Isn’t this supposed to be a slow time in publishing? Is there a slow time anymore? I’m not feeling it. Meanwhile…
The brainiacs at the Millions have a great post on the implications of Amazon’s purchase of Abe Books, and what it means for the future of their business. Basically: when vendors sell on Amazon and Amazon doesn’t have to do anything… Amazon makes money.
Another brainiac out there wrote a post on basic concepts in publishing accounting which…. uh… I haven’t read. Kinda busy. But the people at Fine Print did, and they linked to it, and if it’s good enough for them, by golly it’s good enough for me!
GalleyCat had more on the controversy surrounding Random House’s cancellation of THE JEWEL OF MEDINA. Salman Rushdie? Not impressed with the decision.
And finally, I’ve noticed that there’s been a marked uptick in traffic to the blog lately, and so I’d like to extend a special welcome to the new visitors! I hope you will comment and make this blog your home. Seriously, kick off your shoes and steal stuff from the fridge. As always, come for the publishing advice, stay for the monkeys.
Have a great weekend!
Jeff says
I’m a monkey!
And you’re a monkey, too.
Jeff says
Query:
Our hero is monkey, in need of a lemon squeezer, traveling the Moon world of Richards in search of a junkie friend who is a wererat. Along the way he is gored by a boar and breaks his eggs, before discovering that he is the long awaited messiah of a new blues movement. This detective Christian fantasy will be 10 bajillion words long, after you agree to become my agent, and after you sell it to a publisher, after which I will write it, eventually.
Cause I’m a monkey… a monkey!
Adaora A. says
Stay away from the monkey beer in the ice box though; that’s on reserve for our host. I’ve got dibbs on the soy milk, the grapes, and the LUCKY CHARMS cereal which sits on top of the ice box.
We can tell you’ve got so much to do. Why you’re up to your ears in good queries!
Adam R says
Amazon does have to do some things to earn those third-party sales commissions. They maintain extra infrastructure and a lot of software tools so the merchants can run their business… I know because that’s my job. 🙂
jwhit says
Glad you mentioned the RH 'censorship' of the A'isha book. What about Simon and Schuster printing admittedly and intentionally political dreck as FACT and getting away with it? How is it that Mary Matalin and a major house gets to put such trash in the public domain?!? Where is the uproar on that one?
NYT should be ashamed of itself, as should S&S.
https://voices.kansascity.com/node/1852
J.B says
(Hmm, sorry about the delete above)
Coincidentally an aspiring writer friend of mine gave me the link to you blog, and I thank you for the welcome ;). I believe you are the first agent mentioned by name on our forum, so congratulations!
I am not surprised at the ‘uptick’ in your audience numbers- you provide good information with wit and humour. That combination will keep me checking you blog regularly. Thanks for taking the time to do this.
JB
Scott says
Allow me to echo the sentiments about your blog, Nathan. It’s been a great find.
I have to say I’m gutted about Random’s decision, but can understand their need to protect their people. What will forever stick in my craw is the capitulation to such threats. The thing is, the publicity that has followed their decision may be win-win for all. Random get to breath easier, and the work they would have done to promote the book has been done by the media covering their decision. Ms. Jones should feel free and confident to publish the book on her own now, and even start her own press for works that stand up to extremist violence.
sex scenes at starbucks says
The implications of Random House’s decision could be far-reaching indeed. I’m shocked, I must admit, though I suppose New York is still a little gunshy.
I’ve been a victim of censorship by bad timing, and I’ve had to consider what might offend my readership as well. I can imagine Rushdie is very frustrated.
sex scenes at starbucks says
Oh and newbies–watch out for the flung poop!
Laura Weldon says
I have to echo j.b.–I found this blog because SO many other blogs have it listed in their links. When you see the same name come up over and over, it’s worth checking out.
Thanks for providing good content!
Being Beth says
I’ve been lurking for the past month, and am now unashamedly addicted to your daily blog post (not to mention your amazing archives and links). Thanks for the encouragement, enlightenment, and entertainment.
