Author name: Booksquare

Dissecting the publishing industry with love and skepticism.

Without Harlequin Romance, What Will The World Mock?

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One of our top Trench-Coat Operatives contacted us with some rather bizarre news, so bizarre it required phone calls and coded email. Not necessarily in that order. As of September, 2006, Harlequin (the conglomerate) will cease to publish both Harlequin and Silhouette Romances — yes, those sweet, short books that serve as shorthand for all types of mockery will no longer exist. But wait! Do not despair. Do not panic. Do not think you will be forced to read books filled with minimal romance and lots of sex. While it’s the end of the world as we know it, there’s […]

Publishers and Editors

Wild Weekend Keeps on Coming

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You’ve read the hype, you’ve haunted the website, you’ve wondered what it’s all about. And, we might note, with good reason. Having an excellent book recommended is pretty much the literary equivalent of great sex. Except one lasts longer. We will not address the issue of satisfaction — some things are personal. The Litblog Co-op has announced its first Read This! pick: Kate Atkinson’s Case Histories. Check out the site (and the sites) over the coming weeks to learn more about this terrific title. We’ll be sharing our thoughts soon; however, we truly enjoyed The Old Hag’s introduction to the

Square Pegs

Booksquare Has a Wild Weekend

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We realize it’s hard to believe, but it was a crazy weekend here at Booksquare. First, we made a rare journey from the headquarters into the public sphere (publice sphere = no pajamas). While it should go without saying, the State of California should revisit its driver’s license policy. Far too many of those on the road should not be on the road. Also, we demand that all drivers put down their cell phones. Unless they’re ordering take-out timed to coincide with the arrival home. That’s the only exception. On Saturday afternoon, we participated* in the poolside chat that concluded

Tools and Craft

On Advantages for Late Bloomers

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“Unlike scientists or musicians, say, writers tend to mature with age.” The age of 50 marks authors’ peak: Fifty is the perfect age to write a novel, a study of the best-selling authors of the past 50 years has shown.

Quote of the Week

The Kindness of Neighbors

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We are in total passive mode: the news needs to flow to us. While some might think this is another ode to the Beauty of RSS, it’s actually more of a warm fuzzy to those who have kept up with the world while we, and this is not a joke, found out the secret, true name of the movie commonly known as Paperback Romance. So anyway, these two girls walk into a blog. The first one says: I’ve been thinking of what you said to me the other night on the telephone about us being veterans of the same war–

Books/Mags/Blogs

More Shameless Bloghopping

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Sure we could be coming up with scintillating original content* (or we could be reading a really cool book…stay tuned!), but we’re taking advantage of the hard work and effort others. Like The Elegant Variation. In the midst of major party preparations, Mark found three minutes to talk to David Francis. We found fun quotes. Talk about your win-win. First, Francis makes an entrance: Jane [Smiley] stops mid-sentence and decides to introduce me to her audience as I fumble for somewhere to be. She starts talking about my new book and its U.S. release and blahdy blah. Then she asks

Square Pegs

Editors Can Be Lovely People, Too

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For the eight or nine people out there who didn’t have the copy of the email forwarded to them: Kate Seaver is leaving Dorchester for Berkley. Leah Hultenschmidt will replace Seaver (meaning someone will soon replace Hultenschmidt in her current role). As we have learned from said forwarded emails, Hultenschmidt is a lovely person. We are not sure why this is critical information, but there you have it. For what it’s worth, Seaver is also a lovely person, especially if you like your loveliness on the practical side. Dorchester Publishing Berkley Books/Penguin Group

Publishers and Editors

Getting Into A Rhythm

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We are dashing around this morning so this article on routine which we’ve been saving for a free moment is especially apt. To quote: Most artists work as the rest of us do, incrementally, day by day, according to their own habits. That most art does not rise above the level of routine has nothing necessarily to do with the value of having a ritual. As we have long suspected, our daily practice of stumbling around bleary-eyed until the coffee maker shudders to a stop and then staring blankly at our monitor until our fingers begin to move is part

Tools and Craft

Waiting Tables? Officially Not Cool

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There are far too many links for us to follow, so we’ll let LA Observed do the work. Long story short: man has idea, needs hook, creates website, interest ensues, movie deal follows. Sequel: well, if you’ve spent more than five minutes as a screenwriter in Hollywood, you know what happens next. Still, we hope for the best. Truly. As long as there isn’t a gratuitous love interest. Website sells a script

Square Pegs

Hope For The Next Generation

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We are going to throw out a few not-so random quotes. Tell us if you recognize the pattern: “It gets to the point that I have to tell the math teacher to take (her) books away,” the mother shrugged. “You know, because she’s reading them in class.” “Ten o’clock, you come in (to their bedrooms) and there they are with a flashlight and a book.” Many of the parents who came out last Friday to root for their children brought books with them. And more than a few younger siblings – too young yet for this competition – found quiet

Square Pegs
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