Publishing Notes

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Writing Tips

Today, BookEnds literary agent Jessica Faust defines some of the important terms and phrases in the publishing biz.  Faust’s short Publishing Dictionary is listed on her BookEnds agency blog. The dictionary includes definitions for things like advance, mass market, imprint, query, royalities, sell-through, and world rights. All written in a straight forward and easy to understand style. Well worth checking out. Faust’s agency blog is one […]
Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Books take a back seat to movies and TV

Book lovers browse at a bookstore in Burbank. People are going to the movies in huge numbers this summer as well as catching up on favorite TV programs after the script drought created by the WGA writers’ strike, so maybe that’s why some book sales are sagging. Bookstore sales declined in June, according to Publishers Weekly. During the first five months of the year, these sales were […]
Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Graphic novels & comics hot properties in Hollywood

Graphic novels along with comic books are the favorite go-to-sources for movies in Hollywood these days. There is serious dough to be made, two examples: comic-turned-film “The Dark Knight” has a domestic gross nearing $500 million and “300” the movie based on a graphic novel has raked in more than $450 million worldwide since 2006.     So it is no surprise that Warner Bros. […]
Monday, August 18, 2008

Dara Torres goes for the green

Google Image Olympic swimmer Dara Torres won three silver medals, but no gold in Beijing. A great accomplishment for any athlete. Torres is the first U.S. swimmer to compete in five Olympics and the oldest swimmer to win a silver medal in the Games. Still, it’s not all over for the 41-year-old mother of a toddler. Now, Torres is going […]
Friday, August 15, 2008

Bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon’s big event in Burbank

Author Sherrilyn Kenyon shows off her new vampire fangs at a book signing.      photos by FLLewis                                           New York Times bestselling author, Sherrilyn Kenyon brought her wildly exciting book tour, complete with vampire fangs, special gifts, and prizes to Burbank on August 8. Even though I was familiar with Kenyon’s incredible success, I was still surprised to see so many local […]
Wednesday, August 13, 2008

A court battle over the works of John Steinbeck

The Penguin Group and heirs of John Steinbeck’s third wife, Elaine, won a major victory in the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today. The New York court reversed a lower court decision that was in favor of a son and granddaughter of the late author. Today’s ruling returns to Penguin the rights to 10 of the author’s earlier works including, […]
Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Book Bytes

How to Shop for a Husband. Today Show consumer correspondent Janice Lieberman has a new book deal. Lieberman, writing with Bonnie Teller, will show how techniques used by consumer experts can help you close a deal on a mate. St. Martin’s Press bought world rights to “How to Shop for a Husband” and plans to release the book next spring. Lieberman is […]
Monday, August 11, 2008

Novels, Romance & Hollywood

Novelist and Screenwriter James Dalessandro makes a point. Writer James Dalessandro has been pitching to Hollywood for years and knows how the game is played. Dalessandro shared some of what he has learned with wit, charm and a straight chaser of blunt reality at the Scriptscene mini-conference, July 30, held during the Romance Writers of America 28th Annual Conference in San Francisco. The […]
Sunday, August 10, 2008

Book Bytes

Olympic deal for “Say It Right in Chinese.” The U.S. Olympic delegation has scooped up more than 500 copies of a Chinese language book. “Say It Right in Chinese” will be handed out to members of the U.S. Olympic team to help athletes and their support members communicate better with their hosts in Beijing. “Say It Right in Chinese” is published […]