The end of the year marks a time of goodbyes, eagerly chased by introductions. Beginning January 1, 2010, the OLM Blog will be no more. In its place, however, will be three exciting new blogs giving you all much more of the news, views, and book reviews we’ve tried to provide here in the past two years.

The first is called Like Fire. Run by book-blogging veteran Lisa Peet, Like Fire will feature links, short-form reviews, commentary, interviews, and many other features relating to literature and the book world. You will be able to find it here at http://www.openlettersmonthly.com/likefire/

The next is Stevereads. Stevereads is the personal blog of Open Letters managing editor Steve Donoghue. It will showcase all the book talk you can handle, with additional attention paid to new releases, older books deserving of reconsideration, comics, and the latest news from the Penny Press. Find it at http://www.openlettersmonthly.com/stevereads/

Finally, we are adding a blog to celebrate the distinctive genius of Walt Whitman. Every day, we will publish an excerpt from his brilliant prose work Specimen Days, to which we will append all sorts of footnotes and addenda. It’s an exciting project, and you can find it at http://www.openlettersmonthly.com/whitmanblog/

We want to thank you all, good readers, for joining us these past two years–and we think you’re going to love the new blogs we’ll soon have to offer. So stay with us, and as always, we want to hear from you!

The OLM Blog is dead; long live the OLM blogs!