January 27, 2009

Hello again. Well, when I started the newsletter, it went out on Monday, as I knew I had the entire weekend to work on it. Hmm. Monday obviously wasn't a good choice, as it always spilled into Tues morning. Tuesday morning turned into Tuesday evening, and occasionally, Wednesday morning. NEVER Thursday. [NEVER say NEVER.] UPDATE: Had computer problems, but my personal geek squad came to the rescue. Otherwise, this woulda been out this mornin'.

No worries. I figure in a few months, I'll have circled on back to Mondays, then Tuesdays.... [Note that after the ellipses, I used ending punctuation, as is proper format.] Gotta get movin', so no 'fun' comments this issue. Just the boring news. Try to contain your disappointment. [I know, but try.]

 

 

I'm bummed I haven't had time to blog. I'm attempting to switch the blog, 'Welcome to My Worlds' [www.welcometomyworlds.com] to have content for the bipolar crowd, and as a venue for my 'Seinfeld' meets 'I Love Lucy' stories. [Helps when trying to get a nonfiction proposal out.]

I've reserved the URL 'The Crazed Conservative' [www.thecrazedconservative.com] for voicing my insightful political views, but the site ain't up yet. My hubby [he's such a sweet man] shot a tape of me and the Genius Child singing the new lyrics I wrote to the tune of the theme song from Gilligan's Island, which I'd love to share. [See next section.]

We'll be workin' on it. I'll keep ya 'posted.'

 

 

So, as stated above, I decided five blog/Web sites weren't enough. Nope, needed one more. I design my own logos and layout. Always have. Seems I have a talent for graphic arts, brought on by my undying attitude that if someone else can do it, I can. [Code for: I-better-be-good-at-graphic-arts-or-I-won't-be-buyin'-groceries-for-the-next-six-months.]

My provider has a 'Web site Builder' feature. Kewl. I've maintained my sites in the past, but while I'd designed my sites, I'd never actually put one up. No problemo, as my provider has hundreds of stock templates and the motto: "So easy, a twelve-month-old can do it." GRRR. [How many 'r's are in GRRR?]

I wanted my political blog/site to look patriotic. Out of hundreds of templates, I assumed I'd have several to choose from. Not one. No American flag, no stripes or stars in red, white, and blue-oh, but they had adorable ones with ladybugs and cows in the header. Or, I could choose the ever-popular pics of either a man or woman [with her hair in a tight bun] dressed in traditional business garb, striking a pose as if they ruled the world. Hmm. Mayhap ... nope, guess not. GRRR.

So, I designed a header and a 'logo,' and went to work. How difficult could it be if a toddler could do it? I picked a template with a format I liked and got ready to zap the old ladybug into insect heaven, and drop that cow before he ends the world with his CO2 emissions. I go into edit mode, and get a page that has the message: 'loading.' Phat. I'll just edit a paragraph of a client's work, or read one of my submissions. BTW, I apologize if you've submitted something and haven't received an answer from me yet. I'm just starting my November pile. [I shudder to see that in print.]

I'm workin' away and realize I'd edited for 30 minutes. I click on over to the template, as I wanna put that puppy to bed. Uh, am I readin' that right. I go to the template and see the message, "loading." Loading? How could it still be loading?

I decide to start over. Mayhap my response wasn't timely enough. I finally get the header ready and upload it. Since the letters were huge, taking up my entire screen. I bit my lip. Would it fit in their little box? Directions said my work would miraculously morph to perfection. Excuse me. Someone forgot to ask God for that miracle. Not only wasn't it too big, the writing was so small, I couldn't read it.

There ya have it. No YouTube or Web site yet. Mayhap on the morrow. I have to pick a day when I don't start at frustration level two [Code Yellow.] Since it's Thursday and you're just reading this, I'm well on my way to 'Orange.' [At least it's my fave color.] I'll let y'all know when to take a look. If you've already signed up for my blog, I'll notify you. I haveta go now and find a twelve-month-old to help me format my Web site. GRRR.

Welcome to My Worlds.

  

I'm thrilled to announce longtime friend, Shannon Vannatter is now my client. Shannon writes heart-fluttering Inspirational Contemporary Romance and Women's Fiction. She believes love can only last a lifetime if Jesus Christ is invited into the relationship, and weaves this theme tightly in each of her stories. Shannon is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and has a short story in the March 2009 issue of Mature Living. When she's not living in her characters' heads, she's a devoted stay-at-home mom and pastor's wife. She is not a housewife. Her theory: she can clean house or write. She'd rather write! Several editors love her work, so we're hopin' for a sale soon.

 

 

  

Fiction Sales Up Slightly in 2008
Nielsen BookScan reports that unit book sales were flat in 2008, slipping 0.2 percent to 756.2 million units. However, adult fiction sales increased 0.4 percent, while most of the unit gains came from the juvenile segment, which had a 6.2 percent increase. According to BookScan's Adult Fiction Overall Romance list on December 28, the top 100 romances sold 6,366,723 units year-to-date.

BookScan accounts for about 70 percent of all book sales and does not include sales from Wal-Mart, Sam's, BJ's, airports, or libraries.

