Articles from January 2006

For LA Writers With Nothing But Nothing To Do On A Saturday Morning

January 26th, 2006 · 2 Comments

If you happen to find yourself with very little to do this coming Saturday (apparently, January 28; time does fly), drop by the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA (formerly, and fondly, the Temporary Contemporary, which you will note really rolls off the tongue) for a one-day writing workshop inspired by the current exhibition Ecstasy: In and […]

File Under: Square Pegs

Meet The New Memoir: Now With Free Warning Stickers

January 26th, 2006 · 2 Comments

Augusten Burroughs’ next book, uh, Possible Side Effects will come complete with a prominently displayed* warning sticker: “Author’s note: Some of the events described happened as related, others were expanded and changed. Some of the individuals portrayed are composites of more than one person and many names and identifying characteristics have been changed as well.” […]

File Under: Books/Mags/Blogs

Musical Chairs: Publishing Style

January 26th, 2006 · Comments Off on Musical Chairs: Publishing Style

Publisher’s Lunch announces that Geoffrey Kloske has ankled Simon & Schuster for Riverhead. PL also hints that in addition to high quality books and a brilliant editing mind, Kloske might be augmenting his staff with a woman soon. We don’t know why that’s important, but are feeling particularly useful at the moment, figuring it matters […]

File Under: Publishers and Editors

Playing With Numbers

January 26th, 2006 · Comments Off on Playing With Numbers

Here is what we want to know: why doesn’t anyone ever offer us money to do stuff like, oh, figure out the most popular settings for novels? Other than the fact that we’d probably take the money, do a little abracadabra, and poof! declare New York and London the winners…without actually putting out any effort. […]

File Under: The Business of Publishing

When Authors Blog

January 25th, 2006 · Comments Off on When Authors Blog

Ander Monson is blogging up a storm about Other Electricities over at the Co-Op. In addition to talking about his vision of his book, he’s addressing the comments and questions raised in earlier discussions of the book. It’s pretty cool stuff, especially his thoughts on the unusual structure of the book and how the various […]

File Under: Books/Mags/Blogs

From Bookseller To Agent In Two Easy Steps

January 25th, 2006 · Comments Off on From Bookseller To Agent In Two Easy Steps

Julie Barer just celebrated her first anniversary as a solo agent after coming to the business the old-fashioned way: she discovered the power of hand-selling books while working in a bookstore. The principles translated to working with publishers. “At an independent bookstore, people still come in and ask booksellers for recommendations. I did a tremendous […]

File Under: Agents

One Week Later, Publisher’s Weekly Discovers The Truth

January 25th, 2006 · 9 Comments

Okay, we shouldn’t make fun. Much. But PW just got around (yesterday) to noting that Mad Max has been revealed. And we thought we were behind the curve because we were six hours late in discovering the news. You live, you learn. You now know it’s Dan Conaway. As he’s already proven himself to be […]

File Under: Publishers and Editors

Inbox: Research Department

January 25th, 2006 · 3 Comments

We are passing this one with full confidence that our crack BS team will get to the bottom of the latest potential literary hoax. We’re not going to brag (much), but our research squad is capable of spending endless hours on a topic. We’d call it obsessive, but that’s such an understatement. Navahoax: Did a […]

File Under: Square Pegs

Stare Decisis or Something Like It

January 25th, 2006 · Comments Off on Stare Decisis or Something Like It

We have spoken at length on our thoughts on used book sales — not a bad thing, but, boy, it would be nice if the authors got themselves a piece of that pie. One thing each and every person who’s weighed in on this topic acknowledges is that the doctrine of first sale is alive […]

File Under: Our Continuing Fascination With Copyright

Success Made Easy

January 24th, 2006 · Comments Off on Success Made Easy

It is the BS policy to give, give, give. Some days, we sit in our little office and wonder how we can make your lives easier. Generally, no answer appears, so we move on. But today, ah today, we have found the secret of success. Not surprisingly, the key to getting what you want is […]

File Under: Square Pegs