – in a good way,” Dylan told Lethem. “I’d never felt that from a music critic, ever.”