Okay, it was actually published a couple weeks ago. But Boston magazine's Francis Storrs does such a good job of telling Dan Brown's life story in Brown's own cheesy/compulsively readable voice that you really ought to take a look, in honor of the much-anticipated release today of The Lost Symbol. A quick sample:

According to this year's list of finalists for the Livingston Awards--which honor the best young American journalists working in all platforms--Boston's got five of the top fifty. The lucky (or talented) few: Laura Crimaldi of the Herald; Tracy Jan and Farah Stockman of the Globe; and Paul Kix and Francis Storrs of Boston magazine. Congrats to all.

The magazine, that is, which is a finalist in eight separate categories in the '09 National City and Regional Magazine Awards. By way of comparison, Boston's finalist tally last year was one.

In the running: former staffer Joe Keohane in the column category; Paul Kix for writer of the year; the entire publication for "Excellence in Writing" (specifically, the November issue); the whole magazine again for best cover (for the December issue); best "special issue" (for August); best ancillary issue (both Boston's travel and weddings publications are finalists); online excellence (for bostonmagazine.

If you haven't already, take a look at Boston magazine editor James Burnett's Q-and-A with Mike Barnicle. Because of the insight it offers into the former Globe columnist's self-conception, it's a fascinating read. But it's also deeply frustrating, because Burnett isn't nearly as tough on his subject as he should have been.

Bad news coming out of Horticultural Hall: Boston Daily blogger Amy Derjue is now a casualty of the ongoing financial meltdown.

The good news, such as it is, is that Derjue will continue blogging here. Of course, DIY blogging tends not to pay the bills. But given the talent Derjue demonstrated during her BoMag stint, I'm guessing she'll catch on somewhere soon, shitty economic conditions notwithstanding. (How about it, Boston.com?)

That would be Boston magazine writer-at-large Joe Keohane, who's departing both the city and the publication.

With the recent departure of John Gonzalez, BoMag has now lost two big bylines in a span of three months. Like Gonzalez, Keohane is a very talented writer. He also brought a native's perspective to a publication dominated by transplants from out of state.