Lyons Literary LLC

And the rest is silence

2010-12-08T09:00:00.001-05:00

The time has come the walrus said... this is officially my last post on this blog.

So where have I been the last year and why am I calling it quits now? Simply, I'm extremely busy. I have a growing business and a growing family, and as a result I just don't seem to have the time anymore to keep this blog updated. Too, because my blogging colleagues (listed to the left) do an absolutely wonderful job providing tips and information on the publishing business, I've felt that readers of this blog are in good hands.

Of course, you likely inferred my departure from blogging from my lack of posts over the past year, but this makes it official. I'll continue to keep the site up so you can look through the archives, and you can always email me with questions and I'll try to respond if I have the time. I also plan to write about publishing for various print and online publications from time to time, and I may even open a Twitter account if I get around to it.

My thanks to all of you who have read and commented herein, and I wish you all the best of success in your publishing endeavors.

A few parting quotes:

How do I feel about books?

"So many books, so little time." - Frank Zappa.

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

How do I feel about printed books?

"No furniture is as charming as books." - Sydney Smith.

How do I feel about the future of publishing?

"There's a hunger for stories in all of us, adults too. We need stories so much that we're even willing to read bad books to get them, if the good books won't supply them." - Phillip Pullman.

"Books are humanity in print." - Barbara Tuchman.

"We live for books." - Umberto Eco.

Why do I read?

"Medicine for the soul." - Inscription over the door of the Library of Thebes.

Do Free Online Sample Chapters Sell Books?

2009-10-14T08:57:00.003-05:00

Over the past few years there's been quite a debate about whether providing free sample content online spurs overall book sales. According to new data from LibreDigital, the answer is yes.

Drooling over Whedon

2009-09-28T08:16:00.000-05:00

Wow, thanks to my brother for pointing me to these rankings of the best ever shows from the Whedonverse!

Google Settlement Fairness Hearing Adjourned

2009-09-24T14:41:00.002-05:00

The Authors Guild has just announced that Judge Denny Chin has granted the parties' motion to adjourn the Google settlement fairness hearing until October 7th in order to give time for the settlement to be amended to address the Department of Justice's concerns.

Apple, email, and ebooks

2009-09-10T08:55:00.004-05:00

Apple conducted their usual press event to unveil new products, but unfortunately the Tablet was nowhere to be seen.

In-Stat conducted an ebook reader survey, with the most desired feature request by current ebook owners being email capability. Agreed! (via Shelf Awareness and Teleread)

Finally, I want to belatedly call attention to another thoughtful post on The Shatzkin Files, this time discussing the controversy around ebook pricing.

Amazon and The Authors Guild

2009-09-03T09:41:00.001-05:00

As you may be aware, Amazon filed a brief objecting to the proposed Google Book Settlement. Here's the response from The Authors Guild.

Really? A Publishing Comedy?

2009-09-01T08:47:00.002-05:00

It seems the publishing world isn't as boring as it sounds. CBS has just bought a scripted comedy about a book editor and her friends. I'll check it out.

Dan Brown's eBook

2009-08-20T08:57:00.004-05:00

TechFlash is reporting that Amazon will be releasing the ebook for Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol on the same day as the print version and for $9.99. This is a big score for the 10,000 pound gorilla, as there was some speculation that Random House, Dan Brown's publisher, might delay the release of the ebook edition to avoid cannibalizing hardcover sales.

eReader News

2009-07-27T09:28:00.003-05:00

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Samsung unveiled their eReader in Korea today.

I haven't heard much about the Apple Tablet, but I guess publishers have been briefed, and now the rumor is that it will be out in time for Christmas.

The Washington Post reviews the B&N eBookstore, and there's not a ton of love, with digital rights management continuing to be a giant blister in the ebook world. I personally think B&N gets it right with some social DRM - allowing you to lend or resell your books if you're willing to share your credit card number with recipients - but then flounders by limiting your reading to software and devices it approves.

New Links

2009-07-23T13:22:00.005-05:00

I've added some new links and also listed them below, mostly focusing on eBooks and/or the digital world.

Black Plastic Glasses

Plastic Logic Redux

2009-07-22T08:13:00.004-05:00

On the heels of the announcement about Barnes & Noble's eBookstore (which TechCrunch reviews here) and that they'll be the vendor for the new Plastic Logic eReader, Plastic Logic has now announced that AT&T will provide wireless support for the new device, so just like with the Kindle readers access books anywhere they get a signal. This partnership also means that the device will connect internationally, but as Teleread points out it could create even more problems with the already overburdened AT&T network.

However, Plastic Logic continues to emphasize that their eReader is targeted more for business professionals and business documents than for reading books due to the larger screen. Considering the recent news though, I just don't buy it.

Oscar Whitfield

2009-05-22T08:26:00.003-05:00

So there's this guy named Oscar Whitfield who queries me and a whole bunch of other agents every day. The query is exactly the same, with the same email subject title and content. However, he does seem to be using multiple email addresses, which means he can escape my junk filter from time to time.

I wrote him about a month ago, asking him to stop querying me because 1) he wasn't using my submission form; and 2) I had no interest in his work. He responded obnoxiously, telling me he was going to continue querying me despite my request, and he was going to "knock down" the doors of publishing.

It's people like this that help contribute to the negativity sometimes involved in the querying process. So my plea to you at the start of what I hope will be a beautiful Memorial Day Weekend is the following: if you know Mr. Oscar Whitfield, please ask him to stop. And if you know any other people spam querying, ask them to stop too.

Google Settlement Update

2009-04-29T07:49:00.003-05:00

Two updates for you regarding the proposed settlement for the Google Book Search. First, the judge reviewing the case has extended the deadline for authors to opt out of the settlement by four months, to September 7th.

Second, as a result of complaints from some groups opposing the Google Settlement, the Justice Department has opened up an antitrust inquiry into the matter. The New York Times has a surprisingly decent summary of the situation.

Multiple Submissions

2009-04-28T08:55:00.002-05:00

I know I've written about this before, but it came up a few times at the ASJA Conference this weekend, so I thought I'd revisit it.

Some agents have an exclusive submission policy regarding materials - i.e. you can't send your query or manuscript to another agent while they are reviewing it. I STRONGLY believe that this is an unfair policy. The only times I can think that an exclusive might be appropriate is if the agent is an absolutely perfect fit for you or they happen to be one of the biggest and best names in the business. Otherwise, my suggestion is to submit to multiple agents at a time.

Most agents are extremely busy and out of necessity are slow in responding to submissions. If you wait for a response from each of us before sending your project on to the next agent on your list you could be querying the same project for years and years.

My only caveat with multiple submissions is that you need to tell agents who have your partial or full manuscript when another agent has expressed interest in representation and give them at least a few days to get back to you.

Do you like contests?

