Nom de Plume: permission to write with abandon?
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December 23, 2014

French for ‘pen name,’ a nom de plume is a fictitious name under which an author publishes. Mark Twain was the nom de plume of Samuel Clemens. George Eliot sounded more serious than Mary Ann Evans.  Theodore Geisel was known as Dr. Seuss. In 1899 William Sydney Porter took the name O. Henry so editors might never know the stories were submitted by a convicted… [Read More]

Top 10 Books of 2014
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December 16, 2014

It’s December and I reflect back on the books I’ve read this year which stand out above all others from my vantage as a book development editor. Here’s my top 10 list of great new books and why I think these works will stand the test of time. Fiction #1 A Tale for the Time Being  by Ruth Ozeki – March 2013 In Tokyo, sixteen-year-old… [Read More]

How to use Twitter for research and writing
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December 9, 2014

Nearly a billion people have registered accounts on Twitter and 100 million of them use it every day. Three quarters of them on a mobile device. As a writer, it’s easy to dismiss Twitter. If you’re an author, it’s a mistake to do so. If your readers are over 50 years old or under 10, you won’t find them on Twitter, right? Wrong question. If… [Read More]

Should an author have a Facebook Page before or after publication?
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November 25, 2014

It is one of the most frequent questions I get when I meet an author. Do I need a Facebook Page? Not until your book is about to be released. You need to consider using Facebook if your target audience uses Facebook. There are 1.11 billion users of Facebook, so there is a good chance some of your readers are there. It is a great tool… [Read More]

Writing a book review and maintaining your dignity in the digital era
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November 18, 2014

Typically written for new releases 30 days before publication date or up to 90 days afterwards, book reviews are 500-750 word essays which give other readers an idea of what the book is about so they can decide whether or not to read it. I blogged about the reasons to consider book reviews a couple of weeks ago. Here I provide suggestions on what to… [Read More]

Who will review your book?
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November 4, 2014

As an author, this is a critical question to ask yourself as you begin to plan and write your book proposal. You’ll need to provide a list of reviewers as part of your marketing and publicity plans. Book reviews come in all sizes, colors, and styles these days. Once the purview of literary critics, many book reviews have turned into book reports. Remember fourth grade?… [Read More]

Reading is the gateway to good writing
by,
October 7, 2014

Should I write or should I read a book? When I am short on time it’s easy to read a few pages on the bus, in the waiting room, or even in the bath. The number of pages accumulate quickly even though I only have time to read books in short bursts on most days. This is also true for writing. I grab every opportunity… [Read More]

10 Tips for Blogging: Strategies for Success
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September 30, 2014

Six weeks of sabbatical from blogging this summer passed quickly. Too quickly. Sweetly slipped through my fingers.  Like melting ice cubes. Rippling waves against ancient cliffs on Lake Superior’s shores. Finding the time and space and inspiration to write and do research without worrying about what anybody else thinks. Need I say more? The website redesign gave me the perfect excuse to pause and reflect… [Read More]

The Battle with Monopsony: Amazon v. Books
by,
June 27, 2014
Using Citation Machine - Project Gutenberg Image

There is a war raging in book publishing. Amazon v. Authors, Books, Bookstores, Publishers, and Readers. There has been a long buildup to this conflict. It’s recently heated up over the pricing of ebooks with Hatchette. To bring in reinforcements, Hachette announced a three way deal. It intends to purchase Perseus Books and sell off distribution services to Ingram. Germany launches an investigation of Amazon… [Read More]