Author name: Booksquare

We’re not big on predicting the future (seriously, keeping a crystal ball all shiny and stuff requires a lot of effort, and we don’t have much in the way of staff), but we were so waiting for the blogger backlash, like, almost a year ago. Mostly because we enjoy irony, and it’s hard to top the rising number of blogs versus the, uh, downfall of blogs. Because, see, it’s not like one size fits all. Oops, sorry, lapse into cynicism. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we’re not entirely sure of the point being made in the article below (heck, we’re still trying […]

We admit it: we’re lame. You send us a form that says “return this or else we’ll send you books” and we don’t return the form. And then we get books. But not always the books we want. Yeah, the Internet has helped, but we still, uh, accidentally forget to follow through and end up with way too many books on low-carb cooking, and not enough books we want to read (the former being books we probably should read). And while new members will still get to choose five books for $1, with an obligation to buy four more, the

We are of two minds on the concept of anonymous reviews. One mind thinks that anonymity allows a reviewer to be more honest (and we’re bothered by the fact that we have to include “more” before honest). The other mind thinks there is a bond between reviewer and reader, and, in reviews, voice is not always discernible. Mind #1 reminds us that it is virtually impossible to write without bias (computers notwithstanding, and we have our doubts there). Mind #2 asks what’s wrong with stand by your opinion. Is it any wonder that we can’t decide on a restaurant? In

We’ve all heard the stories: far more books are written than published. The same goes for motion picture screenplays. Far more musicians than necessary. And probably there’s a huge surplus of poetry. So what gives? Why are so many people out there trying to get creative with it? Seriously, is the world filled with artists or is writing, to take one aspect of the artistic life, so undervalued and undertaught that people see it as an easy way to make a fast buck (yes, yes, we all get the lovely satisfaction of watching such folk fall flat on their faces,

Hard as it is to believe, sometimes we think being a published novelist is worse than being an unpublished novelist. After all, people sympathize with the downtrodden, and we’ve pretty much perfected hangdog expressions. Published authors face all sorts of trauma (which Jill has helpfully detailed…we’re waiting for her latest adventure and accompanying life lesson). It is assumed you are rich if you have published a book. It is assumed you are willing to share your agent with everyone you meet. It is assumed that your publisher is standing sturdily behind you, helping your career blossom like you’re the only

Richard Curtis continues his series on publishing in the 21st century with a review of how the paperback industry imploded in the mid-1990’s. What many perceived as streamlining and efficiency actually adversely impacted the entire publishing industry. As they say, not bad for a day’s work. Curtis details the previous manner of distributing books to illustrate the impact the change in distribution procedures had. What was once a personalized-for-your-community business became a numbers game — high score won. The industry thought the change would affect genre titles (those expendable little creatures), but: Although a growing number of traditional bookstores stocked