Solstices are important markers in our relationship to the earth and our own mortality. Celebrating them makes sense. That's why pretty much all religions do it.But you know what would make more sense? Celebrating the Winter Solstice with quiet meditative activities. Then celebrate the SUMMER one with all the partying and traveling and mailing of gifts.Traveling to see the family. In summer instead of winter. When there's like, NO SNOW. A radical concept, I realize. But think about it.So if you don't want to go out in the snow (or here in CA, the...
Monday, 21 December 2009
Monday, 14 December 2009
BOB DYLAN DOES LOVE, ACTUALLY?
Posted on 10:38 by Unknown
Going off topic here, but I can’t help myself. I heard it this weekend: Bob Dylan. Singing Christmas carols. Sounding like your Great Uncle Harry on an eggnog binge.Reviewers are asking if it’s a goof or not. I suggest these folks take a gander at the INSIDE of the CD cover: it shows nineteen-fifties dominatrix Betty Page in a black-gartered Santa suit. I have no doubt that's the cover Dylan wanted on the OUTSIDE.Bob Dylan. Christmas. Betty Page on the Cover.It’s hilarious! It’s Dylan doing the Bill Nighy character from Love, Actually—old rocker...
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Kirkus Dead: RIP Intellectual Habitat?
Posted on 10:32 by Unknown
Kirkus Review, one the most prestigious book reviewers in the US, has been given the pink slip today. Kirkus, along with Editor and Publisher, has been axed by their owner Nielson, the New York Times reported this AM: http://bit.ly/6SDxfo. Nielson has apparently decided to sell off or otherwise rid itself of its Jurassic print media.One reader, identified as bluewombat, said, “this is horrifying -- further evidence of the disappearance of a free and independent press in the United States…More and more, important intellectual habitat is disappearing....
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Amazon Breakthrough to Include YA
Posted on 11:54 by Unknown
YA fiction continues its ascendancy: Publisher’s Lunch reports today that the Penguin-Amazon Breakthrough Novel contest will now include a second prize for YA fiction.Another way they’re keeping up with the times: the prize will also include novels that have been previously self-published.OK, the monetary prize to the winners has gotten smaller: originally a $25,000 advance, this new contest's two winners will get $15,000 advances each. Still nothing to sneeze at.They will accept up to 5,000 entries each in the fiction and young adult categories....
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
How to Format Your E-Query
Posted on 10:01 by Unknown
Casey McCormick continues to provide up-to-the-minute helpful info for writers trying to break into the biz. She posted detailed instructions on formatting the e-query on her Literary Rambles blog yesterday. It's the best advice on the subject that I've seen: http://caseylmccormick.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-do-i-format-my-e-query.h...
Sunday, 6 December 2009
Catherine Ryan Hyde on YA vs. Adult
Posted on 15:51 by Unknown
There’s been some discussion on other blogs about some of my statements about how publishers label things. Please know I’m just the messenger—I don’t condone those one-size-fits-all categories any more than other writers.Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Pay it Forward weighed in by directing me to a blogpost in her blog archives about the arbitrary way her books have been assigned to different genres. With her permission, I’m posting some of it here. You can read more from Catherine on her great blog (and occasionally get a chance to win a book):http://web.me.com/catherineryanhyde/catherineryanhyde/Blog/Blog.htmlHere’s...
Friday, 4 December 2009
ARE TEEN GIRLS THE NEW LITERATI?
Posted on 15:09 by Unknown
Young Adult and Middle Grade are fast becoming the dominant genres for new fiction. I heard at a writers’ conference recently that one publishing house has fired most of its adult fiction editorial staff and replaced them with YA/MG editors. Many of our most creative authors are now penning books aimed primarily at young people.I’ve also noticed that most newly minted agents rep primarily YA/MG, and even many established agencies are switching focus to teen/tween fiction.I suspect this can be explained in three words: “Harry Potter/Twilight.” Kid...
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