Nathan Bransford | Writing, Book Editing, Publishing

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This Week in Publishing 9/11/09

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Thanks again so much to everyone for your kind words about JACOB WONDERBAR, I really, really appreciate it!

But meanwhile, there was a week in publishing and let’s summarize it, hmm?

First up, lest ye think I’ve gone all high-fallutin’ on you, Anne & May are hosting an America’s Next Top Model elimination pool where you make your picks for the top three and then guess who will be eliminated each week. The winner gets a $25 B&N gift certificate and the incredible, immense pride that goes with correctly picking the winners of a bizarre reality television show. In case you’re wondering: yes, I’m entering, and yes, I’m going to win. You’re know you’re too “catalogue” to beat these smiling eyes.

Your Amazon Controversy of the Week is brought to you by their Kindle loss/theft policy and the letters WTF. When your Kindle is lost or stolen Amazon refuses to shut it down or aid in its recovery unless directed by court subpoena. Yup. The article notes that they are hardly alone in this policy, but there is no real procedure for legally transferring ownership of the device. Or, you know, stopping the guy who stole yours from using it.

Amid rumors that Time Warner is contemplating entering the e-book reader device game, David Pogue caught up with Steve Jobs and asked him about the future market for dedicated e-readers. Jobs’ opinion may sound familiar if you read the comments section of this blog: “I’m sure there will always be dedicated devices, and they may have a few advantages in doing just one thing. But I think the general-purpose devices will win the day. Because I think people just probably aren’t willing to pay for a dedicated device.” I think a lot of people around these parts will concur.

In innovative book news, Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman’s NURTURE SHOCK, an incredible book about the latest thinking in parenting, has an awesome blog over at Newsweek and, coolest of all, starting on September 14th, chapters will be posted on PoBronson.com, Nurtureshock.com and Twelvebooks.com, and readers will be able to annotate the text and add their own footnotes, creating a shared book. Should be pretty interesting.

The juggernaut that is James Patterson signed A 17 BOOK DEAL with Hachette. The best part? This only covers the books coming out in the next three years.

In other Hachette news, the NY Times was able to break the embargo on Ted Kennedy’s memoir by obtaining an unauthorized early copy. Yen at the Book Publicity Blog reflects on the history of embargoes and their importance. And it turns out that Hachette was so miffed about the embargo-breaking that they hired a private detective to sniff out who leaked it. Wow.

And this got me to thinking: which literary detective should they put on The Case of the Broken Embargo? Make your pick in the comments section. I’m going with Harriet the Spy.

Sad news this week as startup Quartet Press announced that it was closing, and Kassia Kroszer reflects on what she learned about the e-book market. Her post is an absolute must read about the challenges of this new marketplace.

Are Amish romances the new vampires? EW’s book blog investigates the pressing question of the day.

There have been a couple of blogging-related awards this week. First up, Book Blogger Appreciation Week has announced its shortlists for the Best Writing Blogs, and I’m flattered to be among some incredible company for Best Publishing/Industry Blog along with some of my very favorite sites: GalleyCat, Follow the Reader, Jacket Copy, and, of course, Pimp My Novel. Click through to vote for your favorite. Editor Unleashed also released a terrific list of the twenty-five best writing blogs. The good blogs! They abound!

And SPEAKING OF, over at Pimp My Novel, which, as you may recall, and if you don’t recall oh let me not so gently remind you, had its birth right here on this blog: an incredibly hilarious and informative take on a day in the life of a publishing sales assistant. At this point I’d say Pimp My Novel is the greatest thing since sliced bread, ONLY IT’S FAR, FAR BETTER THAN SLICED BREAD. It’s just an incredible blog. I can hear it now….. a tense moment on the Death Star…. lightsabers clashing….. Eric’s words echo: “When I left you I was but the learner, but now I am the master…..” Sheesh. The force is strong in this one.

My wonderful client Natalie Whipple has been hard at work on some revisions, but thankfully for all of us she took some time to provide a checklist of ways to beat revision fatigue. Really great advice.

And finally, one of my great loves is public transportation, and the Book Design Review has a pretty cool roundup of some transit map inspired book covers.