NYT Pokes Publishers, Again

As we noted in the Times coverage of Sara Nelson's layoff and is underscored by today's article, apparently until further notice all NYT publishing pieces will be pitched as death-of-traditional-publishing stories. Self-publishing has been an interesting and quirky growth story for years now (it's a "trend" piece!) that has little or nothing to do with the rest of the business. (As the article does note, "self-publishing is still a fraction of the wider publishing industry. Author Solutions, for example, sold a total of 2.5 million copies last year.") And there are a lot of nuanced questions about what happens to this business in tougher economic times and where the opportunities for continued growth and potential overlap with traditional publishing will come from, but that's not covered here. Instead we get such speculation as "during an economic downturn, books tailored to such narrow audiences may fare better than titles from traditional publishers that depend on a more general appeal." NYT

 

Pocket In Co-Pub Deal with Juno

-- Publishers Weekly

Pocket Books has signed a co-publishing agreement with Juno Books through which Juno will release one title per month under its own imprint. Founded in June 2006, Juno has developed a niche in contemporary urban fantasy novels and its authors include Carole Nelson Douglas, Stacia Kane and Sylvia Kelso. The first title to appear under the new deal is Amazon Ink set for a June release. Juno Books editor Paula Guran will oversee the line along with Pocket senior editor Jennifer Heddle. 

As part of the agreement, Pocket will also pick up for distribution three mass-market titles that have already been released by Juno. About one year ago, Juno stopped publishing trade paperbacks to focus on mass-market titles, although its existing trade paper books are still distributed by Diamond Book Distributors.

 

 

Saletan Lands at Riverhead

By Rachel Deahl -- Publishers Weekly

Proving that, even in this economy, prominent publishing names can land on their feet, Becky Saletan has been named editorial director of Riverhead Books. Saletan, who quit her job as publisher of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's trade unit in early December, following news that the division had stopped acquiring books, will start her new job at the Penguin imprint on March 2. 

 

Speaking to Saletan's hiring, Geoff Kloske, v-p and publisher of Riverhead, said that after competing with Salatan for many years, he was "happy to finally be working with her." He declined to comment on whether she will be taking any of her authors from HMH with her, noting only that, sometimes, authors and editors "reconnect down the road."

At Riverhead, Saletan will focus on acquiring and editing narrative nonfiction, as well as literary fiction. Saletan, who was at Harcourt since 2004 and took the top job at HMH after Harcourt merged with HM, has worked at various houses throughout her career--FSG, Simon & Schuster, Random House and Yale University Press. She edited Mohson Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist, which hit the Times list and was shortlisted for the 2007 Man Booker. She also worked on Hillary Clinton's 1996 bestseller, It Takes a Village, and has edited such literary heavies as Philip Roth and Peter Matthiessen.

 

 

Amazon To Drop Microsoft, Adobe e-Book Formats

By Calvin Reid -- Publishers Weekly

Amazon.com has notified its publisher and author clients that it plans to cease offering e-books in the Microsoft Reader and Adobe e-book formats. In the future, the online retailer says it plans to offer only e-books in the Kindle format (for wireless download to its Kindle reading device) and the Mobipocket format, both of which are owned by Amazon. The online retailer's note asks publishers and authors to make sure that Amazon has written permission to offer their books for sale in the Mobipocket format.

 

Amazon did not specify how long the Adobe PDF and Microsoft formats will continue to be available. A search of the site turns up mostly technical works and e-docs in PDF form and very little in the Microsoft format. Amazon offers tens of thousands of titles in the Mobipocket e-book reader software, which allows e-books to be read on a wide variety of handheld mobile devices. The company said it will now be urging customers to buy e-books through Mobipocket. Amazon also sells more than 200,000 titles for use on the Kindle.

 

 

Amid Changes, Kenney to Lead 'PW'

-- Publishers Weekly

Brian Kenney has been named editorial director for Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and will continue to direct the day-to-day operations of School Library Journal. All three magazines are owned by Reed Business Information. The announcement was made yesterday by Ron Shank, group publisher of RBI's publishing division. Kenney's promotion came the same day that RBI announced companywide layoffs which were dictated by the downturn in the advertising market, the company said in a statement.

 

Among those on the PW staff who are leaving the magazine are Sara Nelson, editor-in chief since 2005, and Daisy Maryles, executive editor, who had been with the magazine for more than four decades. Shank thanked Nelson for her four years at the helm of PW, noting that her "personality, talent, energy and insight will be missed." Maryles, who began at the magazine as an assistant in the editorial department, has for many years managed the Bestsellers lists and also overseen the religion category coverage, both in print and online, as well as the Show Daily published at BEA.

Shank said that while the business performed better in 2008 than in 2007, advertising support continues to decline. In promoting Kenney to the top spot at PW, LJ and SLJ, Shank said he was impressed by Kenney's "outstanding grasp of the transitional challenges we face moving from print to online. His mission will be to speed up this process and elevate content quality for greatest exposure in new formats."

 

 

Layoffs at Diamond, DC Comics, Top Cow

By Heidi MacDonald -- Publishers Weekly

Several comics and graphic novel companies announced layoffs and cutbacks, among them Diamond Comics Distributors, DC Comics and California comics publisher Top Cow.

