Yes Virginia, There are Publishers Who Don’t Require Agent
authorlink.com – Tuesday August 1, 2017
In 1897, eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanion asked her father if there really was a Santa Claus. Not quite knowing how to answer, her dad suggested she write a letter and ask The New York Sun. This prompted the most reprinted editorial in all English-speaking newspapers to this date: Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.
Today, as writers, we often ask the same question over and over, thinking like Virginia O’Hanion, that we possibly we know the truth but aren’t quite sure. Only our question is if there are any big publishing houses that take books directly from authors or if an agent must always connect the deal. For years we’ve been told there is no such animal, but then every once and awhile, we hear of an author who made a deal alone.
Publishers who want new readers must challenge their genre boundaries
thebookseller.com – Tuesday August 1, 2017
By now you’ll most likely have heard of The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead.
The American writer's alternate history novel is less a subterranean secret, more a juggernaught of buzz that’s currently crossing genre borderlines with the speed of a runaway express.
Winner of the Pulitzer and the National Book Award, Booker long-listed, lauded by Oprah and feted as “fantastic” by Barack Obama (the last book he read in the White House, and thus allegedly the last book read by a US President to date), The Underground Railroad has just added the 2017 Arthur C. Clarke Award for science fiction literature to its roster of accolades.
New Magazine Listing
firstwriter.com – Monday July 31, 2017
Publishes: Fiction; Nonfiction; Poetry;
Areas include: Adventure; Fantasy; Historical; Literature; Mystery; Nature; Romance; Sci-Fi; Short Stories;
Markets: Adult; Family; Youth;
Preferred styles: Contemporary; Literary
This literary journal is dedicated to mostly young writers who are homeschooled or have been homeschooled in the past. However, all ages (13+) are encouraged to submit to this journal. Literary fiction, speculative fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry, are all welcome here.
Verve Launches Communications Arm, Hires Sarah Shulman To Run It
deadline.com – Friday July 28, 2017
Verve has taken the wraps off Verve Communications, a new division of the growing literary agency that will be run by Sarah Shulman. Shulman came aboard this week after spending the past five years at ICM Partners, where she was a manager in the corporate communications department.
Abrams Artists Adds Agents Todd Eisner & Matt Gogal, Promotes Katie Gamelli
deadline.com – Friday July 28, 2017
Abrams Artists Agency is expanding its talent division, hiring Todd Eisner as Senior Agent in the firm’s Los Angeles Talent department, and Matt Gogal as a Talent Agent. Having joined Abrams in the past few weeks, both will report to SVP and Head of Theatrical in Los Angeles, Marni Rosenzweig.
In addition, Katie Gamelli has been promoted to Theatrical Literary Agent in New York, effective immediately. She is reporting to Sarah Douglas and Charles Kopelman.
New Literary Agency Listing
firstwriter.com – Friday July 28, 2017
Handles: Fiction
Areas include: Crime; Drama; Fantasy; Horror; Romance; Sci-Fi; Suspense; Thrillers
Markets: Adult; Youth
Preferred styles: Commercial; Contemporary; Dark; Light; Literary; Mainstream
Literary agency providing career management for authors in the United States, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and Canada.
Emrys Journal seeks submissions on the theme of Laughter
firstwriter.com – Thursday July 27, 2017
From August 1, until November 1, 2017, Emrys Journal will be accepting submissions of unpublished fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction on the theme of "Laughter" for their 35th Anniversary Issue.
New Magazine Listing
firstwriter.com – Thursday July 27, 2017
Publishes: Fiction; Poetry;
Markets: Adult;
Preferred styles: Literary
Send up to six poems or one story at a time. Potential contributors should familiarise themselves with the magazine before submitting. Includes regular section of High School writers. Send submissions by post with SASE. Allow up to three months for a response.
5 Writing Tips From Stephen King's Twitter To Help You Pen Your Bestselling Novel
bustle.com – Tuesday July 25, 2017
It's always helpful for aspiring writers to get advice from their heroes, so whenever Stephen King shares writing advice online, everyone takes notice. And Stephen King's latest piece of advice is so short and simple it will have writers across the world scrambling for a pen to make edits to their latest manuscript, and remove Stephen King's least favorite phrase. According to a tweet recently posted by King, writers should never use the phrase "for a long moment."
Is the ebook a dead format?
thebookseller.com – Monday July 24, 2017
Nowadays, the ebook has a reputation for technological conservatism - so it is easy to forget that there was significant anticipation for the Kindle’s arrival ten years ago.
In a 2009 editorial, The Bookseller declared the device was “a giant leap for all”. The Kindle was frequently compared to the iPod’s transformative effect on the music industry. No wonder - the ebook format promised several advantages. Users could adjust typographic settings for improved accessibility; there was an increased level of portability; and the move to digital distribution promised the ability to purchase publishers’ extensive back catalogues.
But despite the early promise of the ebook, many are questioning whether it has lived up to these expectations. In recent years, the ebook has faced significant backlash amid reports of declining sales in trade publishing. The Publishing Association Yearbook 2016 noted a 17% slump in the sale of consumer ebooks while physical book revenue increased by 8%. Over the last couple of years, audiobooks have replaced ebooks as digital publishing’s critical darling on the back of a rapid increase in revenue. In this climate, several commentators have asked “how ebooks lost their shine.”
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