2009-04-27T08:54:00.002-05:00

My client Kelly Meding has launched a contest to count down the release of her debut novel Three Days to Dead. Check it out if you like science fiction/fantasy trivia! Oh, and Mogwai rule!

New Query Policy

2009-04-23T09:22:00.005-05:00

Starting today Lyons Literary LLC has a new policy regarding queries.

I still will only accept queries sent via the electronic submission form found on our website; queries sent in any other manner will not be responded to. Assuming you fill out the submission form properly (i.e. provide a proper return email address) and your spam blocker allows it, you'll receive a confirmation email from the agency that your query has been received.

If you don't hear from us within three weeks of sending the query (besides our initial response confirming receipt) then we are passing on the project. If I'm interested in seeing more (likely either the first thirty pages or a proposal) I'll write you back before then.

Finally, if you've sent me a query using my submission form before today then you'll still hear from me at some point, though I'm admittedly still far behind on these.

I hope this addresses the most significant concerns of aspiring authors, but let me know if you have any suggestions.

Agent for a Day

2009-04-22T09:04:00.000-05:00

In a surprise for most of the people involved, but not a surprise to me or likely other agents, only two people successfully guessed all three published books in Nathan Bransford's Agent for a Day Contest, and none of the books were among the top five most requested queries.

On a different note, I am thinking of changing my query policy based on some of the discussion I've seen on the Web. As of now I'm still trying to respond to every query sent to me via my agency submission form and filled out properly (e.g. with an email address for response). However, I've fallen severely behind and since I continue to receive over 75 queries a day, I'm not sure when I can ever fully catch up. I also continue to get frustrating responses from writers after rejections asking for more details or simply just insulting me for deciding to pass. I'm also getting more and more emails from writers reasonably wondering when they might hear from me.

So here's what I'm thinking. I'm going to set up a mailbox that sends an auto response confirming receipt of a query, and a note will be included saying that if the form was filled out properly AND I'm interested in the project that you'll hear back from me within three weeks. If you don't have a response within three weeks, it's a pass. Thoughts?

So you want to be an agent?

2009-04-08T08:00:00.001-05:00

In the rocking idea department, Nathan Bransford is going to have a "Be An Agent for A Day" Contest on Monday, April 13th. While the quality of the pitches will likely be much higher on average than what an agent usually receives, it should still give readers a chance to show if they can pull a gem out of the slush.

The Authors Guild Responds to the Wall Street Journal

2009-04-07T08:30:00.003-05:00

I noted last week the Wall Street Journal op-ed criticizing the Google Book Settlement and posted Janet Reid's response. Paul Aiken, the Executive Director of the Authors Guild, has now responded as well.

Love of Reading

2009-04-06T17:20:00.002-05:00

Tanya Egan Gibson has started a website in conjunction with the release of her novel How to Buy a Love For Reading where people can share stories about how reading changed their lives - or even saved them. Check it out and contribute!

January Sales

2009-04-06T07:58:00.004-05:00

All is not lost. Book sales rose 3.6% to $785 million in January, according to the Association of American Publishers (via Shelf Awareness). Of particular note is the continued dramatic rise in e-book sales - 173.6%. Of course, this is still only $8.8 million, as compared to the $102 million pulled in by Adult paperback titles.

Notes on a Rainy Friday

2009-04-03T09:35:00.004-05:00

Some catch-up from the week.

Janet Reid responded eloquently to the Wall Street Journal article about the Google Settlement. Maya Reynolds presented an interesting third opinion on the matter.

BookEnds opened up a can of worms with AgentFail, which led to over 250 responses, most of them bashing agents. I agree with Nathan Bransford about all of this, but just wanted to mention a few things.

First, I'm always amazed by the amount of anger that writers have towards agents because I look at myself as an advocate for authors, and particularly for my own clients. However, I don't live in a bubble. I realize that we are the initial gatekeepers in this business, and by saying no (or not saying anything at all) we're preventing you from getting published. But we're not dog-like creatures eagerly anticipating the return of Gozer. We're filtering queries and trying to find talented and skilled writers whose work will be bought by a publisher and read by the public.

I've expressed before my opinion on whether part of my job is responding to queries, so I won't rehash it here beyond saying that I try to respond to every query sent to me via my submission form (though I admit I am weeks behind due to both personal and professional reasons) even though I don't believe it is my duty to do so.

Finally, I've noticed that some commentators complained that agents respond too quickly to their emails. I've literally read hundreds of thousands of queries in my life. I've gotten good at telling immediately whether a query isn't right for me. I understand that you've been working on a project for six months, and it's brutal and frustrating to hear that I'm not interested two minutes later, but all I'm saying is that I'm not interested. It does not mean it isn't worthy.

OK, hope you have a good weekend.

Bailing Out Books

2009-04-01T07:33:00.005-05:00

I had hints of this, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. But the press conference last night on Books TV confirmed it!

I'm delighted to announce that The American Book Society of Publishing Association of America announced they're taking a unified stand and refusing to pay any advances over $1million to debut authors, TV reality stars, and older thriller writers who don't sell tons of copies anymore but still get paid like they do.

Who knows, maybe ABS Publishing Association of America will decide to tackle the returns system next!

Happy Launch Day!

2009-03-31T08:33:00.003-05:00

It's my pleasure to announce the release of Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells!

In a world where being of mixed blood is a major liability, Sabina doesn't' really fit in. And being an assassin - the only profession fit for an outcast - doesn't help matters. But she's never brought her work home. Until now.

Her latest mission is uncomfortably complex and threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races. As Sabina scrambles to figure out which side she's on, she uncovers a tangled political web, some nasty facts about her family, and some unexpected new talents. Any of these things could be worryingly life changing, but together they could be fatal...

"Brassy, sassy, and hip! Wells's promising debut is a fast-paced trip through a dark and dangerous landscape featuring an unusual take on vampires, mages, faeries, and demons." - Kat Richardson.

"Jaye Wells dishes up a read so satisfying that you can't wait until the next serving." - Cheyenne McCray.

Query Observations

2009-03-26T14:47:00.005-05:00

I have received over 2,000 queries since January 1st, and unfortunately I have not responded to most of them. I'm working my way through them though, and I have to ask for your continued patience if you're waiting to hear from me.

In the meantime, here are just a few things I've noticed:

- I'm getting tons of emails from writers under the age of 18, which I suspect might be due to the increased availability of publishing resources online. If you're wondering, I look at these queries with the same consideration as I do with queries from adults.

- There are two clear groups of queries - the first are from people who probably will never get representation and become published, evident by the crappy writing and lack of effort in their queries. The second group is composed of writers struggling hard with their craft, doing their research, and drafting thoughtful and composed queries. In the past I would say more than 75% of the emails I got could be grouped in the first group, but I think the numbers have reversed and 75% would now fall in the second group.