Kitty Bucholtz says
Thanks for the welcome note, Nathan! I sort of met you at the RWA Conference a couple weeks ago and thought you were as charming in person as you are in print. [grin] Even better, the things you said made me think I really needed to read your blog, so now it’s one of my home pages – the first column I’ve ever read every day! [grin]
Thanks for all the great information!
Kitty 🙂
Just_Me says
Hi to everyone who’s new. :o)
What are the chances Random House will do an about face?
JeanieW says
Nathan,
Thank you for taking the time to share your extensive knowledge. I, too, am addicted to your blog. In fact, your words of encouragement, enlightenment, and entertainment have become a major distraction from actually doing any of my own writing. I can now starve to death unpublished but extremely well-informed. Kudos!
SAVanVleck says
I have a request for a future post. Hopefully, you can post this before my head explodes. I am nearing, I keep thinking, the end of editing my middle grade fantasy novel.
When I get stuck, I often search the internet for advice and I just don’t know where to stop with it.
Author!Author!had a great thing where she went to a convention and they said why they rejected manuscripts within the first paragraph. Now, I’m back to restoring an old opening that fits letter.
Will this never end?
At what point do you say, “Damn the rules, I’m sending it out?”
ORION says
Monkeys? Did I hear Monkeys? I neeeeeeeed a book on an alien vampire 30-something monkey looking for a husband in New York.
I would SO read that…
(and Jimmy Choos…they HAVE to be wearing JImmy CHoos…)
Hey if no one is writing this epic – I’ll have to…
An alien vampire slow monkey looking for a husband who wins the Lottery…Sounds like a high concept premise to me.
Kim Kasch says
I’m not impressed by alien monkey encounter experts but I am impressed with your links to such helpful advice-all the time. And if Fineprint is good enough for you, I’ll be reading their blog too.
Us, newbie writer types, can use all the publishing advice we can get – not so much the food from the fridge though – I’m trying to diet 🙁 not trying hard enough though.
putzjab says
I think I’m a fairly new newbie. What do you need to qualify as a newbie, besides sore knees from praying so much that an agent will accept your manuscript?
Speaking of which, I know I already asked this, but do you take YA fiction (first person, strong male voice)?
Sincerely,
Lena
Lynne says
I like the monkey moon world. Think you should definitely go with it, Nathan. New blues messiah, gored by boar and a wererat, plus detective Christian fantasy. How much better could it get? Thank goodness jeff did not add a scary song.
kai says
Thanks for the welcome, Nathan. Sadly, I write the very limited stuff you DON’T rep. Sad for me:( At least I have your blog to learn from. Great stuff. Thanks so much for the time you put into it.
Kai
jwhit says
What was that about monkeys?
Pour vous, Nathan:
https://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/scott.rice/blfc2008.htm
Whirlochre says
Hasn’t slow time been officially banned to boost the stressbuster guru economy?
nona says
Q. At what point do you say, “Damn the rules, I’m sending it out?”
A. Before you ever put pen to paper, hon. Before you ever put pen to paper . . .
Chris Wood says
Hey Nathan
Nice one for ‘fessing up on what you didn’t read! Cool. How do you feel about the Amazon approach to the little guys? I’ve lost count of the number of writers’ blogs that are roasting them for … so many things.
So what’s your view?
Chris
PS Can I have a book deal?
JulesD says
Hey Nathan, thanks for the welcome — this blog is like a virtual cup of tea when I’m taking a break from my own writing…
Wanda B. Ontheshelves says
SCBWI San Francisco 8/16/08, that was Saturday…any news to report?
Tracey S. Rosenberg says
*rummages through the fridge* Um, Nathan, I’m gonna pitch this milk, okay? It clunks when you shakes the carton. And those tomatoes – oh, they’re not tomatoes…actually, you know what, forget the fridge – I’m just going to order a pizza. You like olives?
just_me – my guess is that Random House does an about face (assuming they still have the rights to the book) around the time when the foreign editions are selling like hotcakes and no one makes any death threats. Then they’ll ‘review the situation.’ Money is going to talk here.
postergram says
Another newbie here, Nathan. SinC had a link to your blog. I’m so glad I tried it. I’m learning a lot and getting addicted, too. Thanks for the time you put into the blog for our benefit.
Sylvia