Portland’s Microcosm Publishing store is offering to trade unwanted, Christmas-given Kindles for their value in new or used books and magazines of the paper variety.
The silly, pseudoliterary pretense of the ad had me in stitches.
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Tag Archives: kindle
I have received a few submissions at Facebook for the graphic icon for “Reading Cats,” and I should have the final decision — and a developed icon — by the end of the weekend. Thanks to all of the entrants, and a great looking bunch of felines; for your own safety, may they never learn to read!
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And, without further side-lining, let’s get to what you clicked that link to find: publishing industry professionals offering up their advice and opinions on books, writing, and all things literary! Continue reading
Responding to the recent slapdown of Amazon.com by MacMillan publishing, an oh-so-tech-savvy fellow over at DigitalTrends.com asks if book publishers are the new record labels, i.e., by responding badly to the digitalization of their product and encouraging piracy.
The writer offers up the typical hipster, pro-criminal argument that stealing is an acceptable response to high prices. This isn’t Les Misérables, guys; we’re talking about entertainment, not food.
Let’s just start right off with the best news, from the perspective of prospective authors: Amazon increases royalty rates on Kindle books! As New York Times‘ Media Decoder blog points out, “Amazon’s move is also a clear bid to woo authors away from traditional publishing houses.” Things just got interesting.
Jessica at BookEnds answers “Should I revise my manuscript before sending out the next batch of queries?” and other random questions. Meanwhile Rachelle Gardner discusses email protocol and the power of word-of-mouth.
Lauren at Dystel & Goderich offers some advice on titling, while her colleague Miriam disses the sarcmark.
Kassia Krozser at Booksquare expresses her doubts about enhanced ebooks, while Alan Rinzler at The Book Deal teaches us about hooks that snag great book deals.
Finally, John Fox tells us why he doubts book reviews, while Suzannah Windsor Freeman (guest-blogging at Nathan Bransford‘s site) negotiates the struggle between Word Nerds and Grammar Rebels.
Enjoy!
Authors are overflowing with two things: stories and questions for literary agents. This week’s publishing links are dedicated to the latter. Our cupth runneth over!
Got a question? Read on… one of my favorite literary agents may have the answer.
Lit agent Jessica at BookEnds responds to a question about the submission process with both good advice for authors, and some pointed commentary on agents who insist on a “no simultaneous submissions” rule. Hint: they don’t come off well in her analysis.
Chasya at Dystel & Goderich also poses a question from a blog reader — “What are the biggest mistakes writers make when pitching their work at a conference?” —and publishes responses from several agents at the firm. Bonanza!
The Editorial Anonymous blog takes on the mysterious rejection “Not for me, thanks” and what it really means in all of its possible permutations. (Warning: may induce chuckling.) Thanks to Janet Reid for pointing me toward this one.
Agent Kristin Nelson answers two series of questions this week (count ’em: one! two!), tackling issues like revisions, the struggling economy, and angels vs. vampires. (My initial thought: both groups are immortal but only one is sparkly and vaguely pedophilic?)
If I were going to ask a literary agent a question, it would probably be about the use of pen names. Lo, and Behold! Nathan Bransford has answered that very question in a recent blog.
Author and Knight Agency lit agent Lucienne Diver tackles the publishing buzz question of the year: “Can any device save publishing?” She answers the question by questioning it.
HIGHLIGHT LINK DU JOUR DE LA SEMAINE: At the Book Deal blog, publisher Alan Rinzler answers some fascinating questions about writing in light of discoveries in neuroscience. You don’t have to write cyberpunk to appreciate these methods for hacking your readers’ brains.
David Mehegan spans the centuries at the Boston Globe with a great piece on the genesis of books in Christian codices, the prophesied end of books in electronic Kindle-kin, and the psychological relationship between booklessness and physical nudity.
(Given an either/or choice, take my clothes and leave me the books.)