- I continue to get catty emails in response to rejections, and I continue to struggle not to respond in kind.

- I just haven't seen that many truly inventive mystery ideas, but urban fantasy queries are ripe with creativity.

Stoker Awards 2008

2009-03-23T15:45:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to David Oppegaard, who's first novel The Suicide Collectors has been selected as a finalist for the 2008 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel!

Friday Musings

2009-03-20T12:38:00.004-05:00

I'm hoping to start blogging with more frequency again - the reading pile is noticeably smaller and the little one is noticeably bigger.

First, thanks to Maya Reynolds for this. Next, rumor has it that George Bush got over seven million dollars for his book deal with Crown, which is still two million less than what Barack Obama is rumored to be getting for more books post-presidency. Editorial Ass explains why we screen calls. There's a Vampire Trivia Contest today. Finally, the finalists for the Hugos and Arthur C. Clarke Award have been announced.

Kindle 2 Revisited

2009-03-17T14:29:00.002-05:00

Full disclosure. Just got the Kindle 2 as a gift from my wife, and I love it. However, I won't be using the text-to-speech function, and I hope you won't either!

Kindle 2

2009-02-25T11:53:00.003-05:00

I'm back! Actually, this is more of a quick flyover; I expect to be blogging more sometime next month. Still, I couldn't resist linking to this Op-Ed piece in the New York Times from the Authors Guild president. Amen brother.

The Suicide Collectors in the Washington Post

2009-01-12T12:46:00.002-05:00

Congrats to David Oppegaard for the great review of The Suicide Collectors in the Washington Post!

Responsibility in Publishing

2009-01-09T14:44:00.007-05:00

Tax season is upon us and I need to get my accounting taken care of, so this is only a brief return from hiatus. I'll be posting much more in February.

It's still gloom and doom in publishing, though there haven't been any more mass firings lately (knock on wood). And now that we seem to have a respite I do want to comment on the layoffs.

Publishing has needed cleaning up for years. Perhaps this means firing some staff, but the real problems are still out there, begging to be addressed: ridiculous advances for fifteen minute wonders, multiple books released about subjects that only the intellectual elite care about, an illogical supply/returns system, faltering bookstores, and more.

Some very powerful people in publishing with huge salaries decided to fire a bunch of people who make far less. I don't know if these layoffs were the right thing to do, but I do know that these same powerful people need to assume the responsibility and provide the leadership to fix the big issues that confront our industry.

OK, on to some client news.

Joe Starita's I AM A MAN is a main selection from the History Book Club, and Ian Frazier says: “The painful, moving, inspiring, and important story of Chief Standing Bear has found a worthy chronicler in Joe Starita. This excellent book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of the West, or of

America

.”

Kelly Meding's THREE DAYS TO DEAD is garnering great praise, including:

“Dark, dangerous and delectable. A fantastic debut impossible to put down!” – bestselling author Gena Showalter.

“THREE DAYS TO DEAD is one of the best books I’ve read. Ever. Evy Stone is a heroine’s heroine, and I rooted for her from the moment I met her. Kelly Meding has written a phenomenal story, one that’s fast-paced, gritty, and utterly addictive. Brava! More! More! More!” - Jackie Kessler, co-author of Black and White.

Finally, thanks to everyone for the warm wishes on the new addition to my family. He's adorable and thriving.

New York Times Coverage

2008-12-10T11:45:00.002-05:00

Lorrie Bodger's Cook Up a Cookbook is featured in the Dining & Wine section of today's The New York Times.

Happy Launch Day

2008-12-08T12:05:00.004-05:00

David Oppegaard's The Suicide Collectors will be released tomorrow, December 9th. It was just named an Indie Next List Notable Book for January 2009 from the ABA, and it's already received some wonderful reviews (including this starred one from Publishers Weekly).

Here is what Stan Lee had to say about it: THE SUICIDE COLLECTORS takes us to a startling theme we haven't encountered before, with every page a thrilling new surprise.

Happy Launch Day

2008-12-03T15:02:00.003-05:00

I'm pleased to announce the launch of Wrapped In Gems: 40 Elegant Designs for Wire-Wrapped Gemstone Jewelry, written by Mai Sato-Flores with Jesse Flores. Check it out for some awesome holiday gifts!

We're moving!

2008-11-28T15:36:00.002-05:00

Please note the agency's new mailing address as of December 1st:

Lyons Literary LLC
27 West 20th Street, Suite 1003
New York, NY 10011

Blogging Hiatus

2008-11-14T17:15:00.002-05:00

It's the busy season in publishing, and on top of that my wife just gave birth (a boy), so I'm taking a blogging hiatus for a while. I'll be back soon!

NaNoWriMo

2008-11-03T14:31:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure how I feel about this. What's your take?

R.I.P. Studs Terkel

2008-10-31T19:33:00.001-05:00

Radio host and Pulitzer Prize winner Studs Terkel died today. He was 96 years old.

Hypothetical Rejection

2008-10-31T14:00:00.004-05:00

Dear Aspiring Writer,

Thanks for sending me your query. A book about the Holy Spirit communicating with you sounds fascinating - right up my alley. You're completely right about me not being courageous enough to represent it.

Except that I don't represent books with religious themes. Oh, and I also don't represent crazy people.

Sincerely,
Lyons Literary LLC

PS Best wishes for success!

Google Settles Over Book Scanning

2008-10-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

I still haven't read all the details, but it seems that the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers have reached a settlement with Google regarding the scanning of books still under copyright protection by Google.

Client News

2008-10-28T15:00:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to David Oppegaard, who received a starred Publishers Weekly review for The Suicide Collectors. "Eloquent prose and haunting characters lift Oppegaard's astonishing debut..."

Kelly Meding is guest blogging at The League of Reluctant Adults.

Lorraine Bodger will appear live on the Martha Stewart Living satellite radio show November 10th to chat about her book Cook up a Cookbook. If you missed Lorrie on the Faith Middleton Show two weeks ago, you can now hear it online.

Mac Montandon will be doing readings throughout Oregon and California starting November 9th.

RIP Tony Hillerman

2008-10-27T15:00:00.000-05:00

Tony Hillerman passed away on Sunday. Hillerman introduced millions of readers to a culture that has been long ignored while keeping us captivated with wonderful mysteries. He will be missed.

Happy Launch Day

2008-10-27T07:10:00.002-05:00

I'm pleased to announce the release today of Mac Montandon's Jetpack Dreams: One Man's Up and Down (but Mostly Down) Search for the Greatest Invention That Never Was.

“A breezy niche history of a staple of pulp adventures…An amusing collection of stories about individuals of varying degrees of eccentricity who are devoting much of their lives and personal fortunes to a near-impossible dream.” - Kirkus Reviews.

