Still reading! I tell you what, reading 675 entries while also having a job is quite a task. Holly and I hope to have finalists for you soon, but meanwhile, there was a week in publishing, and it was an eventful one.
In perhaps the biggest publishing news, Publishers Lunch is reporting that, hot on the heels of acquiring Brilliance Audio, Amazon is making an offer to purchase digital audio distributor Audible. My mind? BLOWN. Audible has been the #1 player in the digital audio marketplace in part because of their popular subscription plans and due to their exclusive arrangement with iTunes. Many had thought that Amazon would develop a rival non-DRM model (background on DRM here) to compete with Audible/iTunes, but this seems to signal a different strategy. Should this happen, what does this mean for Audible’s relationship with iTunes given that iTunes is a competitor of Amazon’s? What does this mean for the non-Amazon/Audible/iTunes digital marketplace? And WHO IN THE HECK WAS IN JACOB’S CABIN ON LOST LAST NIGHT?? This inquiring mind wants to know.
Back when I asked people to propose contest ideas, one of said ideas was to have a Shakespearean query contest. Reader Scott Rhoades was kind (and brave) enough to run with this contest, so grab your quill and make like Will Shakespeare trying to find an agent!
For all you Wire fans out there, May Vanderbilt from Good Girl Lit has a post on seeing God in the Wire. Did I tell you that show is awesome or what?
Reader Chris Dodds pointed me to this rundown of George Orwell’s six rules for writing. Somehow George Orwell forgot to mention Rule #7, which is that one should not begin one’s query with a rhetorical question.
In addition to endorsing Barack Obama, Toni Morrison just announced…. SHE’S A KINDLE FAN! Wow. I don’t know who was more excited, Barack or Amazon.
Via… shoot I can’t remember where I saw this. Sorry original finder who deserves credit! Anyway, Amazon has a listing for a book on the Patriots going undefeated, with a publication date of February 11th. One problem? THEY’RE NOT UNDEFEATED YET. Come onnnnnnnnn Giants.
And finally, remember last week how I linked to a New York Times article on the popularity of cell phone novels in Japan? Well, leave it to the brilliant people at The Millions to translate an excerpt from one of the cell phone novels so you don’t have to. My reaction: Either something is lost in translation or I’m just getting old.
Have a great weekend!
AmandaKMorgan says
Repost, since the old link didn’t work:
This screen shot from last night’s episode will totally answer your LOST question:
https://img403.imageshack.us/img403/5977/facecabinad5.png
sex scenes at starbucks says
Nice Japanese cell phone book. Boy, I bet you wished you’d repped that!
Karen Duvall says
I read the japanese cell phone book translation and thought it was adorable! It may not win the Newberry, but it was cute. I liked it.
Anonymous says
Nathan,
Big article in the Seattle Times that implies that the Amazon’s acquisition of Audible is a done deal. Go here to read the article https://seattletimes.nwsource.com/text/2004157365_audible01.html According to this article Audible’s contract with Itunes is in place until 2010. Something else interesting that’s pointed out is that the Kindle has volume controls on the bottom of it. . .which leaves many to believe Amazon made the Kindle with audiobooks in mind as well.
Nathan Bransford says
amanda-
What is HE doing there???
anon-
Thanks for sharing that link. I’m still trying to digest the different ways this is going to affect the audio business.
Anonymous says
Go Giants!!!!!!!
(Eli’s coming, better hide your heart…)
Miladysa says
And I missed the competition :[
Marva says
I thought it was Locke in Jacob’s cabin. After all, he showed up immediately. Now, I’ll go look at the image posted by amanda.
Oh, well. Can’t use the link so I googled it.
Other Lisa says
I’m a Chargers fan. Can I root for them both to lose?
Here’s a cool post about authors’ websites, why they are a must and how/when to set them up.
AmandaKMorgan says
I have a theory! I think he’s (somehow) one of the Oceanic six…remember Jack talking about him in the season three finale flash forward like he’s there?
Brian says
Actually, my theory is that Jacob can assume different forms. That wasn’t Walt who found Locke in the ditch…
P.G.Leja says
OOOH, thanks for that Link, Im a new Lost fan. I watched all three seasons in the last month..hehe
Remember one thing, they never showed the body so it is possible that the island brought him back to life. (I did not name names on purpose).
Not sure I am liking those flashes to the future, so we know the 6 so far is Kate, Hurly and Jack, I am thinking the others are Sawyer, and the korean couple.
Nadine says
Wow, nice theory Amanda! I was shocked at the screen shot! And they never did find his body in the coffin! I can’t wait for next week!
Nathan Bransford says
brian-
But why would Jacob assume the form of Jack’s dad for Hurley?
Nadine says
Nathan,
Maybe they are connected but we don’t know how yet. Kinda like Jack’s dad and Claire, or Sawyer and Locke’s dad.
Can I just say, I love this show!
Richard says
I used to be a lost fan. Got old for me. I’ve recently fallen in love with Stargate: SG-1. Terrible dialogue, but fun stories.
The thing that bugs me about LOST is that Jack once led by his actions. As the seasons progressed, he progressively led with words.
