When Everyone's a Writer,

No One Is

In a world where everything's free on the web, what will happen to publishing?

by Garrison Keillor

In New York the other night, I ran into my daughter's favorite author, Mary Pope Osborne, whose "Magic Tree House" books I've read to the child at night, and a moment later, Scott Turow, who writes legal thrillers that keep people awake all night, and David Remnick, the biographer of President Barack Obama. Bang bang bang, one heavyweight after another. Erica Jong, Jeffrey Toobin, Judy Blume. It was a rooftop party in Tribeca that I got invited to via a well-connected pal, wall-to-wall authors and agents and editors and elegant young women in little black dresses, standing, white wine in hand, looking out across the Hudson at the lights of Hoboken and Jersey City, eating shrimp and scallops and spanikopita on toothpicks, all talking at once the way New Yorkers do.

I grew up on the windswept plains with my nose in a book, so I am awestruck in the presence of book people, even though I have written a couple books myself. These are anti-elitist times, when mobs are calling for the downfall of pointy-head intellectuals who dare tell decent people what to think, but I admire the elite. I'm not one of them — I'm a deadline writer, my car has 150,000 miles on it — but I'm sorry about their downfall. And this book party in Tribeca feels like a Historic Moment, like a 1982 convention of typewriter salesmen or the hunting party of Kaiser Wilhelm II with his coterie of plumed barons in the fall of 1913 before the Great War sent their world spinning off the precipice.

Baltimore Sun

Industry to Keillor:

Uh-Uh.  You're Wrong!

Stop us if you’ve heard this “news” before: Publishing is dead. We know, we know. You’ve read variations on this theme in the mainstream media for decades. But now, Garrison Keillor is saying it! Which means the New York Times is listening. In his op ed, timed to coincide with annual publishing industry mega-conference Book Expo America, the Prairie Home Companion star forecasts a bleak future comprised of “18 million authors in America, each with an average of 14 readers, eight of whom are blood relatives. Average annual earnings: $1.75.”

While he’s free to correct us if we’re wrong, we’re pretty sure Keillor is no expert on the industry. And, call us crazy, but when we want to know about the future of publishing, we’d prefer to hear from people who know what they’re talking about. That’s why we’ve gotten in touch some of our favorite book editors, publicists, critics, and agents to see what they thought of Keillor’s piece. Read their insightful, funny, and sometimes scathing responses after the jump.

“Keillor’s jeremiad is wrong on so many levels, and proceeds from a place of such monumental self-regard and fundamental misinformation, that a proper rebuttal would require an entire afternoon and a minimum of ten double-spaced pages. That, or one satirical essay by Mark Twain or Colson Whitehead.

“But let’s start with some basic fact-checking. Books published through Exlibris and Lulu.com, et. al., are not ebooks. Aspiring writers’ sense of martyrdom is alive and well online, where entire blogs are devoted to the reproduction and decoding of rejection letters. The myriad kinds of informal communication possible on the Internet do not preclude more formal kinds. Nor is everything that appears online created equal. Nor is all of it unedited. Nor is all of it free. Many magazines that have published the “book people” whose demise Keillor is so busy lamenting have spent the last few years beefing up their sites, putting their archives online for subscribers to search and to read. It is not only possible, but increasingly common, for people to read the New York Times on the smartphones Keillor disdains. Nicholson Baker, who fought so hard against the destruction of libraries’ print collections, reads books on his iPhone.  Toni Morrison has a Kindle. Reading novels, she has said, is like entering another world; once they’re lost in the story, many readers don’t care whether the delivery mechanism is a piece of paper or a screen.

“Writers of books will always need good editors. Self-publishing is not a new phenomenon.  Cf. Benjamin Franklin.  Yes, publishing will change, but it will also continue to exist. And so, unfortunately, will ll-informed kids-these-days rants like this one.”

— Maud Newton, writer, editor, and book critic

Flavorwire

New Line of
Jewish Bios

Yale University Press is launching a new biography series, Jewish Lives, as "a collaboration with the Leon D. Black Foundation," acquired for the press by Ileene Smith, who is editorial director of the line. Black is credited with conceiving the series in answer to a question from one of his sons about the meaning of Jewish identity. Black writes, "I see this library of biography as a powerful opportunity for Jewish families, congregations, schools, and general readers to enrich with pride their understanding of Jewish life through history."

Historians Anita Shapira of Tel Aviv University and Steven J. Zipperstein of Stanford University are serving as series editors. The line aims to "pair subjects and authors to elicit lively, deeply informed books that explore the breadth and complexity of Jewish experience from antiquity through the present."

The press expects to publish at least 50 biographies over the next ten years, and has announced 25 titles already commissioned, starting with Robert Gottlieb's SARAH: The Life of Sarah Bernhardt for publication in October 2010.