“Montandon’s entertaining adventures highlight a strange footnote of the space age.” - Booklist.

“Reading this book is as fun as zooming through the sky with a rocket on your back. And better yet, you won't break your collarbone.” - A.J. Jacobs, author of The Know-It-All and The Year of Lving Biblically.

New York Observed

2008-10-26T11:54:00.001-05:00

Mac Montandon on jogging in Prospect Park.

Formatting Your Project

2008-10-24T09:34:00.006-05:00

I think I've discussed how to format your manuscript before on the blog, but more issues seem to be coming up with both my own clients and in submissions of partial and full manuscripts, so I thought I'd make some additional suggestions.

First, use Microsoft Word if possible. This is the program that most agents and editors prefer for both submissions and editing, and so you need to be on the same page as everyone in the industry. WordPerfect is ok, but sometimes mistakes can happen in the conversion to Word.

Do not send agents a PDF if you want them to provide edit suggestions, and certainly once you're a client you'll need to send agents things in Word. Also, the Kindle can't read PDF files.

If you use Microsoft Word 2007, make sure that you're using the "Word 2003" style and saving it as a "Word 97-2003 document." Why? Because many agents and editors don't have the new version of Word yet and haven't downloaded the software needed to convert Word 2007 files for use on an older format.

Learn how to use track changes for Microsoft Word. This is an amazing feature that allows agents and editors to make editorial suggestions directly into the manuscript.

Make sure to include page numbers and either footers or headers with your name and/or title. Some agents and editors still print partial and full manuscripts for reading. Friday afternoon they'll print up a bunch of submissions, stuff them in their grossly overweight messenger bag, and lug them home for weekend reading. If you don't include page numbers and headers/footers and the agent isn't extremely careful, your project pages will likely get scattered about.

John Hodgman on Publicity

2008-10-22T08:39:00.004-05:00

Just in case you didn't catch The Daily Show last night, here again is John Hodgman discussing how to promote your book. Take careful notes everyone.

Keeping Hope Alive

2008-10-21T10:19:00.002-05:00

Moonrat hits one out the park with this ode to the little debut novel.

Friday Chatter

2008-10-17T09:06:00.002-05:00

The Frankfurt Book Fair is winding down, and I'm looking forward to hearing stories when my compadres return (I took a break from attending this year because of family commitments). It sounds like the fair has been relatively quiet as compared to past years, which I can't help but think is a result of the current economic woes.

I'm hoping to have manuscript notes to the two trivia contest winners by Monday.

Jofie Ferrari-Adler conducted another kick ass interview for Poets & Writers, this time with Algonquin editor Chuck Adams.

Lorraine Bodger had a great time on The Faith Middleton Show yesterday. You should be able to access her interview on their website in about a week.

I really like the show Life on Mars, but it's hard not to ignore the big gaps in the world-building. I'm hoping they get this fixed soon.

I never want to hear about Joe the Plumber again.

And the Nominees Are

2008-10-15T12:30:00.002-05:00

The nominees for the National Book Awards were announced, and are as follows:

Fiction
Aleksandar Hemon, The Lazarus Project
Rachel Kushner, Telex from Cuba
Peter Matthiessen, Shadow Country
Marilynne Robinson, Home
Salvatore Scibona, The End

Nonfiction
Drew Gilpin Faust, This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War
Annette Gordon-Reed, The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family
Jane Mayer, The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals
Jim Sheeler, Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives
Joan Wickersham, The Suicide Index: Putting My Father's Death in Order

Poetry
Frank Bidart, Watching the Spring Festival
Mark Doty, Fire to Fire: New and Collected Poems
Reginald Gibbons, Creatures of a Day
Richard Howard, Without Saying
Patricia Smith, Blood Dazzler

Young People's Literature
Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains
Kathi Appelt, The Underneath
Judy Blundell, What I Saw and How I Lied
E. Lockhart, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
Tim Tharp, The Spectacular Now

In particular, I'd like to congratulate Kathi Appelt and MaryKatherine Callaway at the LSU Press!

Where's my jetpack Barack Obama?

2008-10-14T11:39:00.002-05:00

Mac Montandon blogs at The Huffington Post about politics, Obama, and jetpacks.

And the Award Goes to...

2008-10-10T08:27:00.005-05:00

Congratulations, mazel, and felicitaciones to Edward Wright, who won the Barry Award for Best British Crime Novel for Damnation Falls!

The Barry Awards are sponsored by Deadly Pleasures and Mystery News, and include the following categories:Best Novel (published in the U.S. in 2007), Best First Novel (published in the U.S. in 2007), Best British Crime Novel (published in the U.S. in 2007, not necessarily written by a British author or set in the UK), best Paperback Original, Best Thriller, and Best Short Story. They were announced last night at Bouchercon 2008.

Ed is no stranger to awards, having won the Debut Dagger, the Shamus Award, and the CWA Ellis Peters Award for his previous books.

On Politics

2008-10-09T08:32:00.004-05:00

For regular readers of the blog, you'll probably have noticed that I attempt a steady neutrality when it comes to non-publishing related matters, with the exception of things like basketball, movies, and coffee.

Today I'm going to break that rule and link to two articles about the election. This will be my only post on the subject, and I hope readers won't be too frustrated by even this one exception. But unfortunately I just can't not write about this today.

I should preface this by telling you that I am an independent - I find myself and my opinions out of step with both Texas (my place of birth) and New York (my place of residence). I'm certainly more conservative than my current friends and colleagues, but also much more liberal than my old pals back home.

I supported Hillary in the primary, for reasons I find unnecessary to get into. Barack Obama is now getting my support and vote in the upcoming election. On the issues that matter most to me he is most in sync with my views, and I believe he can achieve change that is good for our country.

I have always liked John McCain as a person though, even if I didn't agree with him much on the issues. He's always been known as selfless, incorruptible, and a man of his word, someone worthy of and given immense respect by people on both sides of the political spectrum.

But in recent months, and especially in recent days, my opinion of him has faltered. In desperation, he has stooped to tactics that have smeared his reputation with foulness. With fear-mongering, race baiting, and just flat out lies his campaign has tarred his legacy forever.

Here's an editorial opinion from The New York Times that summarizes all of this quite well, and here is a bit more about race baiting.

I thought McCain was better than this.

Client News

2008-10-08T13:06:00.002-05:00

Lorrie Bodger will be on The Faith Middleton Show from 3pm to 4pm on Thursday, October 16th to discuss her new book, Cook Up a Cookbook!

Also, congratulations to Joe Starita for his wonderful review in Publishers Weekly for I Am A Man, posted in its entirety below.

