Well, I slapped my head on my way to work this morning because I belatedly realized I should have done an extensive “This YEAR in Publishing” retrospective and put time into a thoughtful look back on the year in publishing and the first year of this blog. Whoops.
So here’s the year in publishing, 2007, in hastily-put-together-digest form:
– There were a lot of books published.
– Many of them won awards.
– Most of the awards were won by Cormac McCarthy.
– Vampires are dead as a genre.
– No wait they’re huge.
– Ok, NOW they’re dead.
– Still huge.
– If you published a dog memoir in 2007 you’re probably on the bestseller list right now.
– If you published a dog memoir prior to 2007 you’re probably shaking your fist at the sky and shouting, “Why, God, why was 2007 the year of the dog memoir?? Why could it not have been 1998??”.
– 2007 will not be the year of the under-contract Lynne Spears parenting memoir.
– 2008 probably won’t be either.
– There were lawsuits in publishing.
– (Redacted)
– Perseus absorbed Avalon, AMS went bankrupt and Perseus absorbed PGW, and the debate between US and UK publishers about the exclusivity of the European market dragged on into another year.
– How about that Spencer?
– E-books.
– Queries.
– Monkeys.
– Oh my.
– My heart is in San Francisco.
– But I still love New York.
– We lost Kurt Vonnegut, Madeleine L’Engle, Norman Mailer, Robert Jordan and many other wonderful writers.
– The fabulous Miss Snark retired.
– New agent blogs ramped up production.
– Jessica Faust began her quest for sainthood by doing a million pitch critiques.
– We had a few contests.
– I almost died.
– The blog went from getting about 5 hits a day at the beginning of the year to over 1,000.
– THANK YOU to everyone for reading and commenting and making this year so much fun — I truly appreciate all the time you have taken to participate.
– I hope you find all of the success you’ve been working so hard for in 2008.
Have a great New Year!
Anonymous says
First to comment again I see, why Mr. Bransford, are you trying to hint at something? Haha!
I feel extremely blessed to have found your blog. I’ve been wanting to query you for a while (since I started reading you blog), and the information, and no nonsense style you bring is invaluable. You tell us what you want(throw in humour too), and make us forget that you’ve got our manuscripts in your hands…or our partials, or our query letters. I really enjoy your insight and the information you provide, and especially the way you give it. Here’s to being on your “list” next year.
– Annonymous Ada.
Anonymous says
And thank you for your fantastic, humorous, and always informative blog. This has maintained its status as the best blog I read every day. I hope you have a fabulous holiday, and I look forward to reading more after the break.
Rae L. says
“- The blog went from getting about 5 hits a day at the beginning of the year to over 1,000.”
Sweet! Congrats! The word is getting out across the nation about Nathan. 🙂
(And this is my second time to delurk and post–big step for me, too!)
Rae
Rae L. says
Oops I clicked too soon.
Thanks for the wonderful recaps, news and tidbits about the industry. Your blog has been most invaluable for us writers looking to get a peek into the inner works of the pub world.
Looking forward to all 2008 has to offer and I hope you have a happy and relaxing end of 2007!!
Josephine Damian says
Nathan, much thanks for the always fun and informative posts.
And if Santa brings me a Kindle, I’ll be sure to re-gift it to you.
Of course, if I get a home boy phone, you’re SOL. 🙂
Happy holidays!
Melanie Avila says
Nathan, thanks for all the time & energy you put into this blog. Reading it is one of the highlights of my day and I love that you make us learn and laugh at the same time.
Best of luck next year!
Melanie
Kimber An says
Cool round-up, Mr. Bransford.
Hey, I just saw your link at Romance the Blog. I thought you weren’t into that mushy stuff. What gives?
Christopher M. Park says
“- The blog went from getting about 5 hits a day at the beginning of the year to over 1,000.”
I’m actually going to guess that 1,000 hits per day is undershooting it, too. Thanks to the wonder of RSS, I bet there are a lot of people who read your blog on a daily basis, but don’t necessarily do anything but pick it up in their reader. (If you want to see the stats on that, you can use a service like feedburner, by the way.)
Anyway, I just wanted to pop by and say thanks for a great year. I don’t comment here or anywhere as much as I once did (too busy writing now), but this is still one of my favorite reads of the day.
Chris
Erik says
Vampires will never die, it’s just the nature of the beast.
Was that a bad pun?
Sadly, Lynne Spears will never die in the sense that there will always be another child-star mom pimping their kids out for bucks. However, few will flame out in quite the way this mother of a schizophrenic and teen mom has (and it was with a Christian publisher, fer you-know-who’s sakes!).
Julie K. Rose says
Ahaha! Year in review for the win!
Thanks for your interesting, and always entertaining, views into the publishing world. Have a fantastic holiday!
pipsqueak says
So are you concluding that the vampire genre is undead?
jjdebenedictis says
Have a happy and prosperous new year, and thank you for providing such an informative and fun blog!
Luc2 says
Thanks Nathan.
And you mentioned Robert Jordan! But now I heard that Terry Pratchett has a rare form of Alzheimer. 🙁
Happy New Year everyone.
Tom Burchfield says
They’d better not be dead, ’cause I got one more thing to say about ’em . . . or ONE in particular.
Happy Xmas!
Heidi the Hick says
Well I hope you have a peaceful and meaningful Christmas…and that you get to read some great books for the pure fun of it!!!