 

One of the largest job eliminations took place at Diamond Comics Distributors, the biggest distributor for periodical comics and graphic novels in North America. Thirteen people were laid off yesterday and some remaining staff and management were asked to take a pay cut. The cuts were a result of a 4% drop in sales last year and a further projected drop this year, according to a letter from Diamond COO Chuck Parker.

 

DC Comics also reported layoffs yesterday, including much-respected editor Bob Schreck, who had been with the company 10 years and worked on such acclaimed books as writer Grant Morrison's All-Star Superman. Other cuts at DC Comics were centered around the magazine business, including several at MAD magazine. The layoffs were reported as DC's parent company Warner Brothers announced a 10% reduction in the company's employment worldwide.

Earlier in the week Top Cow, one of the studio imprints at Image Comics, and publisher of Wanted, the graphic novel upon which the hit movie was based, announced that e

 

Layoffs Hit Big University Presses

Cambridge University Press is laying off almost 160 people in the UK. Chief executive Stephen Bourne says: "We know that this is an incredibly difficult time for those staff that are affected and we will be doing all we can to support them through these changes." He added, "This has been a very hard decision to make. There are parts of the business doing very well and a lot of them are overseas but two parts are not and one is simply not viable in the long term." Hardest hit is their Cambridge Printing Services unit, where 133 jobs are being cut (down to a staff of just 37) as printing for books that are sold outside of the UK moves abroad. Their UK education staff is also being cut in half, down to 25 people. In all, the layoffs represent almost 10 percent of the total workforce of 1,700.

Given that much of the staff is unionized, Cambridge has entered into a required 90 "consultation period" over the cuts. Workers call the cuts "immoral," the Cambridge paper reports.

The paper points out that in their most recent annual report, released this month, CUP called 2007 - 2008 a "first-class year for the press with sales reaching £179.5 million" and "another year of market-leading growth, at 11.8 per cent." They reported profits of £2 million. Cambridge News

 

OUP Cuts 60 Positions
By Andrew Albanese
In what Oxford University Press officials called a "cost-cutting exercise," the nation's largest university press yesterday laid off 60 people between its two offices in New York and Cary, N.C. OUP president Tim Barton said the cuts were "a result of the difficult economic environment impacting the publishing industry." OUP employs roughly 700 people in the U.S., and publishes approximately 500 new titles a year, approximately half of which are monographs. OUP spokesperson Christian Purdy said besides shedding jobs, the press was not planning any dramatic cuts to its publishing program or to any other strategic initiatives. Purdy said the cut was made in anticipation of a reduction in state and library budgets for next year.

 

O'Reilly Media Lays Off 30 People

On Thursday O'Reilly laid off 21 employees at its Sebastopol, CA headquarters and more throughout the company. The local paper says, "The cuts affected almost 14 percent the company's 222 employees." Spokesperson Sara Winge says, "we're being hit by the economic malaise." She indicates that, "the Digital Media branch was restructured into one publishing division along with the company's Missing Manual group, O'Reilly Technology Exchange and its Head First series." The report says the company had sales of about $70 million in 2007. Press Democrat

Sterling Cut, Too; Naming Names at RH

The job reductions announced earlier this week by Barnes & Noble have extended beyond the executive office and bookselling part of the company into their Sterling Publishing unit. One source at Sterling estimates that approximately 15 people at the publishing unit were laid off, throughout Sterling's New York office, Lark Books line, and warehouse. At least two Sterling executives were let go. Moby Lives has information on one of them.

BN spokesperson Mary Ellen Keating would not confirm or comment on our information, saying that, "we have not broken out reductions by department." Asked about Sterling's publishing output, she said, "there are no plans to cut title lists."

Separately, the Observer names some of the people--principally editors-included in the cuts at Bantam Dell and elsewhere in the revised Random House Publishing Group. 

ABA's CEO to Step Down in July; Search Committee Established

American Booksellers Association president Gayle Shanks wrote to association members to share the news that ceo Avin Domnitz will leave the organization after the expiration of his contract this July after what will have been 12 years on the job. She writes, "I want to assure you that the ABA Board is working diligently to make this transition smooth and transparent. We will, with the help of our CEO Search Committee, find and hire a successor who will continue the programs we as an association depend on." [I'd offer to help out, but I'm already running three companies. I can do the work of three people ... but only three.] Shanks letter


RWA PETITION From Gina Wellborn

One of my dear friends and crit partners sent me this. Please read and
prayfully consider signing ... if you're an RWA member.

For those of you who may not know, many authors were disqualified from the
RITAs this year due to the phrase "mass-produced" being slipped into the
rules. That small phrase effectively eliminates all those who are epubbed,
but have a print book. There are other inequities in RWA that have yet to
be addressed as well. Until now.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ChangeRWA/index.html

I've created the above petition in the hopes of changing these inequities
for the better. I intend to present this petition and the garnered
signatures at the general meeting in DC this year.

