New Agency Breaks the Streak

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We felt our recent streak of locating agency websites was a fluke. After all, we were hitting jackpots left and right. Never fear — the world has returned to normal. The Strothman Agency has gone public after flying under the radar for a while (they’ve apparently been functioning long enough to make their lack of a website puzzling). Agent Wendy Strothman and affiliate agent John Ryden specialize in narrative non-fiction, nature, science history. Some fiction, but one suspects they’re very selective there. Contact Information in Boston for a number and/or address. Update: we are shocked and surprised by how many […]

Agents

It Has That Certain…Je ne sais quois

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We have refrained (mostly) from making jokes and/or comments about Bergdorf Blondes. From what we’ve read, it would simply be too easy — and what fun is that? But we can’t resist this story: in which Plum Sykes fires her agent, and her agent, Elizabeth Sheinkman of the Elaine Markson Literary Agency (you can guess how we feel about their non-existent website), shares her thoughts on the matter. We especially enjoy the part where the not-so-amicable parting came as result of a movie deal. Plum, honey, we presume you know magazines; we know movie options. Now we’re not suggesting you

Agents, Square Pegs

We Don’t Get It

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First, the story from Variety has a suspiciously…normal headline. That sort of makes us think the whole thing is a prank. Second, we’re of the belief that movie studios should keep their grubby paws out of publishing. Sure, Time Warner enjoys some success, but for New Line Cinema to acquire The Chicken House, a UK children’s publisher? Um, well, it’s a great deal for the head of the publisher (whose stable of writers will be developing their own screenplays). We don’t mean to come off as pessimistic first thing in the morning, but let’s just say we’ve seen this before.

Publishers and Editors

We Couldn’t Agree More

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It is uncanny how close Liz Miller’s column on adaptations hews to our recent experience (ironically — or perhaps not — when we saw Hellboy). First, our mother poked us over and over, saying, “this isn’t what I think it is, is it?”, then the man next to us leaned across two empty seats to say, “Asimov must be rolling over in his grave” (we didn’t agree or disagree, being fairly certain Isaac Asimov has passed on, but not wanting to embarrass ourselves). Miller, in her Hollyood Madam column on Bookslut, lays out what we consider to be the immutable

Books/Mags/Blogs

Peeking Under The Covers

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What is the saying? The truth is stranger than fiction? We generally find that to be true, but, then again, we’ve had some unusual experiences in our day. As has author Marian Keyes. While she says (yes, we believe her) that her new novel The Other Side of the Story isn’t truly autobiographical, early reviews indicate it’s a spot on satire of the publishing industry. In other words, a ripping yarn filled with insider tidbits, that sort of thing. PW interviews Keyes and does a quick comparison of Keyes’s adventures to those of her heroine. The nice thing about fiction

Square Pegs

Editor on the Move

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We realize we’ve blasted agents for their rather interesting approach to the Internet, and that’s a bit unfair. Publishers also deserve to share the spotlight. For example, when we learned that Nancy Hancock (formerly of McGraw-Hill) is moving to Touchstone Fireside, we thought: let’s get more information. We got as far as the description of the Touchstone imprint before our eyes glazed over. We’re not sure who the Simon & Schuster website targets, but we suspect that’s okay: it doesn’t appear they’re too clear on the matter either. Regardless, new editor at Touchstone. We’re sure she’s hungry to build her

Publishers and Editors

Move Over, Oprah Authors

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We spent a little extra time in line at the grocery store today — somehow the customer in front of us made it out of the store without paying. We weren’t clear on the details. Our time was spent looking at the new issue of Newsweek. As it turns out, America’s bestselling author is not Carson McCuller — the honor goes to Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, co-authors of the bestselling “Left Behind” series. We’re not sure how this series flew under our radar for so long, but that’s another issue: the article also explains how a short person

Square Pegs

Waiting for our Check

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We honestly feel we should be earning a commission from MediaBistro for all the business we’re drumming up. We’ve been an AvantGuild member for quite some time, and find ourselves confused: has the Bistro recently ramped up its offerings to paid members or did we sleepwalk through the first year of our membership? This week, members are treated to the insider scoop on agents Frank Weimann, Anita Diggs, Ian Kleinert, and Steve Laube of The Literary Group. Maybe it’s the way the article was written, but they seem like a fun gang to us. P.S. – They have a website.

Agents

Speaking of Amused

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We choose articles based on a highly proprietary method. A large part of the process involves determining why we are drawn to a particular piece. If we can’t figure out why, the article is lost forever. Sometimes we regret our impulsiveness; mostly we don’t. To give an example of how to catch our eye, we turn your attention to rather lengthy headline below. First, off, it’s not quite punchy, is it (though we applaud the use of the word “aflutter”)? Second off, it took a couple of literary journals to prove writing is flourishing in the Golden State? Seriously, has

Books/Mags/Blogs

Trust Us

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We’re not much for demanding unbridled trust — we’ve been known to stretch the truth when it suits our purpose. But due to the Los Angeles Times’s insistence on keeping content under lock and key, we worry our faithful readers will miss out on a gem from Sunday’s edition. So please take our word for it — don’t worry that you’ve been denied something incredible. You haven’t. Don’t get us wrong: we adore good satire. Heck, we even enjoy mediocre satire, and will laugh at really bad jokes because our sense of humor is warped. Generally we even like Mary

Square Pegs
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