Again, apologies for the lack of recent updates. Chabon news has been hard to come by as of late, and I’ve been busy with life myself.

I thought, though, given all the headlines of late about the Democrats and fundraising, we might check in on how Chabon and Waldman are doing. As you may recall, in April, Chabon and Waldman endorsed presidential candidate Barack Obama. Their goal has been to raise $25,000 for the guy.

Where are they so far? Since then, they’ve raised $10,970 from 51 people for Obama, according to their outreach page.

And since April, Chabon has himself jumped into the donor game. Waldman had already donated $4,600, this site reported, but records at the time hadn’t shown any contributions from Chabon for 2007. Now, according to FEC records, Chabon has himself contributed $4,800, the maximum amount for both primary and general election cycles. The contributions are both dated April 28.

First off, apologies to regular visitors for the infrequency of the updates lately. I recently graduated, moved, and got a job, all of which means my life has become hectic, unpredictable, and Internet-less. A wi-fi cafe is the best I can do these days.

Anyhow, last week, Ayelet Waldman had a commentary piece air on NPR. It dealt with the socialization of young girls. To read and listen to it, head here.

Michael Chabon says his first non-fiction book will feature a variety of his non-fiction writings on the subject of being a man in terms of being a son, a father and a husband.

“Not just the Details columns, also other of my non-fiction writing on the subject, shaped, and hopefully given some kind of coherent structure,” he said via e-mail. “Edited, in other words; first by me, then by my editor Jennifer Barth.”

The book is tentatively scheduled for spring 2009.

Chabon also said he has put a young adults novel on-hold.

“Just wasn’t working for me; I’ll get back to it eventually,” he said.

As for the Bay Area-based novel announced this week, Chabon said it “is to be for adults, but I don’t want to say anything more about it right now,” including the title.

Michael Chabon has signed a two-book deal with HarperCollins, Publishers Weekly reports.

The first one, tentatively scheduled for spring 2009, will be Chabon’s first nonfiction book. In it, he will discuss what it’s like being a man in terms of being a son, a father and a husband.

The second book, scheduled for 2011 publication, would be set in and around the contemporary Bay Area. Chabon has said that he “would like it to be set in the present day and feel right now the urge to do something more mainstream than my recent work has been.”

The Yiddish Policemen’s Union reached the No. 2 spot on The New York Times Best Seller List for hardcover fiction.

The listing marks the highest any Chabon adult fiction novel has made it on the list. In fact, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is the only other one to have been ranked. It made No. 16 for one week in 2001.