Go, sign, and then tell every writer/author you know. Pass it on to your
friends, your other writing groups, your chapters, who ever you know that
might be interested in seeing these changes occur. I'm counting on you all
to help me get a ton of signatures. I'd like at least 1000, but 1500 would
make me even happier. Let's let our voices be heard!

 

Editors

Chronicle Books Christina Amini and Steve Mockus have both been named senior editor. Jason Sacher has been named associate editor. [PW]

Headline publishing director Harriet Evans is leaving her job to focus full-time on writing, with her fourth novel due for publication this fall. [PW]

Andrew Proctor is the new executive director of Literary Arts, taking over from Elizabeth Burnett, who resigned last September. Most recently, he was membership and operations director for PEN American Center in New York. [PW]

At Riverhead, Laura Perciasepe has been promoted to associate editor. [PW]

Abby Ranger, previously associate editor at Scholastic Press, has joined Disney-Hyperion Books as editor, reporting to editorial director Stephanie Owens Lurie. [PW]
 

Strang Communications Launches Inspirational Romance

From: Jeff Gerke

Debbie Marrie, the wonderful editor who replaced me when I left the fiction department at Strang Communications, has asked me to help spread the word about something new this publishing company is doing.

They're now going into Christian romances. I'll let you read her description:

We are now considering getting into the Christian romance scene, so send these writers my way. I am currently accepting for evaluation any completed manuscripts for prairie romances, Amish romances, etc.--basically anything with a man, woman, horse and buggy. AND, very important, we are only interested in manuscripts that are the first in a series, with summaries for all books in the series having been developed and the first manuscript completely written.

If you would like to have her consider your romance series, you or your agent should contact Debbie directly at debbie.marrie@strang.com. 

 

New Alloy Unit to Offer Advances

By Jim Milliot Publisher's Weekly

Alloy Entertainment, the creator of such hits as Gossip Girl and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, has launched a new unit that will accept manuscripts for publication. Up until now, Alloy has generated all of its ideas in-house, but the Alloy Entertainment Collaborative will look to acquire up to 12 books annually with an emphasis on women's fiction, young adult, middle grade, and chapter books. The Collaborative will be headed by executive v-p Josh Bank. Bank said he hopes the initiative will strengthen Alloy in such areas as adult fiction and middle grades.

Alloy is developing submission guidelines for authors who are interested in submitting unagented manuscripts, but president Leslie Morgenstein said he expects the majority of projects to come from agents. Alloy will pay low five-figure advances against publishing royalties, a departure from its usual model in which writers receive a revenue split. Writers will still receive a split after the advance is earned back. "We're adding a new fork to our business model," Morgenstein said.

 

Alloy will work on all manuscripts it acquires before submitting them to publishers. Morgenstein emphasized that Alloy is not interested in becoming a publisher, but intends the Collaborative "to open us up to new writers." In keeping with its traditional model, Alloy is looking for projects that work across film, television and new media, but Bank said the company will look at manuscripts that work best as books. "The most important thing is that they have commercial potential," he said.

 

Ted Parkhurst Launches New Publisher
Ted Parkhurst, who sold August House Publishers to Marsh Cove Productions in 2005, has returned to the book business as founder of Parkhurst Brothers. The Little Rock, Ark. publisher will focus its efforts on a series called "Our National Conversation," which will feature books about national and international policy; topics will range from the World Bank to green architecture. Five titles are set for release this spring led by a business book by Collins Andrews, Listen to Your Work. Roger Armbrust, former national news editor for Backstage is editor-in chief of the series. Distribution will be through the University of Chicago Press. The four other titles set for release in 2008 are A Kingdom at Any Cost, Cubs' Fans Leadership Secrets, The World Bank Revealed, and The Aesthetic Astronaut.

Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition

For 78 years, the Annual Competition has rewarded writers just like you for their finest work. We continue the tradition by giving away more than $30,000 in cash and prizes!

Win a trip to New York City

GRAND PRIZE: $3,000 cash and a trip to New York City to meet with editors or agents.Writer's Digest will fly you and a guest to The Big Apple, where you'll spend three days and two nights in the publishing capital of the world. While you're there, a Writer's Digest editor will escort you to meet and share your work with four editors or agents! Plus, you'll receive a free Diamond Publishing Package from Outskirts Press.

Entry Deadline:  May 15, 2009.

For entrants paying with a credit card, we will accept manuscripts submitted online. Manuscripts in the script categories must be submitted via regular mail

Compete and Win in 10 Categories!

  • Inspirational Writing (Spiritual/Religious)
  • Memoirs/Personal Essay
  • Magazine Feature Article
  • Genre Short Story (Mystery, Romance, etc.)
  • Mainstream/Literary Short Story
  • Rhyming Poetry
  • Non-rhyming Poetry
  • Stage Play
  • Television/Movie Script
  • Children's/Young Adult Fiction

Entry Fee: Poems are $15 for the first entry; $10 for each additional poem submitted in the same online session. All other entries are $20 for the first manuscript; $15 for each additional manuscript submitted in the same online session.

Add $5 per manuscript to all entries postmarked after May 15, 2009. Entries postmarked after June 01, 2009, will not be accepted.

PRIZES

Grand Prize: $3,000 cash and a trip to New York City to meet with editors and agents.

