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This Week in Publishing 9/19/08

September 19, 2008 by Nathan Bransford 85 Comments

I’m off to New York next week for a whirlwind round of approximately 2,274 1/2 meetings, so posting will be sporadic until my return. Now if New York would kindly cooperate and keep its weather below 80 degrees I’d appreciate it. I’m watching you, humidity. Don’t get sassy.

It may have been Gut Week in Publishing on this blog, but it was Sequel Week in the rest of publishing. That’s because two major, beloved franchises are getting sequels, and not your ordinary “let’s just put a sequential number at the end” type either. First, from Penguin’s UK blog came word that ARTEMIS FOWL author Eoin Colfer will be writing a sequel to the late Douglas Adams’ HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY series. Hyperion will be publishing here in the US. Hope Eoin brought his towel. Meanwhile, Publishers Marketplace brings news that Candice Bushnell just signed a deal with Balzer & Bray to write a YA novel based on Carrie Bradshaw’s high school years.

In a move that had me saying “Innnnnnteresting,” Sony announced that their Sony Reader would soon be sold in Target stores. The Kindle is still only for sale via Amazon’s website. Who wins in the brick and mortar vs. silicon battle of the e-readers? Grab your popcorn and coke, this one is going to be a barnburner.

That sound you heard is the economy melting down! And how are book sales doing? Um… Yeah. Maya Reynolds notes a PW report that book sales took another tumble in July, and are only up 1.7% over last year, compared to 3.2% in the entire retail sector. Blech.

This may explain why telling people to stop writing is a growth industry. Into the territory championed by Sean Lindsay at 101 Reasons to Stop Writing, GalleyCat noted an article by career specialist Penelope Trunk called 5 reasons you don’t need to write a book. #4 Reason is that you’ll make more money flipping burgers than writing, to which authors everywhere will respond, “Well, YEAH….”

Bestselling suspense author Jeff Abbott noted a recent study on the destructive force of the Internet on writing. Of course, if you’re reading this, the Internet is probably distracting you from writing. Ha! The Internet is a clever foe indeed.

My client Jennifer Hubbard, author of the forthcoming BLACK MOUNTAIN ROAD, wrote a seriously awesome post on voice. Among the insightful insights: voice isn’t just for first person, and a compelling voice is consistent and yet complex. There’s much more, and it’s terrific advice.

And finally, you know all those books we were embarrassed we hadn’t read? Well, along came British author Richard Wilson with an article on 10 Books NOT to Read Before you Die. Mine is #9, and plenty of popular answers were among those Richard says we shouldn’t read.

Have a great weekend!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: E-Readers, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Publishing Economics, publishing industry, This Week in Publishing

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. lvcabbie says

    September 20, 2008 at 2:56 pm

    I think I read the first few pages of one or two of them but the others have always been on my boooooring list.

    Reply
  2. David Sean says

    September 20, 2008 at 3:46 pm

    -I’m writing stories in a blog I started recently. If you ever have the time, I would like you to check out the beginning of my first story. My family and friends all say it’s pretty good, but none of them are literary agents. So I would like your construcive criticism and your advice.

    https://dsstories.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  3. Lonely Paul says

    September 20, 2008 at 4:08 pm

    Hello

    Reply
  4. nona says

    September 20, 2008 at 5:48 pm

    “I can only assume that like modern art where you can sneeze on a canvas and call it art”

    I’m not really scary and mean either, and I love everyone on this blog (really) but I do take exception to that last point.

    If a person doesn’t like a painting they can just roll their eyes and walk away from it whereas reading a book from cover to cover requires a significant investment of time as well as effort.

    That’s probably why I end up skimming so many of them. A page here, a paragraph there.

    Luv u

    Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    September 20, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    I don’t like his list so I made my own:

    1. ATLAS SHRUGGED
    2. THE SHIPPING NEWS
    3. LIFE OF PI
    4. NINETEEN MINUTES
    5. ALL THE PRETTY HORSES
    6. TWILIGHT
    7. THE FIRM
    8. GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING
    9. THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES
    10. ANY ‘CHICKEN SOUP’ BOOK

    Reply
  6. Jeanne says

    September 20, 2008 at 9:50 pm

    Anonymous made me chuckle. Good list.
    Bushnell writing books for my kids? I don’t know if I can handle that. I’m a fan – sort of. I watched “Sex” religiously on HBO (in my bedroom with the door closed and the volume on low to protect all the innocents in the house.) And I’ve read several of her books. They’re good summer porn. Great to read in the waiting room of the dentist office, if you don’t mind blushing in public. But, I’m not ready for CB to write for my daughter.
    Obviously, someone else thinks differently. I imagine a lot of allowance money will be spent at Barnes and Nobles without parent’s permission on the teen life of Carrie Bradshaw. Just as it was spent on “Forever” by Judy Blume when I was 13.