Palin Furious with

Unofficial Biographer New Neighborr

by Guy Adams

Like any good "hockey mom," Sarah Palin likes to welcome newcomers to her community with a freshly baked blueberry pie and a borrowed cup of sugar. But the latest resident of the house next door to her family compound in Wasilla, Alaska, did not qualify for the usual folksy greeting.

Instead, Joe McGinnis found himself unpacking his bags yesterday to a volley of public criticism and an inbox full of hate-mail, after the former Vice Presidential candidate used her Facebook page to circulate a breezy rant which described him, in no uncertain terms, as an old-fashioned neighbour from Hell.

But then, Mr McGinnis isn't your average boy next door. And his motives in renting the two-storey home at the bottom of her tree-lined garden are unlikely to have been entirely honourable: he turns out to be a well-known author and journalist who has decided to spend summer in Alaska researching a book which has the working title: "Sarah Palin's year of Living Dangerously."

In a colourfully spelt "status update" on her Facebook page, accompanied by a photograph of McGinnis on the balcony of his new house, Mrs Palin described her dismay at discovering that the man gawping at her children's play area from a distance of "about 15 feet" is a left-leaning biographer of Richard Nixon, who last year wrote a lengthy exposé of Alaska's energy policy for Conde Nast Portfolio magazine.

"Upon my family's return this morning from endorsement rallies and speeches in the Lower 48 states, I finally got the chance to tackle my garden and lawn this evening!" explained Mrs Palin, in an update to the 1.6 million fans of her personal social networking page on Tuesday night.

"So, putting on the shorts and tank top to catch that too-brief northern summer sun and placing a giddy Trig in his toddler backpack for a lawn-mowing adventure, I looked up in surprise to see a "new neighbour" overlooking my property just a stone's throw away. Needless to say, our outdoor adventure ended quickly after Todd went to introduce himself to the stranger who was peering in."

Independent

Funny You Asked:

The Favorite Humor of Author Simon Rich

by Simon Rich

A writer for Saturday Night Live, Rich has just published his first novel, Elliot Allagash (Random House)
 

Our Dumb Century (1999)

By the Writers of ‘The Onion’

This book made me laugh so hard during Hebrew school that my rabbi kicked me out of the classroom. I wasn’t even reading it at the time—just thinking about it. Hard to pick a favorite headline, but I’ll go with “Stalin Announces Five-Year ‘Everybody Dies’ Plan.”

Me Talk Pretty One Day (2000)

By David Sedaris

He’s written six genius collections, but this one contains my favorite memoir ever: “You Can’t Kill the Rooster,” a poignant, profane tribute to the author’s kid brother.

The Magic Kingdom (1985)

By Stanley Elkin

A British do-gooder decides to take a group of terminally ill children on a last-gasp trip to Walt Disney World. It’s shocking that this novel got published, but I’m thankful that it did.

Decline and Fall (1928)

By Evelyn Waugh

Some of this novel takes place at a prep school and some of it at a prison. In Waugh’s bitter universe there isn’t much difference.

Claw Your Way to the Top: How to Become the Head of a Major Corporation in Roughly a Week (1986)

By Dave Barry

Barry is so insanely prolific that at a certain point it became cool to hate him. That’s too bad, because he’s really funny, especially in this corporate satire.

The Magic Christian (1959)

By Terry Southern

In this episodic novel, Southern concocts the perfect comic hero: a practical-joke enthusiast with unlimited time and money. Like Wodehouse, only full of sex and filth.

Love Is Hell (1984)

By Matt Groening

This collection of strips about love is witty, moving, and—since it’s by a comedy writer—extremely bitter.

My Uncle Oswald (1979)

By Roald Dahl

Dahl is beloved for his YA masterpieces, but Oswald is decidedly adult. The title character is a madcap bon vivant who uses his riches to seduce as many women as possible.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (1979)

By Douglas Adams

One of my favorite jokes in Simpsons history comes when an injured robot asks, “Why … why was I programmed to feel pain?” As with many great gags, Adams did it first with Marvin the Paranoid Android. I’ve reread the Hitchhiker’s books so many times that I can recite them, annoyingly, from memory.

The Great American Novel (1973)

By Philip Roth

Roth has better books, but I think this baseball fable is his funniest. In one scene, the hapless Port Ruppert Mundys take on a baseball team from an insane asylum. Now, that’s a premise!

Harlequin Announces New

Tryst with Russia

TORONTO, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Harlequin Enterprises Limited (www.eHarlequin.com), a global leader in series romance and one of the world's leading publishers of books for women, announced today a new licensing deal in Russia with ZAO (Izdatelstvo Centrepolygraph), one of that country's foremost publishing houses.