You'll spend three days and two nights in NYC and a Writer's Digest editor will escort you to meet with four editors or agents of your choice! (Includes airfare within the U.S., meals, transportation and related expenses.)

First Place: The First Place Winner in each category receives $1,000 cash, a manuscript critique and marketing advice from a Writer's Digest editor or advisory board member, and $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books.

Second Place: The Second Place Winner in each category receives $500 cash, plus $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books.

Third Place: The Third Place Winner in each category receives $250 cash, plus $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books.

Fourth Place: The Fourth Place Winner in each category receives $100 cash.

Fifth Place: The Fifth-Place Winner in each category receives $50 cash.

Sixth through Tenth Place: The Sixth- through Tenth-Place winners in each category receive $25 cash.

First through Tenth Place Winners also receive a copy of the 2010 Writer's Market Deluxe Edition and a one-year subscription (new or renewal) to Writer's Digest Magazine.

11th through 100th Place: All other winners receive distinctive certificates honoring their accomplishment.

For entrants paying with a credit card, we will accept manuscripts submitted online. Manuscripts in the script categories must be submitted via regular mail.

Entry Deadline: May 15, 2009

Late Entry Deadline: June 01, 2009 (Add $5 per manuscript or poem to Entry Fee(s)


78th Annual Writer's Digest WRITING COMPETITION COLLECTION Sponsored by Outskirts Press

The Grand Prize manuscript, the First Place manuscript in each category, and the names of the top 100 winners in each category will be printed in a special competition collection, published by Outskirts Press. Use the coupon on the entry form to order your copy or purchase a copy online using a credit card. (Publication date: November 2009. You are not required to purchase the collection to enter the competition.)

RULES

The Categories:

You may enter as many manuscripts as you like in each of the following categories:

  • Memoirs/Personal Essay, Magazine Feature Article and Children's/Young Adult Fiction: 2,000 words maximum.
  • Mainstream/Literary Short Story and Genre Short Story: 4,000 words maximum.
  • Inspirational Writing: 2,500 words maximum.
  • Rhyming Poem and Non-rhyming Poem: 32 lines maximum.
  • Stage Play Script or Television/Movie Script: Send the first 15 pages in standard script format, plus a one-page synopsis. Complete scripts are not eligible. Scripts-original or written for any series in production on or after January 1, 2009-are eligible; adaptations will not be accepted.

Preparing Your Entry:

  1. If you are submitting your entry via regular mail, the entry must be accompanied by an Entry Form, and the required entry fee (credit card information, check or money order made payable to Writer's Digest). If you are entering more than one manuscript, you may mail all entries in the same envelope and write one check for the total entry fee; however, each manuscript must have its category indicated in the upper left-hand corner.
  2. Your entry must be original, in English, unpublished* and unproduced, not accepted by any other publisher or producer at the time of submission.Writer's Digest retains one-time publication rights to the Grand Prize and First Place winning entries in each category to be published in a Writer's Digest publication.

* Entries in the Magazine Feature Article category may be previously published.

  1. If you are submitting your entry via regular mail, the entry must be typed on one side of 8-1/2 x 11 or A4 white paper. Scripts and poems may be either double-or single-spaced; all other manuscripts must be double-spaced. Online entries may lose double-spacing. This WILL NOT result in disqualification. Your name, address, phone number and competition category must appear in the upper left-hand corner of the first page-otherwise your entry is disqualified.
  2. BE SURE OF YOUR WORD COUNT! Entries exceeding the word or page limits will be disqualified. Type the exact word count(counting every single word, except the title and contact information) at the top of the manuscript.
  3. Mailed entries must be stapled
  4. Every entry will be read by the judges. Judges' decisions are final. Judges reserve the right to re-categorize entries.
  5. Entries must be postmarked by June 1, 2009. We cannot return submitted manuscripts so keep a copy for your records. To receive notification of the receipt of your manuscript, send a self-addressed stamped postcard along with your entry. Please note that it may take up to 30 days after the deadline for all entries to be opened and sent to the judges.
  6. The Grand Prize Winner and a guest must agree to travel (flying from the same city) during March, April or May 2010. The editors or agents who meet with the Grand Prize Winner are under no obligation to read, buy or represent the Grand Prize Winner's work. For more information on the free Diamond Publishing package from Outskirts Press, visit http://www.outskirtspress.com/diamondpublishing.php.
  7. The following are not permitted to enter the contest: employees of F+W Media, Inc., and their immediate family members; Writer's Digest contributing editors and correspondents as listed on our masthead; Writer's Online Workshops instructors; and Grand Prize Winners from the previous three years.
  8. Top Award Winners will be notified by mail before October 19, 2009. The top 10 winners in each category will be listed in the December 2009 issue of Writer's Digest. All 1,001 winners will be listed in the 78th Annual Writer's Digest Competition Collection (published by Outskirts Press) and at www.writersdigest.com after the December issue is published. Prizes/awards certificates will be mailed by November 9, 2009.

QUESTIONS?