In 1879, Ponca chief Standing Bear challenged decades of Indian policy when he stood in a federal courthouse in Omaha, Neb., and demanded to be recognized as a person by the U.S. government. Journalist Starita masterfully portrays the chief's story in this compelling narrative of injustices finally righted. The Ponca, relocated from their beloved Niobrara River valley to the harsh plains of Oklahoma, found unlikely allies in a Nebraska newspaper man and a lifelong Indian fighter. Thomas Henry Tibbles, an ex-preacher and editor, filed a writ of habeas corpus on Standing Bear's behalf, demanding the government show good reason why the Ponca should be deprived of their property, homeland and their very lives without due process, an unprecedented act that forced the government to grapple head-on with whether Native Americans, like the recently emancipated black slaves, were persons entitled to equal protection under the law. Gen. George Crook, an accomplished Indian fighter, supported Standing Bear and Tibbles with a harsh indictment of the very policies he had spent his career implementing. Starita transforms what could have been a dry academic survey of U.S. Indian policy into an engaging yarn, full of drama and sudden revelations.

And the Winners Are...

2008-10-03T14:22:00.001-05:00

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the Trivia Contest, I hope you enjoyed it!

I received 94 entries overall, and almost everyone got at least 25 questions right. Surprisingly though, no one got all 35 correct (including two agents and three editors who wrote in for fun).

So without further ado, here are the winners...

With 34 correct answers, first place goes to Tanya Egan Gibson! Tanya's first book is coming out this May from Dutton, make sure to get a copy when it's released!

In second place is Kendra, with 33 correct!

In third place is one of my favorite bloggers, Maya Reynolds! Maya also got 33 correct, but sent in her answers three hours after Kendra. Maya - I'm assuming you'll want a copy of one of my client's books, just drop me a line and let me know which one!

Congrats to each of you, and thanks again to everyone for participating!

Trivia Contest Answers 21-35

2008-10-03T11:20:00.001-05:00

21. Who hit Norman Mailer on the head with a hammer in a fight?

Rip Torn

22. What song was parodied in the famous copyright law case Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.?

"Oh, Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison

23. Which book begins with the following line: “The snow in the mountains was melting and Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation.”

A Secret History by Donna Tartt

24. How many total television shows or series are currently on HBO, Showtime, CBS, NBC, CW, FOX, and/or ABC that are adapted from books? Please do not include reruns, miniseries that have completed their run and are now available on demand, canceled shows, etc. Also, do not include shows that led to book spin-offs (for example, Heroes). Next, any new show that has not premiered can’t be included. Finally, this question only applies to shows that new episodes air during prime time (i.e. 8-11pm EST).

8, though I'm also accepting 7 or 9. All I'm looking for is a number, so if you said the right amount but then listed shows that were wrong I'll still count it as right.

Gossip Girl, Dexter, Privileged, Friday Night Lights, True Blood, Lipstick Jungle, and The Unit. Smallville is adapted on the Superman comic books, but if you didn't include this in your count I won't count it against you. Bones is only loosely based on the works of Kathy Reichs though I'll count it.

Secret Diary of a Call Girl is based on a blog. Crusoe and In Harm's Way haven't premiered yet. Army Wives appears on Lifetime. Ghost Whisperer is based on the life of Mary Ann Winkowski and not her books.

I know this question was brutal, but I wanted to add something that couldn't be answered with a simple google search.

25. What is the industry standard literary agency commission for domestic sales and foreign sales?

15% for domestic sales and 20% for foreign sales

26. What type of books did Da Capo Press publish when it was first founded?

music books

27. When did Knopf become a part of Random House?

1960

28. Which agent represents Mike Lupica, Leigh Montville, Thomas Friedman, and Steve Martin?

Esther Newberg at International Creative Management

29. Which editor threatened to resign if his employers did not agree to publish The Fountainhead?

Archibald Ogden

30. At the National Book Awards, which author said the following to industry professionals who take pride in having not read writers like Grisham, Clancy and other popular writers: “Do you think you get social academic brownie points for deliberately staying out of touch with your own culture?”

Stephen King

31. What was the major issue in the landmark copyright case New York Times Co. v. Tasini? Please be brief (a few words is enough).

Who owns the copyright of the content of a newspaper database.

32. How much did Harlan Coben’s first novel sell for?

According to this great article, Coben received an advance of $2,000. However, if you want to be literal, I guess it also sold at $19.95, the original cover price.

33. List 3 examples of authors who have children who are also authors and 3 examples of husband-wife writing pairs.

There are tons, but here are a few of the big ones. Parent/Child: Stephen King & Joe Hill, Mary Higgins Clark & Carol Higgins Clark, and James Lee Burke and Alafair Burke. Husband/Wife: Jonathan Kellerman and Faye Kellerman, Michael Chabon & Ayelet Waldman, Jonathan Safran Foer and Nicole Krauss.

34. Name one country that at one time banned Black Beauty.

South Africa.

35. What is the fee for registering your copyright electronically with the U.S. Copyright Office?

$35.

Trivia Contest Answers 11-20

2008-10-03T11:15:00.001-05:00

Here are the answers for questions 11 through 20.

11. What was the first book ever printed in English?

The Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye. The Dictes and Sayengis of the Phylosophers was printed four years later, despite what you may have read.

12. What are the benefits of registering your copyright within three months of your book's publication?

Copyright owners can recover statutory damages and attorney fees in an infringement suit.

13. What are considered industry standard hardcover royalties for regular trade books in the publishing industry?

10% of the list price for the first 5,000 copies sold, 12.5% for the next 5,000 copies sold, and 15% thereafter. Some people answered 10-15%, but that's not enough information for me to count it as right.

14. Who is J.K. Rowling’s primary literary agent?

Christopher Little

15. What is the difference between “its” and “it’s”?

"Its" is a possessive pronoun meaning belonging to it. "It's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has". Or an apostrophe, if you want to be a smart ass.

16. What is the last thing that is said “good night” to in Goodnight Moon?

Noises everywhere.

17. What planet is Takeshi Kovacs from?

In Richard Morgan's Takeshi Kovacs novels, the Kovacs is from Harlan's World.

18. Which real political figure is Willie Stark loosely based on?

In All the King's Men, Robert Penn Warren based Willie Stark loosely on Huey Long, the colorful Louisiana governor and U.S. Senator in the 1920's and 30's.

19. What book ends with the following line: “Very few castaways can claim to have survived so long at sea as Mr. Patel, and none in the company of an adult Bengal tiger."

Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Another one of my favorite books.

20. What disease does Lionel Essrog have?

Essrog, the protagonist in Jonathan Lethem's fantastic Gun, With Occasional Music, suffers from Tourette's Syndrome.

Trivia Contest Answers 1-10

2008-10-03T11:10:00.000-05:00

I'm going to announce the winners later today, but here are the answers to the first ten questions from the Trivia Contest, with the rest to follow:

1. Which book begins with the following line: “Theodore is in the ground.”

The Alienist by Caleb Carr. One of my favorite books of all time.