"We are thrilled to be working with Centrepolygraph in Russia," said Donna Hayes, Publisher and CEO, Harlequin Enterprises Limited. "Russian readers are enthusiastic Harlequin readers and we're very excited to meet the country's growing appetite for women's fiction with as beloved and respected a publisher as Centrepolygraph in our corner."

"We are delighted to be partnered with a publisher of Harlequin's stature," said Nickolai Aleshin, General Director of Centrepolygraph. "Harlequin Russia is a unique endeavour, with books designed to entertain, enrich and inspire Russian readers."

Centrepolygraph will publish novels by international bestselling authors in both hardcover and paperback, as well as series romance in the mass-market paperback format. Centrepolygraph plans to release more than 170 titles in their first year, most under the Harlequin logo and trademark, and has worldwide rights to publish Harlequin titles in the Russian language.

Harlequin recognizes a rapidly growing market in Europe and Asia.  In 2008, the publisher launched an office in Mumbai, India, to print and distribute books locally.  In the first half of 2010, the women's publishing giant has already opened an office in Turkey and acquired full ownership of their German operation.  In the past 18 months, Harlequin has also signed new licensing deals in Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand.  Harlequin currently has licensees in 15 countries.

Bits & Bytes

For thousands of additional listings, become an AmSAW Professional Member Today

FICTION

Debut

Cary Groner's THE NATURE OF THE BEAST, set in Nepal, about an American volunteer doctor and his teenage daughter whose lives are profoundly changed by dangerous encounters in an alien world, to Cindy Spiegel at Spiegel & Grau, in a very nice deal, for publication in Spring 2011, by Barbara Braun at Barbara Braun Associates (world).

Paranormal

David Wong's THIS BOOK IS FULL OF SPIDERS, the sequel to the instant cult classic JOHN DIES AT THE END, once again starring two college drop-outs who are inadvertently charged with saving their small town -- and the world -- from a host of supernatural and paranormal invasions, to Brendan Deneen at Thomas Dunne Books, in a very nice deal, by Scott Miller at Trident Media Group (World).

Sci-Fi/Fantasy

NYT bestselling author Gail Carriger's HEARTLESS and TIMELESS, the fourth and fifth novels in the Alexia Tarabotti Parasol Protectorate series, again to Devi Pillai at Orbit, in a good deal, by Kristin Nelson at Nelson Literary Agency (World). query@nelsonagency.com

Children's: Picture book

Annika Nelson's COLORS OF ME, illustrations for Brynne Barnes picture book entitled COLORS OF ME, to Aimee Jackson at Sleeping Bear Press, in a nice deal, by Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

NONFICTION

Health

Joanna Poppink, MFT's THE EATING DISORDER RECOVERY BOOK: Stories, Meditations, and Exercises for Health and Freedom, providing practical advice on how to address and overcome eating disorders, to Amber Guetebier at Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari, for publication in Spring 2011 (World).

aguetebier@redwheelweiser.com

Lifestyle

Lifestyle guru and author of Bitches on a Budget, Rosalyn Hoffman's MAMA'S ON A BUDGET, a modern guide to tackling the parenthood industrial complex for frugal and fabulous moms, again to Tracy Bernstein at NAL, by Alanna Ramirez at Trident Media Group (World).

Terry John Woods and Kindra Clineff's SUMMER HOUSES, a fresh look at decorating summer, weekend, and beach homes, by the author and photographer of Terry John Woods' New Farmhouse Style, to Dervla Kelly at Stewart, Tabori & Chang, for publication in Spring 2011 (World).

dkelly@abramsbooks.com

Reference

Gilbert Alter-Gilbert, ed.'s POETS RANKED BY BEARD WEIGHT: The Commemorative Edition, a classic of Edwardian esoterica originally circulated by The Torchbearer Society, London, 1913 and recently featured in Harper's, Atlantic Monthly, and The Guardian, this new edition includes beard etiquette, fundamentals of beard husbandry, beard collecting, and a primer of Pogonomancy (fortune-telling by beard-reading), to Jennifer McCartney at Skyhorse, in a nice deal, for publication in Spring 2011 (World).

jmccartney@skyhorsepublishing.com

Religion/Spirituality

Owner of Isis Books in Denver Karen Harrison's THE HERBAL ALCHEMIST'S HANDBOOK, combining herbal lore, magic, astrology, correspondences and alchemy for all of your magical needs, to Amber Guetebier at Weiser Books, for publication in Spring 2011 (World).

aguetebier@redwheelweiser.com

True crime

Kerrie Droban's BLOWN SKY HIGH: THE MURDER OF GARY TRIANO, the true story of the sensational bombing death of high roller Gary Triano who was allegedly murdered by his ex-wife and her business partner, to Rob Kirkpatrick at St. Martin's, by Jill Marsal at the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Jill@MarsalLyonLiteraryAgency.com