Please review the competitions FAQs. For additional questions, contact Writer's Digest Competitions at (715) 445-4612 x13430 or email writing-competition@fwpubs.com

 

 

The 2009 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense Contest

IS YOUR MYSTERY OR ROMANTIC SUSPENSE A CLASSIC?

 

Are you ready to enter a contest that opens doors to publication or increases your book sales? There's only one way to find out... 

 

The Daphne UNPUBLISHED CONTEST is going ELECTRONIC. With four judges per entry, and the lowest score dropped, the contest is known for its sterling competition and excellent feedback. Finalists will have the opportunity to get their manuscripts in front of both an editor and an agent. To see our stellar line of agent/editor Final Round Judges, rules and to enter online, check out: www.rwamysterysuspense.org

 

PUBLISHED AUTHORS: Is your mystery or romantic suspense a 2008 copyright? If so, now is the time to enter the Daphne Published portion of the contest to see how your novel stacks up alongside the best mystery, suspense, and romantic suspense authors in the business. For rules and a downloadable entry form with instructions on where to send your book, check out: www.rwamysterysupsense.org

 

The contest is now open and closes March 16, 2009. With one of the lowest contest fees available and so much to gain, it would be a crime to miss out. Genres:  Mainstream Mystery/Suspense (romance optional), Single Title Romantic Mystery/Suspense, Inspirational Romantic Mystery/Suspense, Historical Romantic Mystery/Suspense, Category (Series) Romantic Mystery/Suspense and Paranormal (PTTF) Romantic Mystery/Suspense.

We look forward to reading YOUR classic!  

 

Questions to Daphne Overall Coordinator:  bellson@comast.net      

 

 

Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards)

From: Amy Schultheis

Just wanted to remind any self-publishers or independent presses out there that if you have a title published in 2008, you can submit it to the prestigious Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards).

Fee to enter is $85, closes March 21st, 2009. More information is available here: http://www.independentpublisher.com/ipland/IPAwards.php

The IPPY Awards were conceived as a broad-based, unaffiliated awards program open to all members of the independent publishing industry, and are open to authors and publishers worldwide who produce books written in English and intended for the North American market. We define "independent" as 1) independently owned and operated; 2) operated by a foundation or university; or 3) long-time independents that became incorporated but operate autonomously and publish fewer than 50 titles a year.

Thanks and good luck to all participants!

Open to independents worldwide who publish for the North American market

Books with 2008 copyright or that were released in 2008 are eligible

65 subject categories in National awards

Regional awards for 8 U.S. and 2 Canadian regions


Winners receive medals, certificates, and earn credibility, publicity -- and increased book sales!

Faith, Hope, and Love's Inspirational Reader's Choice Contest

From: Nancy J. Farrier

Can you believe it's already the last week in January? Have you entered your published book(s) in? If not, now is the time to do so. This is a unique contest for authors of Inspirational fiction. The IRCC is the only contest of its kind, where Inspirational fiction is divided into categories and judged by readers, not writers. You have the opportunity to reach new readers. So follow this link http://www.faithhopelove-rwa.org/contests.htm and enter your book(s). Thank you.

ECPA Announces Christian Book Expo Dallas 2009

Consumer Book Event to Be Held March 20-22 in Dallas

  • Visit www.ChristianBookExpo for the scoop on this first-ever show
  • Check out the social networking links (MySpace, etc) at the CBE website.  Bloggers can join group/s and tell friends about CBE.
  • Blog about the idea of a Christian Book Show for the public, the panel topics and panelists, etc. The first 200 people to publish a CBE blog post of 100+ words will receive complimentary admission to the show! Send the link to your post to be eligible.  
  • Interview Mark Kuyper in advance of the show for a blog post. 
  • NOTE: Press registration is for professional members of the press only. However, coupons for $5 off admission are available at Family Christian Stores in the DFW area.

Dallas/Fort Worth, TX-The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is launching the Christian Book Expo Dallas 2009, a new consumer-oriented book event. This event, a first for ECPA and the first Christian book fair of its type, will bring together publishers, authors and consumers. ECPA is holding this event to reach a critical demographic - anybody making or influencing book buying decisions.

The first Christian Book Expo will be held in Dallas, Texas, March 20-22, 2009, at the Dallas Convention Center. More than 389,000 square feet (100,000 is exhibit floor) has been reserved and dates are being set for the event in 2010 and 2011. ECPA is inviting publishers, ministries, authors and booksellers to exhibit in this open-to-the-public event. Activities at the three-day Expo will include workshops, seminars, mini-events and evening programming-all lead by authors.

"Reaching the consumer is essential to the future of Christian publishing," said ECPA President Mark Kuyper. "Our goal with the Christian Book Expo is to connect the top authors from across the country with core customers from the region. We are dedicated to reaching the largest audience possible with the life-changing message in books, Bibles and other Christian resources."

ECPA is actively marketing this event to area pastors, lay leaders, Christian ministry workers, area counselors, retailers, and influential consumers. "Dallas was the natural choice for the first-ever Christian Book Expo," says Kuyper. "There are more mega-churches in the Dallas metropolitan area than any other city in the country, and thousands of Christian book-buyers call Dallas home."