Have a great weekend!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Margaret Yang says

    This week in Publishing! Nathan Bransford got a book deal. That is all.

    Because really, what more needs to be said?

    Congrats again, Nathan. We'll keep the coffee warm for you.

  2. Susan Quinn says

    In contemplating all you do, I've decided you must have superpowers – I just haven't decided which ones.

    A Time Turner device of some kind?

    Perhaps an ability to transfer thought directly to the word processor?

    Let me know if I get close . . .

  3. Other Lisa says

    I personally do NOT like sliced bread. It gets stale too quickly. I cut my own bread, thankyouverymuch.

    And that chick with the Bambi eyes is gonna win. Or at least make it to the final three.

  6. Mark Terry says

    Rather hard to believe John Scalzi's "Whatever" blog didn't make it into that list of 25 top blogs about writing, although as the title suggests, he doesn't limit himself to writing and publishing.

    If I had to limit myself to one blog a day, it would probably be his.

  9. Marilyn Peake says

    Nathan,

    Congratulations on your upcoming book publication and for your blog making it onto the list of Best Writing Blogs – definitely well-deserved!

    Thanks for all the great links. NURTURE SHOCK looks interesting. I’m often amazed by how many popular child-rearing techniques run completely counter to research. For example, right now it’s popular to push children into high achievement and a full schedule at a young age. However, research shows that only two factors in childhood differentiate top world leaders and scientists from their peers: how close they were to their mothers when they were very young, and whether or not playtime and toys were considered important in the home. Top world leaders and scientists tend to come from homes in which playtime, and toys when the family can afford them, are highly valued – possibly because that leads to independent, creative thought processes. Research about children playing computer games has shown that the only difference between college students who do and don’t play computer games is that those who play computer games tend to be better at multi-tasking. Research has also shown that many of the best neurosurgeons play video games.

  10. Karla Doyle says

    Ink-
    You should take something for that nasty *cough*…

    I might be the only person who hasn't read a James Patterson, but I know there's a rabid fanbase. As a bookseller, do you think readers know/care if the books are ghostwritten?

  14. Audrianna says

    Thanks for the info, Nathan. I'm obsessed with publishing industry news and I love (LOVE!) to read on Fridays (as well as every single other day!). Maybe it's for this reason my mother calls me a (Insert Author I Like/Agent I Like's name here) Stalker. Hmm…

  15. Thermocline says

    It's probably easier to write 17 novels in three years when many of your chapters are only two pages long and have something like 1.5 inch margins all the way around.

    He talked about using a team of writers for his books in a recent interview on NPR.

  16. Deaf Indian Muslim Anarchist! says

    There should be AMERICA'S NEXT TOP NOVELIST.

    all novelists have to wear a bikini (yes,including males) and parade onstage, holding their new books for all of us to examine.

    then they have to read the first chapter out loud. If we like you, you go to the next round. if your writing sucks, you're OUT!!!

  17. Audrianna says

    *snorts* I agree with the bikini part! *shudders at the vision of grown men in teenie little bikinis*

  19. Mark Terry says

    Patterson doesn't even pretend to write his books any more. He's very public about it, says he's the "idea" and he hires the writers to do the actual writing.

  22. Thermocline says

    Karla Doyle,

    Patterson only lists one additional author. I wonder how many other writers work on his novels that don't get any sort of recognition.

  25. reader says

    Thermocline — thank your for your astute assessment regarding J. Patterson.

    Holy cow, whenever I encounter his current selection of eighty-five different books hogging up the tables at big chains, I actually curse. How could you possibly respect yourself as a writer?

  26. Linda Godfrey says

    I wasn't around yesterday, so I offer double congrats to you, Nathan — on the novel deal and on the blog award. Superpowers, like Susan said.And niceness too.

    Also big kudos to Eric. Abounding blog helpfulness everywhere; if any of us fail it will not be for lack of great advice.

  27. Marsha Sigman says

    T.Anne-I'd help him out and it would involve my foot but I don't think we're talking about the same thing.

    Nathan, this blog is THE BEST in my book…although I love me some Janet Reid…but she is a little scary.