    Reply
  7. Erik says

    September 20, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    Just so you know, I did get that chapter done today. No distractions from the internet! Well, *this* one. 🙂

    Reply
  8. spinregina says

    September 21, 2008 at 2:17 am

    There should be a rule that there should be no sequels allowed written by anyone other than the author. Like when they did that with Gone With the Wind; that was ridiculous. If anyone wants to write the the original Hitchhiker books, then WRITE YOUR OWN. (Sorry, I feel strongly about this.)

    Reply
  9. spinregina says

    September 21, 2008 at 2:45 am

    I’m sorry, that made me so mad about the sequel to HGTTG that I wrote about the first time I picked up the original and I want to know – do other people think it is a good idea to have author’s try to ride coattails and do sequels like this???? you can vote on my blog on http://www.spinregina.blogspot.com you’ll notice that the one vote thus far is NO and it is from me. No, never, ever. Period.

    Reply
  10. Wanda B. Ontheshelves says

    September 21, 2008 at 5:03 am

    Hi Erik,

    Re: “Just so you know, I did get that chapter done today.”

    Good for you. Bravo.

    Wanda B.

    Reply
  11. Kate H says

    September 21, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    Richard Wilson, I thumb my nose at thee! But what can you expect from a television producer? Several of his “don’t bother”s are among my favorite books. I was one of those people carrying LOTR around in high school. I wonder what people like Wilson carry so that I’ll know at a glance I have nothing in common with them. Maybe a handheld video player . . .

    Reply
  12. by Ambrosia and Epiphany says

    September 21, 2008 at 4:26 pm

    Thanks for the wealth of information as usual and Welcome to the NY!

    Reply
  13. Moth says

    September 22, 2008 at 4:03 am

    Maybe for next week’s This Week in Publishing:

    Jane at the Dear Author Book review site posted a very interesting post on “Why Literary Fiction Should Embrace Digital Publishing”.

    Here’s the link if you’re interested:

    https://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2008/09/21/why-literary-fiction-should-embrace-digital-publishing/

    Reply
  14. SexyMama says

    September 22, 2008 at 7:01 am

    Hello Nathan,

    cool how u get yr writing juices, on any topic! flow so easily…any tips wld be oh so great!

    My BREASTS, My Business!!
    https://confessionsofabreastfeedingmama.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  15. bloggersmosaic says

    September 22, 2008 at 7:15 am

    really awesome some extra clicking

    Reply
  16. Scott says

    September 22, 2008 at 12:27 pm

    Here’s my comment about books – I love the feel of the pages in my hand; which is why, an e-reader is not on my top 100 list of things I need to buy in the near future. I love to go into Borders and browse – for hours – through the shelves, picking up books, reading the jacket, and then flipping through and reading a paragraph or two to decide whether I want to buy the book or not. I have, once or twice, bought a book solely because of the paper of the pages (Abarat by Clive Barker was one of those books). So, for me, forget the e-readers. Just give me a good book, a rainy day, and endless hours to read.

    Reply
  17. Adaora A. says

    September 22, 2008 at 2:07 pm

    I don’t understand how people can NOT like Jane Austen’s works, nor Hemmingway, and a lot of other stuff which made the list. But the beauty of the industry is the variety alongside the selectivity.

    Reply
  18. JayJay Rush says

    September 22, 2008 at 2:55 pm

    I’ve read five of the “Ten books not to read…” So much life wasted

    Just recently found your blog, and guess what, I’m a writer… I think.

    Thanks for the blogs, they are very informative.

    Reply
  19. JayJay Rush says

    September 22, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    and I read two on anonymous’ list…

    Do I just read too much?

    Reply
  20. kilo verme says

    September 22, 2008 at 7:54 pm

    Among the insightful insights: voice isn’t just for first person, and a compelling voice is consistent and yet complex. There’s much more, and it’s terrific advice

    Reply
  21. botoks kremi says

    September 22, 2008 at 7:55 pm

    But, you know, I also love Hemingway, Dostoevsky, and O’Connor. Yeah, I’m nuts.

    Reply
  22. zayıflamak says

    September 22, 2008 at 7:56 pm

    Nathan, you’re too cute! Have fun in New York…and oh, what’s that I hear? oh yes, Candace Bushnell laughing all the way to the bank as she jumps on the hot YA market bus!