ECPA is currently finalizing the event pricing structure and will announce the specific prices soon. According to current price models, a consumer would pay no more than $50 for admission to the entire three-day event. Day passes will be significantly less and children under 17 would be admitted free. 

Kuyper and the ECPA Board believe the Christian Book Expo will compliment other industry shows. Says Kuyper: "We are strategically reaching out to consumers of Christian books. We know that a positive experience will only make them more loyal to Christian products-wherever they are sold."

Christian products will be sold to consumers at the Christian Book Expo. ECPA sees several options for purchase-either direct sales from an exhibiting publisher, direct sales from an exhibiting retailer, or an exhibiting publisher can make sales arrangements in its booth from a local retailer. ECPA is also talking to retailers about a centralized store for the entire Expo.

However, Kuyper says that event sales are not the goal of Christian Book Expo Dallas 2009:  "We are trying to build future retail sales. We believe these influential Christians will experience these authors and their message and take that message back to their friends and church families and in turn refer them to their local retailer. Our goal is for awareness and exposure."  

Support for the event is widespread across the industry.  Michael S. Hyatt, President and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Nelson and ECPA's Chairman of the Board, believes this consumer-oriented event will provide significant opportunities to enhance the audience for religious books, "After attending the Guadalajara Book Fair this past fall, I saw first-hand how an event like this could connect authors and their books to the general public on a large scale. I think that ECPA's Christian Book Expo will provide a similar opportunity for authors, retailers, and consumers to come together in a way that creates excitement for anyone who loves books. And for Thomas Nelson, we believe this event will be a positive experience for both our authors and our retail partners. We are committed to making this event a success."

Hardy Weathers, President of the Nazarene Publishing House, agrees: "As a member of ECPA's board and the leader of a denominational publishing program, I am excited about the Christian Book Expo in Dallas. It is an opportunity for us to reach outside our natural audience to a larger group of influential book consumers."

For more information on the 2009 Christian Book Expo, contact Mark Kuyper, 480-966-3998. Visit www.ChristianBookExpo.com

# # #

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade organization, comprised of nearly 250 member companies worldwide, representing a combined revenue of nearly $2 billion. Founded in 1974, ECPA is dedicated to serving the Christian publishing industry through equipping its members through cutting-edge technology, meaningful data, dynamic educational opportunity and unprecedented access to markets. For more information about ECPA: 480-966-3998 phone, 480-966-1944 fax, 9633 South 48th Street, Suite 140, Phoenix, Arizona 85044, info@ecpa.org www.ecpa.org.

RWA Conference, 2009 - Open for Registration

Registration and hotel reservations for the 2009 RWA Conference in Washington, D.C., opened January 20. Please note that hotel reservations will be handled differently this year.

This year, registrants will not be able to reserve rooms online directly through Passkey. Instead, registrants will need to make reservations by mailing or faxing the hotel reservation form to RWA or by completing an online form through RWA (an RWA staff member will call for your credit card number). We have had to institute this new process in order to better control our room block, and we appreciate your understanding. Instructions on reserving a room at the Marriott Wardman Park hotel and a deeper explanation behind the new reservation process will be in the February RWR and online by January 20 (when conference registration opens). E-mail conference@rwanational.org with questions, or call Cheryl Dickerson at 832-717-5200, Ext. 128.

For more information about the RWA Conference, visit the Conferences & Events section of the RWA Web site. [This is the first year I won't be attending. Two reasons: Conferences totally screw me up, what with my OCD's and Bipolar Disorder; and if they hear I'm comin' to D.C., they might lock down the airport. I'm second on the hit-list, after Ann Coulter....]

Publisher, Editor, All-Around-Great-Guy Jeff Gerke Needs Help With His Adoption! Need an edit? No one's better than Jeff

Mr. Jeff Gerke, former NavPress and Multnomah editor, now Publisher of Marcher Lord Press, and his wife Robin, want to adopt a little girl. So, what's so unusual about that? "Sophie" is waiting for them in China. She's a 'special needs' child. Most people know Chinese families can have only one child, so they want a boy. A girl is bad enough, but a girl with a bilateral cleft lip and palate is a 'throw away' child. That's what happened to Sophie--her parents abandoned her. But someone here wants her. Unfortunately, that takes a ton of money. We're willing to work for it.

Need an edit? I'm running an eBay auction this month for an edit by Jeff Gerke. A "3X3." [Three-by-Three]. Get your first three chapters edited within three weeks! Minimum bid (and it had better go higher) is $24.99. There was some confusion last month, as some of you couldn't find my auction. That's because a smart gal bid your doors off by snaggin' my edit at the 'Buy it Now' price of $250.00. Don't miss your chance this time! Go to www.ebay.com and type 'Publisher-Editor Jeff Gerke 3-Chapter Edit' in the search box.

Let's give to someone in our industry, and save a precious, abandoned child. Won't ya help us bring little Sophie home? Happy bidding! If you'd like to help, but don't need an edit, Jeff has a PayPal account set up that feeds 'Sophie's Savings Account.' Just pop over to PayPal at: www.paypal.com and use this e-mail address to donate: sophie@jeffersonscott.com. No amount is too small, as every dollar adds up. Thanks so much, and may God richly bless you for your unselfish giving to others.