  31. Scott says

    Okay, 30 lashes on my back with a wet noodle. What exactly is a "mid grade novel?"

    Also, Nathan, I didn't say so yesterday, but I am so happy for you. It just goes to show the rest of us: 1. It can be done and 2. Nice guys do finish first sometimes.

  35. Literary Cowgirl says

    @my fave punk writer, you're on, as longas you do it too, and no one laughs at my farmer-tan, I do have some cute freckles to with it, though.

    My choice in sleuth? I've always loved Angela, because she looks like my grandma, but someone always dies when she's around, so I'm going with man tracker. He'll suss the culprit out and chase 'em down on horseback.

    As for 17 books, I'd hope that some are already written, or very thorough outlines have already been drawn up. I know that Robert Mucnsh has oodles and oodles of books on file with his publisher, but they only put out two a year, so there ends up being a surplus. Bt seriously, let's look at what happens when we get too much of a good thing. Billy Ray needed his daughter to get back into music, because after two years of constantly hearing "Achey Breaky Heart" all I cared about were my Achey Breaky eardrums. I hope they paid him well, because it could be a career ender. Though, I would have to defend him by saying some writers can do it. Look at Stephen King. He has an amazing output. And, THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE (Stephen Crane)took only about a weekend to write, I believe. If one were willing to turn over a major portiion of the editorial control it could be done. But I have to tell you, I'm still thinking my achey breaky eyeballs.

  36. Ink says

    I don't know… my inner 12 year old is forever scarred by adolescent suburban rappers. Oh, they should not have been allowed to listen to Public Enemy, oh no…

  37. Literary Cowgirl says

    Nathan, is your book due out spring or fall of 2011? I've got a MG/PB coming out fall 2010. If it does well enough that I can make it to some of those book thingies, I'll definitely keep an eye out for Jacob. BTW, that is the name of my fave MG protag- Jacob Two-Two. Anyway, just wondering. Again, all the best with your novel, but please don't stop agenting. I'm still looking for someone to rep my adult stuff after I get a few lit mags behind me 😉

  42. John says

    I think whoever wins the epic book blogger battle should get to say to the other contestants, "This is not book-blogging…This is book-blogging." Of course, in true ANTM tradition, the second one won't be noticeably different than the first.

  45. JohnO says

    …and you're a public transpo fiend? Dude, I am SO taking you for a trip on the TTC and then we're stopping for a Molson's. Or for a max ride and a pint of Widmer's.

  46. Robin says

    Nathan, I love your weekly roundups and I end up flagging many of them. However, I won't be catching up that much this weekend as I will be attending the workshop in SF. (((waving hands, very excited))) And yes, I'm bragging.

    Wondering if there is anything to bring outside of my bright smiling face, a notepad, and possibly a working synopsis of my MS?

  47. Literary Cowgirl says

    TTC? that is pure luxury. I used to know how to get anywhere in the greater Cape Town area via a mini bus taxi. The drivers shift those suckers with a spanner/wrench, and they fit about 20 people into a van that wouldn't qualify as a mini van here. But hey, it only cost about twelve rand to go clean across the city. At the time, the exchange rate was 14 rand per USD. And, being the Canadian girl, I got to sit in the front seat (next to the driver of course), but unfortuantley that meant I had to count the change for the other nine passengers who spoke only Xhosa or Afrikaans. Ah, but the TTC. Pure luxury.

  48. Patrice says

    1. I loved Natalie's post on beating revision fatigue and I told her so. Thanks for pointing us her way – what an inspiration she is.

    2. I have four young kids and always look forward to yet another parenting manual. NURTURESHOCK sounds like an original and fun project. But, the thing is, no matter what we parents do, the kids are gonna need therapy when they grow up.

    3. I think the kid from THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME could solve the embargo-breaking mystery.

    Have a great weekend.

    Congrats again.

  50. Marilyn Peake says

    Just now finished reading Natalie Whipple’s advice about how to beat revision fatigue. Thank you, Natalie! Your advice came at a reeeeeally good time for me – in the throes of revising the last two chapters of my novel, realizing that I probably need to expand them into at least seven more chapters.

    And congratulations, Eric, on the success of your blog!