(Because this time of year brings out the sentimental side of me, let me just say THANKS for putting together such a great blog- fun, informative, and with occasional shots of rum!)
Sophie W. says
2007 – Condensed. I love it. 🙂 You should come up with a list of predictions for 2008. Then come December, we can look back and giggle. Or laugh in a very manly way, in your case. I’ll giggle.
I hope you have a peaceful vacation, Nathan, and see you in the New Year.
Nathan Bransford says
Sophie W.-
I’m thinking 2008 is the year of flying cars.
Any year now….
Sophie W. says
I was actually hoping for something along the lines of robots to do my calculus homework for me…
Tammie says
Whew what a year!
Nathan have a Merry Christmas and the same to all you bloggers who show up and make writing so very interesting!
Colorado Writer says
See you next year, Nathan! Thanks for the info and the laughs.
Other Lisa says
Jet-packs in ’08!!!
Green Ray says
Hi Nathan, I’m on vacation, but do you think I’d miss your blog? I’m not even watching The Young and the Restless (the only TV I watch, sorry!)- but I’m tuning into you and Janet and a few others. And I’m actually having a lot of activity going on with a top editor and agent right now! So I’m glued to my Dad’s computer. Thanks for all your sweet encouragement, and have a great holiday.
Margaret Yang says
…And through all of 2007, Nathan Bransford remained the nicest man in publishing.
Your blog makes my day happier. Thanks.
Margaret aka Original Bran Fan
Anne-Marie says
Nathan,
I hope you have a great holiday! Thanks for giving us so much in 2007.
Mary says
Nathan, you’ve been a shining star of 2007.
Wishing you peace and joy. ☺
Mary says
That face is meant is meant to look smiley!
Blogger seems to have made it frown.
Sorry!!!
Justin says
Thank YOU, Mr. Bransford, for providing such a nifty blog all year. It’s been a lot of fun to read every day. Here’s to ’08. Cheers.
Brenda says
Sing to the tune of Frere Jacques: You are clever and so funny yes you are, we know you are.
Mr Bransford, our fantastic Nathan Bransford you’re a star. You’re a star!
Have a wonderful, starry holiday. 🙂
LindaBudz says
Thanks for a year’s worth of great posts, Nathan. Hope you have a wonderful holiday.
mkcbunny says
Thanks for the great blog, Nathan. You amuse and inform me every day. Except Saturday. And Sunday. And some holidays. And when you take vacation. Those are all sad, dark times. But I soldier on.
Happy New Year!
Hilary says
Thank you, Nathan! Thank you for this hilarious and very informative blog. I wish you much success in 2008 and a special thank you from those of us you took a chance on in 2007!
All the best,
Hilary
Julie Weathers says
Thanks for the memories in 2007 and more than a few good tips and laughs.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good write.
JW
ORION says
Happy Holidays!
You do serve a great need-
A book about doing this blog and the writer questions would be a great read…
JaxPop says
Nathan – This blog has been awesome. Thank you for your insights, encouraging advice & engaging sense of humor. I’ve learned so much from you & many of your regular contributors. I really believe that great things happen to good people, so I hope you’re ready for tons of well deserved success. Have a great Christmas & a fantastic New Year. You da man!!!
Travis Erwin says
Congrats on a great year of blogging, and thanks for taking the time to impart your wisdom on all us eager hungry writers.
Neptoon says
Aloha,
Mahalo Nathan for your insights, spiced liberally with mirth.
Hope the holidays give you a much needed rest.
Now, where did you want me to send your Xmas bag of poi?
Jennifer Walker says
Very funny and Happy Holidays!
Lupina says
“2008 will be the year of flying cars”
Zounds! A flood of Herbie the Love Bug stories? I guess it could happen.
Thanks so much for providing a great place for the write-minded to hang out, and especially for the groovy contests. I can’t wait for the first Bransford Competition of 2008. Any hints as to what we might be sharpening our pencils toward?
The Anti-Wife says
Happy Holidays and wishes for a very prosperous new year. Thanks for blogging and providing such useful and entertaining information.
Kaleb - kalebnation.com says
Merry Christmas Nathan!
A Reader from India says
Hi Nathan,
THANK YOU for your excellent blog, so useful to writers around the world. I enjoy reading your blog not only for the information, but also your style of writing.
Wishing you the best for 2008 too.
Happy New Year!
Barrie says
What an interesting year in publishing it’s been! I didn’t realize…. until this humorous post! Thanks!
Ello says
Happy new year to you too! Thank you for your wonderful insight. Not only do we learn alot, but you make us laugh!
Bobby Nash says
Happy New Year.
Bobby
Aimless Writer says
Oohhh! ooo! oooo! I wrote a dog book! Where can I send it?
Jessica Faust is a saint…God bless her critique-ability.
🙂
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
(I also have a Vampire book…I guess I should finish that before its really dead.)
Speak Coffee says
I love the blog and think it’s terribly witty.
I’m young, literary-minded and career hunting. Therefore I would be overjoyed if you would someday address how one becomes a literary agent and why anyone would ever be crazy enough to want to do so.
Thank you!
-Eileen/Speak Coffee
Marti says
Sending you wonderful wishes for a great new year! Happy 2008, Nathan!
Anonymous says
This was great, Nathan – as was your entire blog this year.
Happy New Year!!
J.F. Constantine