2. Name three national or international awards that Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policemen’s Union won (not just nominated for).

He won four - the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and Sidewise.

3. Who was the literary agent that represented S.E. Hinton, Robert Cormier, and Clement Hurd?

Marilyn Marlow

4. Which famous Scribner editor worked with F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Thomas Wolfe?

Maxwell Perkins

5. How many championships have the San Antonio Spurs won?

Four... and counting.

6. How long is the term of copyright in the United States for books created after 1978 (and not a work for hire)?

Life of the author plus seventy years

7. What are the colors of the three vampire courts in the Dresden Files book series and how are they different from each other?

White - Born in human state but then become vampires when they mature. They feed off emotions. Red - Bat-like creatures with a human mask. They are created and feed off blood.Black - Traditionally imagined vampires (i.e. reanimated corpses) that are also created and feed off blood.

There are other ways in which the courts are different too. As long as you provided one example of how they are distinguishable then I counted the question as correct.

8. What is the name for a fear of long words?

hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia or sesquipedalophobia. I accepted both answers.

9. Who is the current president of the Association of Authors' Representatives?

Gail Hochman

10. Which editor found The Diary of Anne Frank in a rejection pile while working as an assistant in France?

Judith Jones

Who Said Publishing Wasn't Lucrative

2008-10-02T09:32:00.004-05:00

Here's a list from Forbes that estimates the income of the 10 best paid authors in the world.

Boba Fett and Buck Rogers Beware

2008-10-02T08:19:00.003-05:00

Mac Montandon has a new book trailer up in advance of the publication of his book Jetpack Dreams: One Man's Up and Down (But Mostly Down) Search for the Greatest Invention That Never Was.

A.J. Jacobs, author of The Know-It-All and The Year of Living Biblically, had this to say about the book: "Reading this book is as fun as zooming through the sky with a rocket on your back. And better yet, you won't break your collarbone doing it."

Trivia Contest

2008-10-01T09:09:00.005-05:00

And it begins! Remember to email me your answers at info@lyonsliterary.com.

1. Which book begins with the following line: “Theodore is in the ground.”

2. Name three national or international awards that Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policemen’s Union won (not just nominated for).

3. Who was the literary agent that represented S.E. Hinton, Robert Cormier, and Clement Hurd?

4. Which famous Scribner editor worked with F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Thomas Wolfe?

5. How many championships have the San Antonio Spurs won?

6. How long is the term of copyright in the United States for books created after 1978 (and not a work for hire)?

7. What are the colors of the three vampire courts in the Dresden Files book series and how are they different from each other?

8. What is the name for a fear of long words?

9. Who is the current president of the Association of Authors' Representatives?

10. Which editor found The Diary of Anne Frank in a rejection pile while working as an assistant in France?

11. What was the first book ever printed in English?

12. What are the benefits of registering your copyright within three months of your book's publication?

13. What are considered industry standard hardcover royalties for regular trade books in the publishing industry?

14. Who is J.K. Rowling’s primary literary agent?

15. What is the difference between “its” and “it’s”?

16. What is the last thing that is said “good night” to in Goodnight Moon?

17. What planet is Takeshi Kovacs from?

18. Which real political figure is Willie Stark loosely based on?

19. What book ends with the following line: “Very few castaways can claim to have survived so long at sea as Mr. Patel, and none in the company of an adult Bengal tiger."

20. What disease does Lionel Essrog have?

21. Who hit Norman Mailer on the head with a hammer in a fight?

22. What song was parodied in the famous copyright law case Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.?

23. Which book begins with the following line: “The snow in the mountains was melting and Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation.”

24. How many total television shows or series are currently on HBO, Showtime, CBS, NBC, CW, FOX, and/or ABC that are adapted from books? Please do not include reruns, miniseries that have completed their run and are now available on demand, canceled shows, etc. Also, do not include shows that led to book spin-offs (for example, Heroes). Next, any new show that has not premiered can’t be included. Finally, this question only applies to shows that new episodes air during prime time (i.e. 8-11pm EST).

25. What is the industry standard literary agency commission for domestic sales and foreign sales?

26. What type of books did Da Capo Press publish when it was first founded?

27. When did Knopf become a part of Random House?

28. Which agent represents Mike Lupica, Leigh Montville, Thomas Friedman, and Steve Martin?

29. Which editor threatened to resign if his employers did not agree to publish The Fountainhead?

30. At the National Book Awards, which author said the following to industry professionals who take pride in having not read writers like Grisham, Clancy and other popular writers: “Do you think you get social academic brownie points for deliberately staying out of touch with your own culture?”

31. What was the major issue in the landmark copyright case New York Times Co. v. Tasini? Please be brief (a few words is enough).

32. How much did Harlan Coben’s first novel sell for?

33. List 3 examples of authors who have children who are also authors and 3 examples of husband-wife writing pairs.

34. Name one country that at one time banned Black Beauty.

35. What is the fee for registering your copyright electronically with the U.S. Copyright Office?

Happy Launch Day

2008-10-01T08:06:00.003-05:00

I'm pleased to announce the release (yesterday) Of Lorraine Bodger's Cook Up A Cookbook: Create Your Own Recipe From Scratch. One of Potter Style's lead titles for the season, this book provides you with tools to help organize, personalize and preserve your own recipes for your posterity.

Trivia Contest Rules

2008-09-30T11:36:00.004-05:00

Congrats to James C. for being the first person to answer correctly the two teaser questions from yesterday. The AAR Code of Ethics contains eight rules/sections, and nine Philip K. Dick books or stories have been made into movies and released.

OK, moving on to the Trivia Contest rules:

The questions will be posted at 12:00pm (EST).
Please email me with your answers at info@lyonsliterary.com. Do not post your answers as comments.
Make sure to provide me with a name and working email so I can get back to you in case you win.
You can post comments or questions about the contest that do not reveal any answers.
There are no extra points for the inclusion of excessive information.
Agents, editors, and other industry professionals are not eligible to win, though they may answer if they like.
There will be three winners. Winners are chosen based on amount of questions answered correctly and how quickly you respond.
Questions might have more than one right answer. Provide the answer that you think is best.
I will measure how quickly you respond based upon when I receive your email, and not when you send it.
Winners can choose one of the three prizes: a query critique and evaluation of your first five pages, an evaluation of your first thirty pages, or a free book from one of my clients (options will be given).
I will announce the winners on Friday, October 3rd.

If you haven't noticed yet from the teasers, thematically most of the questions will be about publishing, with a few random exceptions.

OK, let me know if you have any questions. Otherwise, good luck!

Banned Books Week

2008-09-30T08:58:00.002-05:00

This week is Banned Books Week, an event founded in 1982 by the American Library Association. The basic idea behind this is to remind us not to take for granted the freedom to read.