    Reply
  23. telecomladyj says

    September 22, 2008 at 8:01 pm

    Oh my! I hope that ’10 Books’ article was not written seriously!
    The number 1 is one of my favorite books.
    And I didn’t like what he had to say about us Dune-reading Peter Gabriel fans. 0_0

    Reply
  24. Helen Ginger says

    September 22, 2008 at 9:18 pm

    Totally agree with Jeff Abbott. The Internet has begun to eat up my day. Need to cut back, but on what exactly? Something’s gotta go, that’s for sure.

    Reply
  25. Chris says

    September 23, 2008 at 4:04 am

    Very excited to see a new Hitchiker book, albeit a bit wary to see what it will be like without Adams’ input.

    Reply
  26. Sally's Chateau says

    September 23, 2008 at 11:13 am

    A home without books is a home without a heart, anyway writing is massively theraputic and it’s free, thats a good thing huh ?

    Reply
  27. AR says

    September 23, 2008 at 2:23 pm

    I recall reading a story somewhere about the youngest boy in a family of boys, all farmers. One day he made a comment about the beautiful colors in a rainbow and he was shouted down by his scornful brothers. They said he was talking like a woman and never to mention the beauty of color again.

    Later the boy found out that every male in his family except him was colorblind.

    The list of books not to read looks like a list of books to be avoided by the art-blind. A true work of art does not divulge its treasures to those who don’t know how to dig into it. A work of art is an object of contemplation. To enjoy it requires the developement of patient contemplation.

    What is a person missing out on if he never develops this capacity for patient contemplation of art? Well, let’s just say that there’s a world of difference between the quality of enjoyment you derive from entertainment and the quality of enjoyment you derive from art. People like the author of this list are impoverished souls, not authorities on matters of such importance to society. To shift metaphors, I don’t think we need to pay much attention to the opinions of people addicted to dime candy, on whether rare steak and gourmet salads are really worth trying out.

    Perhaps the only way in which I could connect with this list at all is to agree it’s silly to read a book just because it’s considered “important” and you’re embarrassed not to have. Delight is the only good reason to read. Still, the capacity for delight must be developed.

    I like to tell people to start with Dr. Seuss.

    Reply
  28. the Amateur Book Blogger says

    September 23, 2008 at 6:28 pm

    Who would parent Carrie Bradshaw? LOL.

    Hope NY is treating you well.

    What do you think of this news over at You Write On – Arts Council funded YouWriteOn.com will publish for free the first 5,000 writers who contact them – Fiction & Non-Fiction.

    It's a genuine site with proven track record. It is still self-publishing, but with a twist.

    Reply
  29. winsolu says

    September 23, 2008 at 6:36 pm

    Interesting blog there on voice. nice 🙂

    Reply
  30. adslblogs.blogspot.com says

    September 23, 2008 at 7:40 pm

    very nice.

    Reply
  31. Anonymous says

    September 23, 2008 at 9:06 pm

    dear joseph selby,

    (1) Hear hear! I see no problem with him giving his opinion about these books, but how ludicrous to tell other people it’s a waste of time to read any book that has inspired generations of readers and writers.

    (2) Hear hear! Nuff said.

    Reply
  32. Brian says

    September 24, 2008 at 7:08 pm

    Thanks for the posts. I am researching agents, publishers, and how to promote books now because I am in the process of writing a book. I also started a blog for new writers to share their experiences. The-New-Author.blogspot.com
    An agents point of view in that mix would be great as we new authors need all the information we can get. Thanks again for the insight and keep up the good post.

    Reply
  33. Fantasticos Ganymede says

    September 24, 2008 at 7:52 pm

    “Eoin Colfer will be writing a sequel to the late Douglas Adams’ HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY series.”
    And then going straight to hell, I hope. What’s next? Letting McG loose on Citizen Kane II: Xanadu Nights?

    Reply
  34. Karin Zirk says

    September 24, 2008 at 10:57 pm

    OK I confess. This website is distracting me from work (I’m a database administrator when I’m not practicing my writing) and the SQL query from hell against junk data that is supposed to uncover something meaningful. But when the powers that be can’t even provide a list of who works here, I don’t know how I’m supposed to validate their existence.

    –The zen of data management.

    Reply
  35. Mojo says

    September 25, 2008 at 9:59 pm

    yep, I heard penelope speak, and she was pretty adament about that one… although she did say that if you insist on writing a book (like she did…), make sure it’s about something new and valuable, not just a book for the sake of you ego/ amusement. guess that makes sense… you have to find a niche and say something new for people to find you amid the millions of books being published–not to mention the wealth of online media clogging public discourse, of which I suppose we are a part, as bloggers.

    Reply
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Hi, I’m Nathan. I’m the author of How to Write a Novel and the Jacob Wonderbar series, which was published by Penguin. I used to be a literary agent at Curtis Brown Ltd. and I’m dedicated to helping authors achieve their dreams. Let me help you with your book!

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