Author Timeri Murari doesn't like Salman Rushdie's writing. The man who has created many bestsellers and an acclaimed film describes all those who read awarded authors as "literary masochists".

The Sunday Telegraph quoted Salman Rushdie as saying "My next project is more than likely going to be a children's book."

The latest novels of Indian-born writers Salman Rushdie and Amitav Ghosh have been named in a longlist of 13 books for the 2008 Man Booker Prize for Fiction announced on Tuesday.

Salman Rushdie and Amitav Ghosh figure in the 2008 Man Booker Prize for Fiction longlist with Pakistani writer Mohammed Hanif also in the reckoning.

India-born author Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children is the clear favourite to win the 'Best of the Booker' Prize.

Bookmakers on Monday named Indian-born novelist Salman Rushdie's "Midnight Children" as the favourite to win the Best of Booker award after organisers announced a shortlist of six novels dominated by postcolonial themes.