The 500th post!! Confetti and all that. I’d like to thank the Academy, I’d like to thank my agents, and *tears*… Thank you to everyone who has helped make this blog so much fun for me to write every day. But most importantly, this is for the children who are sitting at home and watching this 500th post and thinking that one day they too could be a literary agent who blogs about bad reality TV shows and is unhealthily obsessed with Cormac McCarthy. Dreams come true, kids. They really do.
And, uh, how about that pilot, right? We should have a competition right now for naming his inevitable book. I’m going with ROUGH SKIES AND SAFE LANDINGS: Life Lessons from the Pilot of Flight 1549, and Why the Geese Hate Us.
But perhaps more astounding than a safe touchdown in the Hudson River is news that people are reading more! No, really! Although Maya Reynolds digs a little deeper to find that they’re including Internet reading in the study for the first time. Hmmm… But then they say that didn’t cause the increase. I guess I’ll take whatever good news I can these days.
In agent blog news, Jessica Faust at BookEnds reminds us that attitude matters. Hopefully you have a good one.
And speaking of reading, a million people are now not reading on their iPhones! E-reader iPhone App Stanza recently announced their millionth download, proving that the iPhone/iPod Touches are e-readers to be reckoned with.
Simon & Schuster recently launched a snazzy new website! Lots of new features and interactivity and Web 2.0ness.
Author Sasha Watson posted a really lovely ode to Paris and what it means to her on the Penguin US blog, making me want to get back there as soon as possible. Paris! I miss you!! I will return when I have enough Euros! Don’t forget about me!
And finally, via Galley Cat, Macmillan’s online marketing team has compiled a very helpful guide to the publishing process, including the way in which editors read manuscripts four times in order to memorize them and name all the characters.
Have a good (long) weekend!
Roland says
Nathan, I have a question about self-publishing and maybe I’ll email you for your opinion, but I’d like to put it out to the blog as well.
Is this a good time to self publish? What I mean is, with larger companies collapsing beneath their own weight, has favor shifted a little towards smaller businesses and how does that translate in the publishing world?
I’ve just started the query process so my interest in smaller presses and self-publishing aren’t a result of frustration, but more to do with the financial climate and the desire to have more control over how my book is marketed and designed.
Just wanted your thoughts.