Conversations with Myself May 24, 2008

While watching the lastest VH1 documentary SEX: THE REVOLUTON I couldn’t help but notice the plethora of writers who were tapped as instrumental in the progression of society’s viewpoints on sex/personal politics. It made me nostalgic for a time when Americans saw books as a conduit of social change. Maybe it’s my inner bibliophile that longs for a time when asking a person in my generation who their favorite writer was didn’t illicit blank stare , but I think that there is a definite sea change that has occurred in the last decade regarding the public’s relationship with writing; particularly in nonfiction targeted at women.  Where are our era’s Erica Jong’s? Where’s the balls? Have our balls been replaced by Candace Bushnell’s balls? Who will write the next Anna Karenina? Why aren’t men writing about the aftermath of the sexual revolution?Why is it that everything we do write is more like a blueprint for strategic warfare, or a script? What ever happened to lengthy , digestible,contemplative, entertaining, well written discourses that pushed boundaries? Oh yeah, they’re in magazines….Men’s magazines.

Discuss.

P.S.No offence Candace. I still love you  and your four neurotics (that are really emotionally just one woman…Brill). I’ll see you guys next week.

Ripped From The Headlines Microsoft Abandons Books May 23, 2008

Microsoft Pulls Plug on Book Search Initiative
Microsoft just announced on their site: “Today we informed our partners that we are ending the Live Search Books and Live Search Academic projects and that both sites will be taken down next week. Books and scholarly publications will continue to be integrated into our Search results, but not through separate indexes.

“This also means that we are winding down our digitization initiatives, including our library scanning and our in-copyright book programs. We recognize that this decision comes as disappointing news to our partners, the publishing and academic communities, and Live Search users.

“Given the evolution of the Web and our strategy, we believe the next generation of search is about the development of an underlying, sustainable business model for the search engine, consumer, and content partner.”

Having digitized 750,000 books, they now “foresee that the best way for a search engine to make book content available will be by crawling content repositories created by book publishers and libraries.” Microsoft will “provide publishers with digital copies of their scanned book - MS Blog ( Publisher’s Marketplace)

You know what this is code for? ” We can’t make any money until you book people get it together and Jeff Bezos stops hogging all the digital profits.”

Ripped from the Headlines May 16, 2008

Newsweek has a great article on the  upcoming generation of readers. Apparently this is a “golden age” for Teen authors. See, that is why I call them Lateweek(<—-click here for link to article).

What I’m Hearing: YA May 14, 2008

1. There is a real shortage of  books about teen subcultures and I’m not talking about obvious ones (Goth, skater, etc)

2. Many of the manuscripts Editors are reading lack a teen voice i.e. , you can totally hear the adult narrating.

3. Everyone is bored with fluff reads  and want “real” characters.

4. Big lack in books for boys.

Sidebar: Best upcoming YA I’ve read thusfar ? DIARY OF A CHAV by Grace Dent without a doubt . Subculture+ Teen talk+Real protagonist+ Hi-larious! It’s a UK import and getting well deserved pre-BEA buzz. Pick it up when it comes out!

Blue Screen of Death May 8, 2008

My computer had to be resurrected last night and subsequently some things are GONE. Sigh. Clients, please resend you manuscripts and contact info. That also goes for those of you whom I requested works from.

Queries are safe ,so no need to resend.

Microsoft is the devil.

Seriously, you remember that?! April 30, 2008

One of the reigning kings of the Memoir , Augusten Burroughs, is featured in a wonderfully cynical and  lengthy article about the truthiness of the genre. In the article entitled The Memory Addict , the journalist interviewing Burroughs is more then a little sceptical of Burrough’s ability to remember intricate little details a decade old, but not his apartment number. Makes you go hmmmm.

No one can overstate how important it is for a memiorist these days to offer cold hard proof, but isn’t the fictionalized version always so much more interesting.

P.S.

Love the disclaimer at the begining of the article

“NOTE: This profile of the allegedly fake memoirist Augusten Burroughs is based on real events. Dialogue has been compressed, and chronology has been changed for dramatic effect.”

Now this is what I call Promotion April 18, 2008

This savvy lady has a book coming out ( I found out through googling her :)) and found a good way to build a little buzz about herself through perezhilton.com. I probably would have recommended that she have waited until her book cover came out on Amazon so that she could benifit , but hell..I’m not her Agent.Kudos, Sadie Nardini!

Have you thought out of the box todays

This is not a Query April 17, 2008

Dear Elizabeth Jote: This is a query. I am seeking an agent to represent my work. I have a website: xxx.com. If anything interests you, please let me know and I will send you a copy. Many thanks for your time. If your reader has to click through to see your work , then chances are they wont.Take the time for your craft and properly present your work. You are not a rummage sale.

I guess Reading ISN’T Fundamental April 17, 2008

President Bush’s proposed 2009 budget eliminates all the funding for Reading Is Fundamental’s book distribution program that has, since 1966, provided more than 325 million books to more than 30 million underprivileged children.

“With 13 million children living in poverty in this country, the need for RIF has never been greater,” said RIF CEO/president Carol Rasco, The annually funded RIF program is currently approved through September 2009, but if Bush’s budget is approved, 4.6 million children will not receive 16 million free books the following year. RIF, the oldest and largest children’s and family nonprofit literacy organization in the U.S, has been funded by Congress and six Administrations without interruption since 1975.”- Publisher’s Weekly

Here’s to future illiterate generations.

Crazy Query of the Month April 15, 2008

Hello editor and agent.

My name is XXXX and I’m the messiah(i’ll explain how I became the messiah in my book proposal). My autobiography is almost complete hence I’m writing this query letter. I’ve lived a unique life and it continues with me writing to you. I intend to infect the world with love and intelligence in the next few years. I want you on my side…I want your cooperation and assistance…whoever of you takes me on. My autobiography is titled ‘XXXXXXXXXX’…my name is The Joke and my soulmate’s name is XXXXX. I’M ABOUT TO BECOME ENLIGHTENED! When I become enlightened I will reveal myself and my plans to all of you…the world. I have taken over 100% of Scientology and remade it. In my autobiography I explain the new rules of Scientology. Scientology as I have made it will succeed in converting 100% of the world population by 2300AD. I will compete with all religions…but especially Judaism, Islam, and Christianity! I will not be stopped because I am the messiah…my soulmate is also the messiah. Together we will unite the planet and advance Democracy to universal acceptance.
GOD SPEAKS TO ME. He tells me my purpose and my nature. I name God The Entity and Scientology now accepts The Entity as its purpose. God has changed its name to The Entity. In my autobiography I reveal what The Entity says and wants in a dialogue format. Would you like to know what God says to his chosen ones? YES! So would our readers! And would you like to know what I reply? Of course…we all want to know. The Entity in ‘XXXXXXXXX’ will open your eyes. Humor…intelligence…sadness…love…salvation…friendship…pain…It’s all in ‘XXXXXXXXX’. My book proposal will satisfy you. I PROMISE! I know you’re hooked…it’s my plan. Laugh! Email me at with your interest. Thank you…and goodbye from XXXXXX…THE JOKE! and the messiah!

P.S. I LOVE YOU…really…I do…take care.
P.P.S. You should space meditate…it will become the law inevitably…REALLY!