Another crazy woman boss story

Judith Regan might as well have a "kick me" sign taped on her backside. The latest NY publishing buzz centers on "Because She Can," the debut novel written a Bridie Clark, a former ReganBooks editor that's due out next month. It sounds like the publishing industry's version of "The Devil Wears Prada": Claire Truman gets a job as an assistant to the tyranical Vivian Grant, who is described as "the most hotheaded, ruthless woman" in the biz. Grant is having an affair with a NY city official who likes to dress in drag, while young Claire gets yelled at a lot and in her off hours is caught between the rich Wall Street guy and the poor but earnest writer. Oy. Warner Books has pushed up the publication date to Feb. 5 in order to catch some wind from the Regan firing. "It's not about Judith per se," Karen Kosztolnyik, the book's editor, told BW. "It's about anyone who's ever had an overly demanding boss."