The ALA put together a list of the most frequently challenged books of 2007, listed here. Also, here's a list of the most frequently challenged books from 1990 to 2000.

It gives me great honor to say that I've had the opportunity to work at agencies and at times help represent the rights to a number of these books and authors, including:

Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz

The Chocolate War and Fade by Robert Cormier

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Pigman by Paul Zindel

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden

Terrorist by Caroline Cooney

A Few More Teasers

2008-09-29T14:35:00.003-05:00

Specific rules will be posted tomorrow, but here are a few more teaser questions in anticipation of the Trivia Contest this Wednesday, October 1st. Again, please email me directly at info@lyonsliterary.com with the answers.

1) How many rules/sections are there in the Association of Authors' Representatives' Canon of Ethics?

2) How many movies have been made and released that were adapted from books or stories written by Philip K. Dick? I'm not talking about movies that stole from him or films loosely based on his work - I mean adapted and credited properly.

And the Winner is...

2008-09-25T09:10:00.006-05:00

Congratulations to Brita for being the first person to get the answers right to the teaser questions! Other people answered correctly, but just later in the day.

What are the article, section, and clause numbers of the Copyright Clause in the United States Constitution?

Article I, Section 8, Clause 8

“To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries. ”

Who is the only person to have won Pulitzer Prizes for both fiction and poetry?

Robert Penn Warren

Warren won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1947 for All the King's Men, my favorite book of all time. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1957 for Promises: Poems 1954-1956 and again in 1979 for Now and Then.

Trivia Contest Teaser

2008-09-25T08:18:00.004-05:00

I wanted to give you all a few teasers in advance of the trivia quiz. There will be some much harder and many much easier on October 1st, but I thought these two were representative of the type of questions you'll see.

What are the article, section, and clause numbers of the copyright clause in the United States Constitution?

Who is the only person to have won Pulitzer Prizes for both fiction and poetry?

Sorry, no prizes for people who get these right.

How to Research Agents

2008-09-24T15:25:00.003-05:00

Via GalleyCat, here's some great advice from author David Henry Sterry about researching agents (besides checking out sites like Publisher's Marketplace and Agent Query and books like Literary Market Place).

Trivia Contest on October 1st

2008-09-24T08:56:00.002-05:00

I'm pleased to announce the first ever Lyons Literary Trivia Contest for October 1st (the earliest day that my schedule isn't completely jammed).

The contest will consist of multiple questions about books, authors, publishing, and even a few random tidbits. Some answers will be easy, while others harder. I'm going to try to throw in as many as possible that can't be answered with a simple internet search. Quite a few will have more than one right answer. I'm not sure how many questions there will be right now, but at least ten.

I will select three winners based on amount of questions answered right and how quickly you respond. Responses should be sent by email at info@lyonsliterary.com with the subject line "Trivia Contest". Please do not post your responses as comments to this blog.

Winners can choose one of the three prizes: a query critique and evaluation of your first five pages, an evaluation of your first thirty pages, or a free book from one of my clients (options will be given).

Contest

2008-09-23T15:55:00.002-05:00

I'm thinking of putting together a trivia contest on the blog. Any ideas of what a winner should get?

Tales from the Legal World

2008-09-18T07:55:00.005-05:00

The libel lawsuit against John Grisham and his book The Innocent Man was dismissed yesterday. In his book Grisham described the wrongful convictions of two men for the murder and their exoneration using DNA evidence twelve years later.

The plaintiffs were Melvin Hett, a state criminologist, Pontotoc County District Attorney Bill Peterson and Gary Rogers, a former agent for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. They originally filed suit in September 2007 against Grisham and others, claiming libel, generating publicity for self interest by placing them in a false light, and intentionally inflicting emotional distress.

In dismissing the case, the judge wrote that to avoid the same mistakes in the future it is important that the legal system and "the wrongful convictions...be discussed openly and with great vigor."

If At First You Don't Succeed...

2008-09-17T10:50:00.000-05:00

My client Kelly Meding blogged about her recent book deal.

Publishing Imprints Explained

2008-09-16T13:10:00.002-05:00

Sarah Weinman recently finished a multi-part series about publishers and their imprints. She's done a truly amazing job breaking down what is an extremely confusing world.

Part I - Macmillan
Part II - Simon & Schuster
Part III - Hachette
Part IV - HarperCollins
Part V - Penguin Group
Part VI - Random House

It's an agent's job to keep track of each publisher and their imprints, their editors, and who's buying what and for how much. We also have to consider the internal politics, the success or failure of other books on a publisher's list, and more. It can be pretty mind-numbing.

The Alleged Death of Book Publishing (Again)

2008-09-15T16:38:00.001-05:00

Here's another article predicting the end of the book business, pointing out the same problems in the industry that many others have already done so before.

Today's Publishers Lunch summarized the article accurately with this tidbit. "It's changing times in the book business for sure, but NY Magazine applies the cliched journalistic formula to make that into End Times."

Jetpack Dreams

2008-09-15T12:21:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Mac Montandon, who received superb reviews from both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly today for his new book Jetpack Dreams.

"This snappily written, often funny book should attract dreamers of both sexes and all ages."
- PW.

RIP David Foster Wallace

2008-09-15T10:23:00.002-05:00

David Foster Wallace was found dead in his California home over the weekend. The 46 year-old Wallace apparently committed suicide.

Submission Form

2008-09-11T08:15:00.002-05:00

Please do not enter multiple email addresses, parentheses, or comments on the "Your E-mail Address" entry line on my website submission form. If you do I likely will not be able to respond to you. Thanks.

HarperCollins UK Slush Pile

2008-09-10T10:52:00.001-05:00

My client Jonathan Bender pointed me to this interesting article about HarperCollins UK's plans regarding their slush pile.

True Blood Review

2008-09-09T17:46:00.000-05:00

So I started typing a review this morning of True Blood, the new series on HBO. Then I did a bit of web surfing and realized my client Jaye Wells and I felt the exact same way about the show, and she is a far better writer than I could ever be.

I'll definitely be tuning in next week...

Query Update

2008-09-09T15:24:00.002-05:00

I've now caught up on all queries sent to me via my agency website. If you didn't hear back I suggest writing again (and make sure that your spam blocker isn't rejecting emails from me).

True Blood

2008-09-05T16:00:00.001-05:00

My plans for the weekend? Catch up on some sleep and reading, and also watch True Blood, which premieres Sunday night on HBO. For those of you who don't know, this is a new series based on the Southern Vampire Mysteries books by Charlaine Harris (Dead Until Dark, Dead as a Doornail, etc.).

I haven't seen it yet, but I'm hoping it's good and catches on with the public. Speaking from both a professional and personal point of view, there just aren't enough good paranormal television shows out there.

