Articles from November 2005

Self-Publishing: For The Informed Only

November 30th, 2005 · 5 Comments

It is the BS policy to remain perplexed until someone explains every little detail, in detail. For example, we are not surprised by the idea that a self-published author might land a deal with a traditional print publisher. Happens all the time. What makes no sense to us (and, admittedly, the caffeine hasn’t reached the […]

File Under: Books/Mags/Blogs · The Future of Publishing

Looking To The Future

November 29th, 2005 · 3 Comments

Last week, we were shopping for a book, and noticed that our local Borders had something unusual on the shelves: lots of print versions of books published by electronic publisher Ellora’s Cave. While the fact that print publishers are creating electronic versions of their books isn’t news, it’s interesting that a publisher that started exclusively […]

File Under: The Future of Publishing

Today’s Homework: Lobbying Congress

November 28th, 2005 · Comments Off on Today’s Homework: Lobbying Congress

We admit we don’t follow the minutiae of amendments to tax bills closely — which is a shame because we nearly missed this one: Living writers, musicians, artists and scholars who donate their work to a museum or other charitable cause would earn a tax deduction based on full fair market value under a bill […]

File Under: Square Pegs

It’s Not The Death of Literature, It’s The Death of Time

November 28th, 2005 · Comments Off on It’s Not The Death of Literature, It’s The Death of Time

If we recall correctly (and when one is under the influence of the magical Alka-Seltzer Plus, no guarantees can be made), last year, we declared a ban on all stories relating to the so-called “Death of the Novel”. We have met with limited success on this ban, mostly because sheer laziness prevented us from enforcing […]

File Under: The Business of Publishing

Controversy du Week

November 22nd, 2005 · 3 Comments

Turning our attention from world news, we now bring you a look at the latest Jane Austen controversy. For a dead woman, she has alarming power to raise ire. Admirable, if you think about it. As it turns out, the latest filmed version of Pride & Prejudice has a romantic ending. It’s cute, if sappy. […]

File Under: Square Pegs

This Week In Digital Libraries

November 22nd, 2005 · Comments Off on This Week In Digital Libraries

We have become devotees of the latest game in town: My Scanning Donation is Bigger Than Yours. The rules are simple. Major corporations with aspirations of becoming stars in the digital book market vie for prizes, headlines, and market share. Along the way, they face obstacles such as lawsuits, public confusion, and the knowledge that […]

File Under: The Future of Publishing

Rejection: The Other Side of the Story

November 21st, 2005 · 1 Comment

We know writers who analyze rejections more carefully than they do their horoscopes. Every word is turned upside-down. Every comma is considered. Does the lack of a hyphen here mean she hated it? It must. Woe to the agent or editor who spills a drop of coffee on an otherwise pristine rejection. That people have […]

File Under: Agents

Now 60% Geekier, Or, A Holiday Shopping List For the Nerds in Your Family

November 21st, 2005 · 3 Comments

It is either with pride or shame that we admit we are not a full-fledged geek. We’re thinking pride, but we also feel we should have read more Philip K. Dick. If only to say we’ve read Philip K. Dick. The books certainly sat on the coffee table long enough. Then again, if osmosis really […]

File Under: Books/Mags/Blogs

Desperately Rankling Susan

November 21st, 2005 · 4 Comments

Susan Gable is worked up and wanted us to know in no uncertain terms. We’d paraphrase what she said, but, ever lazy, figure a direct quote will work just as well: “ACK! It’s a travesty! Text on cell phones is one thing, translating “literature” into text messaging-speak is just WRONG!” She is correct. It is […]

File Under: The Future of Publishing

A Call To Arms

November 17th, 2005 · Comments Off on A Call To Arms

Be still our beating heart: someone out there thought it would be fun to talk about. . .wait for it. . .you’re right the suspense is killing us, too. Metadata. Digitizing books isn’t just about digitizing words, it’s about digitizing information about the works that contain the words. Too much fun. Also a boon for […]

File Under: The Future of Publishing