We Admit That We’re Easily Amused

By •

Or maybe it’s that there’s something in the Kool-Aid this week. Everyone’s writing about blogging, and not in the way you think. Suzanne McMinn has a great post at Romancing the Blog, and Dan Green of The Reading Experience parodies Suzanne’s nightmares. We’re also working up a little piece, though not nearly as entertaining as the two referenced below, about how to blog or not to blog shouldn’t be the major question authors ask when it comes to the Internet. How To Annoy Me (with your blog) Meeting Strangers

Books/Mags/Blogs

I Am Not Meeting Sales Expectations

By •

If there’s one thing we like, it’s public relations-speak. You know what we mean — that attempt to put positive spin on something, only to come off as if you’re trying too hard. Like, oh, pretending I Am Charlotte Simmons is doing much better than the numbers (apparently) indicate. We will admit this was one book we chose to avoid based solely on reviews. Also, the Bad Sex award didn’t help. It’s possible it’s a fine book and well-told story. And we are the last to suggest that not meeting previous sales levels indicates dire consequences. Though, again, it does

Books/Mags/Blogs

Filling Time Between Work Projects

By •

While we continue to wrap our pathetic little mind around the idea of televised literary awards, someone else has gone and put thought into the whole enterprise. We’re guessing coffee addict. Don’t get us wrong, if it weren’t for Awards Season, we’d live in a place of endless summer. Dull, dull, dull, and now we’re beyond intrigued by the idea of Thomas Pynchon laying down props to his favorite designer. Seriously, we hope as the Quill Awards move from grand idea to televised spectacle, the buzz will build until the audience share exceeds that of Lost. Is Quill award more

Square Pegs

This One Speaks For Itself

By •

Jill, apparently too lazy to login and post this herself (but, oddly, not too lazy to email us about fifty times this morning), sent us this link as a continuation of yesterday’s romance novel cover discussion. For what it’s worth, we might be tempted by the Lord of the Tube Socks… Longmire Does Romance Novels

Square Pegs

Someone Got Held Up in Traffic

By •

Let’s just say that when Warner Books rsvp’d for the party, everyone assumed they’d show up before the last bottle of champagne was opened. We’re going to call it close — the foil was off, that little wire cage thingy was loosened, and we think Red Dress and Downtown Press were fighting over the honors of releasing the cork. Then Warner sauntered into the room, announcing, “Hey, look everybody! 5 Spot.” After determining it wasn’t a plea for helping paying cab fare, the others learned that Warner is launching a (wait for it) chicklit imprint. Or, rather, trade paperback line

Publishers and Editors

Cover Copy

By •

We are going to say it loud: we hate 85% of romance novel covers. While we’re at it (and we hope this doesn’t come off as politically incorrect), female breasts do nothing for us. We’re woman enough to admit we can admire a good pair, but they don’t make us stupid. If you require a bra, you know what we mean when we say they’re more trouble than not. If you’re seeing a romance novel cover with a, ahem, heaving bosom, we can assure you the target audience is not female. If you see a hot guy, well, why in

Books/Mags/Blogs

On Airing Dirty Laundry, So To Speak

By •

The tough-talking publisher [Judith Regan] added: “He [Bill Stadiem] apparently has nothing better to do with his time, and maybe if he finished his second book, which is overdue, by the way, instead of calling gossip columnists, then he would amount to something. “His next book is about his obsession with hookers. He’s touring whorehouses around the world. He likes hookers — and I’m starting to feel a little sorry for the hookers.” Regan Sinks Hook Into Writer

Quote of the Week

A Refreshing Twist on the Agent Interview

By •

We can’t resist agent interviews. Seriously, you post a link, we’re gonna follow it. We like MediaBistro’s Pitching series because it feels a little less cookie cutter than most interviews. That’s not to say we don’t sometimes wonder how a writer is supposed to differentiate between some agencies — at the risk of our career, we have to wonder if there’s a literary agency template. Malaga Baldi gives us hope. She knows what she likes (see link below), she knows her weaknesses, and she knows what she doesn’t like. Of course, you shouldn’t be exhaling smoke onto your query letters

Agents

Our Thoughts On A Controversial Matter

By •

Never let it be said that we don’t enthusiastically embrace new ideas. Oh sure, we make fun of them sometimes, but we understand that greatness comes from wacky ideas. How else does one explain the Pet Rock? And we do love to help, and so when it comes to making HarperCollins the brand readers request, we have some thoughts: Make HarperCollins bigger than the book title. Use a lurid font in hot pink. Except on hot pink covers — acid green should work there. Replace the author’s name with “brought to you by HarperCollins” The biggest thing on the spine

Publishers and Editors

Because She Sucked Up So Nicely

By •

Sure, we should be getting a foot massage and sympathy after being on the road all day (please, those of you who have seen Sideways and feel compelled to relive your favorite scenes…there are people trying to speed through that region. If you must gawk, please pull to the side of the road. Also, drinking and driving = bad.), but when Kate Rothwell grovels, we listen. Plus she’s having fun with reviews, and we just can’t get us enough of that (though we simply cannot understand her desire to avoid ad hominem attacks — where is the fun in life)?

Square Pegs
Scroll to Top