June Book Sales

2008-09-05T11:09:00.001-05:00

In June, the AAP reports that sales rose 1.6% to $753.6 million (as compared to last June). Sales for the year were down 0.2%. Here are a few specific categories:

E-books were up 87.4% to $4.9 million
Children's/YA hardcover rose 18.2% to $48.8 million
Children's/YA paperback were up 17.9% to $45.6 million
Adult hardcover were up 12.2% to $118.7 million
Professional and scholarly fell 11.3% to $62.2 million
Religious books fell 12.9% to $32.6 million

Why You Need An Agent

2008-09-05T08:57:00.000-05:00

Of course, I'm an agent, so I'm a bit biased, but here are some arguments from Moonrat (an editor) about why you need an agent.

Book Roast

2008-09-04T08:46:00.003-05:00

I've been meaning to link to Book Roast for a while now. Check it out for a dose of interviews and humor.

When Did Andy Roddick Get so Funny

2008-09-04T08:10:00.002-05:00

Andy Roddick was interviewed Tuesday night following his quarterfinal win in the US Open. A reporter asked about the physical condition of his next opponent, Novak Djokovic, and went on to explain that Djokovic injured his right ankle in his last match. Djokovic has a reputation of being a bit dramatic, and so Roddick interrupted, which led to the following conversation:

Roddick: Isn't it both of them? And a back and a hip?

Reporter: And when he said there were too many to count...

Roddick: And a cramp.

Reporter: Do you get the sense right now that...

Roddick: Bird flu.

Reporter: A lot of things. Beijing hangover.

Roddick: Yeah.

Reporter: He's got a pretty long list of illness.

Roddick: Anthrax. SARS. Common cough and cold.

Damnation Falls a Bestseller

2008-09-03T21:37:00.003-05:00

Edward Wright's Damnation Falls is #13 on the Los Angeles Times Hardcover Bestseller List. Congratulations!

Steinbeck Decision Reversed

2008-08-14T10:56:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure how many of you have been following the Steinbeck publishing case, but the 2nd Circuit just overruled the lower court's ruling and found in favor of Penguin and the Estate of Steinbeck's third wife, Elaine. Here's the entire decision.

Happy Launch Day

2008-08-05T08:55:00.003-05:00

Happy Launch Day to Ed Wright for his new mystery/crime novel DAMNATION FALLS. Here's what Jay Strattford at the Richmond Times Dispatch had to say about the book.

Damnation Falls Review in Wall Street Journal

2008-08-03T17:20:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Ed Wright for this wonderful Wall Street Journal review of his new novel DAMNATION FALLS, which St. Martin's Press will release this Tuesday.

A Few Links

2008-07-31T10:25:00.005-05:00

My client Brian Jay Jones blogs again for the Historic Hudson Valley.

I loved this book.

Is reading on the web really reading?

And the Nominees Are

2008-07-30T08:02:00.002-05:00

Here is the longlist for the 2008 Man Booker Prize for Fiction:

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Girl in a Blue Dress by Gaynor Arnold
The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
From A to X by John Berger
The Lost Dog by Michelle de Kretser
Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh
The Clothes on Their Backs by Linda Grant
A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif
The Northern Clemency by Philip Hensher
Netherland by Joseph O'Neill
The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz

The shortlist will be announced September 9th and the winner announced October 14th.

The Cylons Are Coming

2008-07-23T11:07:00.002-05:00

Wow. Just saw this trailer for Caprica, a Battlestar Galactica prequel. I'm jazzed.

[Title typo corrected]

Top Chef Redux

2008-07-21T14:22:00.002-05:00

Eater has the scoop on a Top Chef spin-off. Sounds pretty cool.

Soccer Team Saves the Day

2008-07-19T09:49:00.002-05:00

Crazy.

I Thought Used Meant Cheaper

2008-07-16T10:33:00.003-05:00

Here's a good post from Paper Cuts about the sometimes high prices for used books on Amazon.

April Book Sales

2008-07-11T16:43:00.001-05:00

Here are the sales from the AAP for April via Mediabistro. E-books are still rocking.

Revisions While On Submission

2008-07-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

Recently I had an agent request a partial. Soon after sending it out, I joined a fantastic critique group and have since made some improvements. One of these improvements is completely changing where the beginning of the book starts, so that it opens with a lot more action. I am still waiting to here back regarding the partial. My question is, would you resend the partial with an explanation, or just sit tight with fingers crossed. And if you do get a rejection, would you write back with the explanation and try to resubmit? This has been plaguing me.

It all depends on the revision, but if you think it really makes the partial better than I would get in touch with agent and explain. The agent should have no problems substituting the new version for the old, unless they've already read the partial.

And the Winners Are...

2008-07-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

Duncan Lawrie Dagger
Frances Fyfield, BLOOD FROM A STONE

International Duncan Lawrie Dagger
Dominique Manotti, THE LORAINE CONNECTION

Ian Fleming Steel Dagger
Tom Rob Smith, CHILD 44

John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger
Matt Rees, THE BETHLEHEM MURDERS

Non-Fiction Dagger
Kesper Aspden, NATIONALITY: WOG - THE HOUNDING OF DAVID OLUWALE

Debut Dagger
Amer Anwar, WESTERN FRINGES

Electronic Giveaways Part II

2008-07-10T15:21:00.002-05:00

You might recall that I blogged recently about publishers giving away partial or entire e-copies of books as a publicity measure. Tor Books has been one of the most aggressive in this regard, and Bloggasm.com reviews how it's going here (via GalleyCat).

How Long to Respond?

2008-07-09T11:02:00.002-05:00

I have read on numerous agent blogs about how they read an author's query, requested the partial five minutes later, requested the full two days after receiving that partial, then offered representation the moment they finished reading the full (taking only three days to do so).

My questions are these: Is that the norm for manuscript interest? Or is it more likely that an agent will take, say, four months or longer? And if it's the latter, what--if anything--is generally going on in those months aside from reading the manuscript? Provided the agent has verified receiving the manuscript, can an author read between the lines one way or another: He/she loves it? Hates it?

Sadly, I don't believe there is a norm. Some agents read quickly, others don't, and often times the speed of response is dictated by things out of the agent's control.

For example, for the past few months it's taken me FOREVER to read and respond to partials and full manuscripts. I'm still interested in all of these projects, but I'm just swamped with client issues that must come first.

Of course, there are a few agents out there that will read a partial or a manuscript and not like it, but choose not to respond because they don't want to have to pass on the bad news. They figure that after a year of no response the author will get the picture. This certainly isn't something I condone, but it happens.

Author-Publicist Relationships

2008-07-08T15:47:00.002-05:00

Mediabistro linked to quite a few sites that provide helpful information about the author-publicist relationship.