Sunday, January 31, 2010

Go forth and blog...

Last week, the Associated Press reported that Pope Benedict XVI urged priests to use multimedia tools, to do what we do --- have a presence where are readers are.

The Pope, though, according to the article, also “praised new ways of communicating as a "gift to humanity" when used to foster friendship and understanding."

"That doesn't mean that (every priest) must open a blog or a Web site. It means that the church and the faithful must engage in this ministry in a digital world," Monsignor Claudio Maria Celli, who heads the Vatican's social communications office, told reporters. "At some point, a balance will be found." Celli, 68, said that young priests would have no trouble following the pope's message, but, he joked, "those who have a certain age will struggle a bit more."

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Sisters: An Anthology, radio clips


If you were unable to attend our Celebration of Sisters event at The Book Stall on Saturday, we have an upcoming Sisters: An Anthology salon scheduled with the Women's Exchange. Date will be posted as details are worked out.

For a treat, in the interim, enjoy this brief audio clip from WFCR Radio
http://www.wfcr.org/

Amazon offers royalties on Kindle book sales


This from MediaBistro...

Amazon Announces 70 Percent Royalty Option for Kindle Publishing
By Jason Boog on Jan 20, 2010 10:23 AM

This morning, eBookNewser broke the news that starting on June 30, 2010, Amazon (AMZN) will offer a new 70 percent royalty option for works published on the Kindle.

Here's the official language: "For each Kindle book sold, authors and publishers who choose the new 70 percent royalty option will receive 70 percent of list price, net of delivery costs. This new option will be in addition to and will not replace the existing DTP standard royalty option."

The new revenue split resembles a rumor about the Apple Tablet from last December. Some insiders believe that Apple (AAPL) will strike a 30/70 revenue split with publishers.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Agent's role: Or a roll of the dice?

Here are a few imiportant excerpts from a Wall St. Journal article today entitled: The Death of the Slush Pile

These excerpts point out the critical value of author marketing. That's why one-third of Release Your Writing covers the marketing strategies authors need, to keep their book alive, and why I started the Pajama Marketing blog as well. Keep visiting for ideas, and keep your marketing active. Look how critical it is today: (emphasis mine)

excerpts from The Death of The Slush Pile, WSJ

Even in the Web era, getting in the door is tougher than ever
• Don't be a barista waiting for someone to stumble upon your genius. "Our editors travel, they get around. They look at writer's conferences, at MFA programs. They look at magazine articles and at blogs. That's what editors do, they sniff things out from so many different sources." —Carol Schneider, Random House Publishing Group

• Contests! "I'm always wary to recommend to writers that they go to competitions too much because there are fees and they can end up spending a lot of money. But the ones that do get industry attention are really fantastic opportunities to network and to make important relationships." —Hannah Minghella, president of production, Sony Animation Studios, formerly in development at Miramax

A primary aim of the slush pile used to be to discover unpublished voices. But today, writing talent isn't necessarily enough. It helps to have a big-media affiliation, or be effective on TV. "We are being more selective in taking on clients because the publishers are demanding much more from the authors than ever before," says Laurence J. Kirshbaum, former CEO of Time Warner Book Group and now an agent. "From a publisher's standpoint, the marketing considerations, especially on non-fiction, now often outweigh the editorial ones."

In 2008. HarperCollins launched Authonomy.com, a Web slush pile. Writers can upload their manuscripts, readers vote for their favorites, and HarperCollins editors read the five highest-rated manuscripts each month. About 10,000 manuscripts have been loaded so far and HarperCollins has bought four.

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Saturday, January 9, 2010

A motivation boost from Writer's Digest

It's very cold in Chicago this morning. Even the little teddy bear in his pj's can't keep warm over at Pajama Marketing. So go visit him http://wp.me/pw4DH-5p and learn about the special Writer's Digest promotion. They are signing people up, just til Jan. 31, for a year of Writer's Market online edition for $29.99 - the price they used way back in 2000.

If you need motivation, need to research the markets, find ideas, read publishing industry news, that's the place to be.

Besides, Mr. Bear needs a hug over there!

Helen Gallagher

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Agent reports success with eBay auction

For those following the July 5th post "Agent auctions her service on eBay..." you'll be glad to know the agent visited our blog and posted of her success with this innovative way to receive submissions.

Click here to read my original July 5th post, and Irene's comments,
and then click here to visit her web site. She is continuing to accept manuscripts through the auction method each month.

If you have a manuscript ready for critique, don't miss the opportunity for feedback. All proceeds support her fund-raising efforts for the Foundation Fighting Blindness and the Deafness Research Foundation.

A win-win-win ...

Let us know of your success.