“You guys chose me to lead you…blah blah blah. Now do it my way.”
That got annoying, fast.
LindaBudz says
Great Wire post, and great new blog for me to waste more time on. Thanks, Nathan!
And yes, go Giants!
inherwritemind1 says
Hi Nathan,
Slightly off topic, but not really:
I just went over to Holly’s blog and website and holey moley! I see what you mean. She’s got it all going on. Brains, beauty, chops…
As a SEFPC contestant I would like to know what she drinks.
Tena
Anonymous says
I think that Jacob is the many manifestations people on the island see, everything from Kate seeing the horse to Jack seeing his dad to Eko seeing his brother. He’s also somehow associated with the smoke monster. Jacob can take these forms, and for some reason last night he was taking Christian Shepard’s form. Although I have no idea why, seeing how he was revealing himself to Hurley. But Hurley was hospitalized for sometime so maybe he knew Christian from there??
ORION says
And to make you ALL jealous…Lost is filmed across the street from where Airborne and Baby Horse live and I go there nearly EVERY DAY!!!
Mwa ha ha…
Elyssa Papa says
Wait… whose eye was it? Because the link didn’t work for me! 🙁
And I think LOST is getting back to its awesomeness that it had Season One and Season Three.
So… there were only six survivors in the flash forward??
CarBeyond says
Get Fuzzy!
https://www.comics.com/comics/getfuzzy/
archive/getfuzzy-20080125.html
Adaora A. says
I love Toni Morrison. THE BLUEST EYE is one of the best books of all time. She is just brilliant. Ok, I must quit my gushing now. I really would love to meet her.
I read that article on Amazon threw my Daily emails from PW and I thought of you Nathan! I was going to email it to you but then I thought it might be more in your inbox.
I bet you laughed manically when you saw rule mumber seven. The chips are falling in your favor. Are you practicing the secret? What you think about you bring about?
Roxan says
Lost was interesting for about 5 minutes. Thankfully, there is good television out there. I’m a Dexter fanatic myself.
Adaora A. says
@roxan – I don’t get to watch a lot of tv (between school and work I have one day in the week to myself). What’s the premise of Dexter?
inherwritemind1 says
What’s the premise of Dexter?
Dexter is a serial killer who kills only other serial killers. (He’s a moral kind of guy.)
This show is fabulous. They’ve got the go-ahead for season three.
Jennifer L. Griffith says
Cell phone novels??? Yikes, what’s next?!?
I don’t think I want to know…sigh.
Anonymous says
I do not see the appeal in the cell phone novel. HOW CAN THAT BE A BEST SELLER?!?
Anonymous says
Perhaps cell phone novels will be sold or made available in waiting rooms, like doctor offices, hospitals, airports, drivers license
bureaus…
Anonymous says
PS
It would seem that cell phone novels would be all about being bored, not needing to think about it (anything),and disconnect.
Redzilla says
I for one am hoping the halving of this season of Lost will produce what I was begging for last season: Less standing on beach watching sunset, more action!
I am officially adopting “but I’m one of the Oceanic 6” as my new excuse for everything.
beth says
I am more LOST than ever! I’ve no idea what to make of the cabin and Jacob.
Lydia says
1. Buying Audible was a mistake, unless they intend to remake it, rebrand it, etc. They should have developed their own. Their constant refusal to listen to me is getting frustrating. 😉
2. Jacob was in Jacob’s cabin. This is like that old trick question: Who is buried in Grant’s tomb? But in this case, it means that whatever Locke has, Hurley has too. (dum-dum-DUM)
serenity says
I’m pretty sure the eye was Locke, right? But the person in the chair I would never have known without Amanda’s link. I’m thinking this taking-on-other-forms theory could definitely pan out. And I love redzilla’s idea! I’m one of the Oceanic Six too from now on.
Anonymous says
Back to the contest, I’m just curious whether Holly and yourself each plan to read all 675, or did you/will you divvy them up?
Will your finalists then be a list of agreed upon pages, or you each will contribute separate pages?
thanks
Nathan Bransford says
This just in: Holly and I have agreed on the finalists (and yes, we both read them all). I hope to have them posted by tomorrow.
Words In, Words Out says
Nathan! Already?!! How many are there?
Nathan Bransford says
6
LindaBudz says
Holy canoli! That had to have been hard work … so many great entries to choose from. Congrats on getting through them. I hope you have some bourbon left for tonight’s festivities. (I’ll say it again: Go Giants!)
superwench83 says
Finished! Cool! You guys are fast! And thanks for everything! Hey, look! Every sentence ends with an exclamation point!
Adaora A. says
Wow well done! You guys must have lightening eyes or something.
Here’s hoping for good news!
Surely Nathan you can’t tell us you two have agreed and then NOT post? You must!
Jan says
Well Done Nathan & Holly … you two ROCK for reading all of them!
And thank’s -other lisa
for that great link on author websites!! Great information
GO GIANTS!! I didn’t think they would be able to pull it off 🙂
Can’t wait to see the finalists = fun contest Nathan. I’ve enjoyed reading them too.
CarBeyond says
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GIANTS WIN!!!!!!!!!!