Articles from May 2004

For The Prurient Minded

May 28th, 2004 · Comments Off on For The Prurient Minded

Oh heck, for just about everybody. Just a little something for the long weekend — we are saddened by the genesis of this story, but cannot help (we are, after all, writers) dwelling on the irony and mystery. It seems the world’s foremost Sherlock Holmes scholar (we’ll let the concept pass without comment), Richard Lancelyn […]

File Under: Square Pegs

The Long Awards Season

May 28th, 2004 · 1 Comment

As noted, Southern California has abandoned both Winter and Spring in favor of a more easily managed (and pronounced) Awards Season. We suspect Fall may soon fold into this single season — and we worry that Summer may not be far behind. After all, we’re edging toward Memorial Day, and awards are still being announced. […]

File Under: Square Pegs

On Websites

May 28th, 2004 · Comments Off on On Websites

We realize we’re particularly picky about these things — we’re also particularly picky about matching shades of red — but in this day and age, a website is your number one, primary, first, initial, predominant, most critical, etc., marketing tool This goes for authors and agents. Too often, we see them presented as an afterthought […]

File Under: Agents

Video Killed The Radio Star, and All That

May 28th, 2004 · Comments Off on Video Killed The Radio Star, and All That

In 1998 or so, we wrote an article (which we would locate if we weren’t so lazy and if we didn’t suspect it’s really bad) about ebooks and authors. At the time, there was a lot of fear and bravery surrounding this type of publishing. Since then, ebook sales have risen and the planet has […]

File Under: Books/Mags/Blogs · Square Pegs

After All, Journalistic Integrity Is So Last Century

May 28th, 2004 · Comments Off on After All, Journalistic Integrity Is So Last Century

It turns out that not everybody has a blog. This shocks us. If you’re planning to get rich with your blog, rethink this. You have a better chance of winning the lottery. Sex is good. You can read that any way you wish. There is a certain jump-the-shark feel to blogging articles lately (there is […]

File Under: Books/Mags/Blogs

Red Dress Speaks Español

May 27th, 2004 · Comments Off on Red Dress Speaks Español

Red Dress Ink, building on its success in English-speaking chicklit (we may revisit this sentence later), will begin issuing books in Spanish. Seven titles, originally isssued in English, are hitting prime markets as we speak. More will follow, depending on the success of the initial run. Given the careful and extensive market research done by […]

File Under: Publishers and Editors

Flowchart Update

May 27th, 2004 · Comments Off on Flowchart Update

Okay, students, pay attention. We have changes at Random House (you do keep your publisher org charts in pencil, right?). One: Nancy Miller (Ballantine) is now an executive editor. This means some of you may need to reprint your query letters. Two: Jonathan Karp is editor-in-chief of the imprints, including, but not limited to, RH […]

File Under: Publishers and Editors

Even the Wine?

May 27th, 2004 · Comments Off on Even the Wine?

We’re going to be honest: we believe everything we read. It’s so much easier than thinking and analyzing and looking up facts. But sometimes, we see an untruth so blatant it makes us raise our eyebrows and shake our heads. It happened right smack in the middle of Day Two of Brendan Gullifer’s experience at […]

File Under: Square Pegs

That Collective Unconscious Thing

May 27th, 2004 · Comments Off on That Collective Unconscious Thing

This week, we discussed favorite books and the plight of the translator. Lo and behond. it turns out thre’s a new translation of Booksquare favorite Notes from Underground. This is wonderful news (if you haven’t read it, what are you waiting for — it’s a long weekend with nothing but food, drink, and hammocks on […]

File Under: Books/Mags/Blogs

New Menu

May 27th, 2004 · Comments Off on New Menu

Publisher’s Lunch, the daily newsletter, is changing its menu, starting next Tuesday. Over the past several years, Michael Cader has focused time and energy on Publisher’s Marketplace while still serving Lunch daily (except when the chef takes time off). Marketplace members, who subscribe to the site, will receive a special Deluxe Lunch with lots of […]

File Under: Square Pegs