[If you're an agent, editor, or pubbed author who'd like to donate your time to edit for an eBay 3X3 auction, please shoot an e-mail to: kmortimer@mortimerliterary.com]

Here's the latest from Jeff...

"Things are really starting to accelerate on our adoption. As I mentioned previously, we weren't expecting our child match photo until probably March, and it came two days before Christmas. After that, we weren't expecting our pre-approval for eight weeks, and it came in two. I (Jeff) had been told I couldn't get a doctor's appointment for my travel shots for six weeks, and I got it in one (that MMR shot hurts). We were told our Acceptance Letter from China (which fully "seals the deal" for us to go adopt our Sophie) would come almost exactly two months after our child match, but it came yesterday--after less than one month. Will this trend continue? We have no idea but we like it.

Now they're telling us that our travel approvals (our official invitations to come to China) will come 2-4 weeks after we sign and return our Acceptance Letter, and our adoption agency is estimating that we will probably leave for China within 5-8 weeks from now. And if the acceleration trend continues, we could be traveling in February! So we're scrambling around again filling out forms and getting signatures notarized and applying for visas.

Are you ready for the even bigger news? As soon as we found out our baby would have cleft lip and palate we applied for the cleft palate program at Shriners Hospital in Chicago. Children they accept into this program have all their surgeries, orthodontia, and everything else done and paid for by Shriners Hospital until the children are 20! We found out this week that Sophie has been accepted into the program!

It's incredible. If we ever doubted God's hand in this adoption, this outrageously extravagant gift answers that conclusively. Imagine, going from abandonment because of her gender and deformity to a loving home and the promise that her face will be fixed and she'll have an entire team of world-class surgeons and therapists working on her for the first 20 years of her life. To me, that feels a lot like how God works.

Of course, we'll have to get her to Chicago several times a year, and Shriners doesn't pay for that. But we believe that God is going to work out the details. Who knows, we might move to Chicago. There's actually a job opening at a publishing company in Indianapolis that I've applied for. New freelance jobs have slowed to a trickle with the recession. Indianapolis is three hours south of Chicago (key: warmer in winter), and is a lot closer to the hospital than Colorado Springs is. As soon as we get our baby home there's really nothing keeping us in the Springs--except good friends, etc.

The other part of all of this, of course, is that now the adoption agency is needing money from us. Amigo money, to quote The Three Amigos. Through a portion of my grandfather's inheritance, our own savings, and gifts from wonderful people like you, we have paid over $8,000 for the adoption so far. Now they need the balance, which is probably going to come to more than $15,000 additional.

Between what we have in the adoption savings account and a generous promise of help from my family, we have enough to cover more than half of that. But we anticipate that there will be an additional $6,000 or so that we'll need to come up with from other means.

I hate asking for money for this, especially of people who may have donated to this

adoption in the past--sometimes more than once. So please don't feel pressured to give. We are 100% confident this adoption is going to happen. But I won't discourage you to participate, if you feel so led. If you were thinking of doing so, now's the time."

Fudge-Laced Felonies - Book 1 in the Summer Meadows Mystery Series

By CYNTHIA HICKEY

(Barbour- Heartsong Presents: Mysteries) Available now in major bookstores and online

While transplanting the rosebush her church's handsome youth pastor, Ethan Banning, inadvertently killed, Summer and Ethan uncover a hidden stash of diamonds, a rusty can brimming with cash, and a bloody gardening glove. The discovery sets Summer and her candy-making aunt in search of a diamond thief and possible killer.

Ethan's love for Summer stays buried, waiting for God to tell him it's time to declare his feelings. Meanwhile, Summer's quirky and daring resolve to crack the case has Ethan worried. In trying to protect her, he almost pushes her away.

As Summer gets close to unmasking the criminal, and her true feelings for Ethan, the crook hatches a plan to hush the feisty sleuth. Can Ethan save her, and their love?

Got Lists?

As a matter of fact, I do. These are direct mail lists valuable to e-pub and self-published authors, or anyone handling their publicity. All lists are Excel. Here's what I have:

  • 585 Libraries List w/Contact Info, Including Budgets (Cost around $900)
  • 202 Romance-Friendly Bookstores
  • 100 Library Addresses by State
  • 72 Bookstore List of What Promo Items They Want
  • 54 Headquarters of Independent Bookstores
  • 18 National Book Buyers List (Books a Million, Borders, etc.)
  • And a Partridge in a Pear Tree (that'll cost ya extra)

I'll e-mail you all six lists for a measly $50.00. What a deal! E-mail me with your request and send a check to:

Kelly Mortimer * 52645 Paui Road * Aguanga, CA 92536

 

Help Make a Great Web Site for Writers, Fantastic!

Still need info for the Perils of Publishing site. Please e-mail your links and free yellow page ads if you're a writer with a writing-related business to: glink@galliumo.com. Type: "Link / (the category)," or "W-4-W" in the subject line. Thanks!

 

That's all for this week. May God bless and keep you.

Kelly

 e Dirt

 

 

 To unsubscribe cuz ya don't want a career in the publishing industry select this link