Some of our favorite people are involved in the latest shenanigans at the Emerging Writers Network, including the fine folks from Collected Miscellany, our role model The Happy Booker, Chekhov’s Mistress, and host of others. We’re not saying anything, but it didn’t take much for Dan Wickett to get this group to spill all the secrets of blogging. LitBlogger EPanel III
Ellen Geiger has left Curtis Brown (New York) for the Frances Goldin Literary Agency. We presume she will contribute to her new firm’s proud tradition of quality literary fiction and serious, sometimes controversial non-fiction. Though this probably isn’t relevant, we are happy to note that Geiger is moving from a website-less agency to one with a fine and functioning site. Vitals: Frances Goldin Literary Agency, 57 E. 11th St, Ste 5B, NY, NY 10003, (212) 777-0047, (212) 228-1660 (fax) (Via Publisher’s Lunch) Frances Goldin Literary Agency
Michael Cader follows up his previous thoughts on the Expanding The Market: survey: But take a look at today’s NYT arts section, where publishers have invested a considerable amount of money in six different display ads. None of those ads describes the book at all — not even a single line or clause. All but one employs exactly the same technique — a wall of quotes, mostly from reviews (which we don’t believe sell books), saying the book is good. Only one provides even the slightest identification of who the author is, other than a “bestseller.” If you’ll recall, potential
Asked about his thoughts on what happens after death, Bellow offered two scenarios: oblivion or immortality. “My intuition is immortality,” said Bellow, who was ambivalent about whether he believed in God. “No argument can be made for it, but it’s just as likely as oblivion.” Saul Bellow, Author and Nobel Winner, Dead at 89
Because we can’t bring ourselves to even think about the Jane Fonda media blitz (what is it about people named Jane and the need to confess all in an attempt to reach readers/viewers? Even though we know the drill, the whole thing smacks of horrible desperation), we have made the executive decision to cover an entirely different celebrity story. The Booksquare Board so enjoys the meetings where these topics are debated. Yes, dear readers, we are returning to the Alicia Keys/Noah Lukeman story that occupied our imagination for a good five minutes a very long time ago. While we weren’t
If we need any more evidence that this time change madness must stop*, our dear friend David Thayer has — well, there is no good way to say this — revealed something a little shocking about himself. We really picked a lousy week to cut back on the wine. Where we thought we were dealing with a mild-mannered crime fiction writer, it seems he’s responsible for both the Decline of Western Civilization and some fishy business with Jean-Paul Sartre. Not necessarily in that order. * – Did you know we are now practicing Pacific Daylight Time (or the equivalent for
Gail Fortune has left Berkley to join John Talbot in what will now be known as the Talbot Fortune Agency. We are straining our nice gene to avoid making any of the obvious comments; instead we’ll note that if you have something on Gail Fortune’s desk at Berkley, you might want to ask questions. If you’re seeking The Talbot Fortune Agency, you’ll be happy to know they actually have a website. As always, we applaud this sort of modernity. Our intensive research reveals a bent toward commercial fiction and narrative non-fiction. Also seeking edgy voices and domestic realism. You’ll have
Far be it for us to suggest that someone seems a little sensitive about her future, but, well, someone seems a little sensitive about her future. Maybe it’s the fact that she uses such strong words as “preposterous”. Or suggests that the sensual nature of newsprint will save the day. . .ah yes, the black ink on spotless fingers evokes fond memories of happy spring mornings. Now, we don’t really believe that blogs will replace newspapers. Nor do we think there’s a one size fits all solution for consuming news. It’s just that when the argument in favor of something
You know things have gone haywire when you read the following and realize it makes perfect sense: Not only does the University of Liverpool boast a library with the largest collection of science fiction literature in Europe, but from next week it will launch the world’s first website dedicated to science fiction research. Of course there should be a repository for all science fiction. Inventors and scientists can peruse the stacks (as it were) for products and avenues of research. The world will truly fulifill its potential. Sure, it’s going to change the course of patent law, but we’re thinking
Day Three. The lack of sleep is setting in. People are starting to talk backwards. The world is filled with crazy notions. At least one person has sworn he sees the future. We dismiss him as crazy until we realize he’s not. We stop and stare. It almost makes sense: Over the last few years, many book authors have discovered that they can increase awareness of themselves and their works by maintaining an online presence, often in the form of a blog. But until recently, the opportunity for using the web’s multimedia capabilities for book promotion has been limited. Now
