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So frequently, I read the news of book deals and think, “huh?” But here’s one I’m super-excited about. Here’s the book I’ve been waiting for! Publishers Marketplace is reporting the following deal:  “Robert Morgan’s BIGFOOT OBSERVERS FIELD MANUAL, a practical field manual written by a leading expert on the subject meant to entice a peaceful [...]

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The book critics over at the New York Times have amassed an interesting collection of items authors and publishers sent when trying to get their books reviewed.

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Publishers Weekly is reporting that bestselling author Jon Krakauer has withdrawn his “meditation on the nature of heroism, examined through the story of Pat Tillman, the former football star killed in Afghanistan by friendly fire.” Doubleday had a scheduled release for this coming October and a massive 500,000 first printing. The article states that Krakauer is keeping [...]

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So I go to Hollywood for a few days to handle some business and what happens? Motley Crue’s lead singer Vince Neil signs a honking big book deal. The indispensable Publishers Marketplace reports that “Vince Neil’s LEWD, CRUED, AND HEAVILY TATTOOED, telling the unfiltered story from the band’s most controversial member, including the real reason [...]

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Galleycat posted an interesting essay by Andrew F. Altschul on memoirs and the difference between James Frey and Scott McClellan.

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Nathan Bransford has a great post about a sort of point system to reviewing queries and how people break the rules when approaching agents. The important thing to remember when you contemplate breaking some rule in querying an editor or agent is that your strategy should be deliberate and justified. We’re not talking about complete [...]

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Back in April, I posted a reference to J.A. Konrath’s description of how luck plays a role in what you get paid for your work. That can be a difficult lesson to learn. But luck not only influences your income as a writer. It also frequently helps or hinders the very act of getting published. I’m not talking [...]

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My obsession with guitars is well known, so you won’t be surprised that I was incredibly disappointed yesterday to see the news that Bo Diddley had passed away at the age of 79. The New York Times has a very good overview of the man and his career here. I had been fascinated with metal [...]

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I’m afraid that eBay has been letting me down lately. I used to entertain myself by perusing the Books section and examining the auctions where someone was selling their manuscript or life story. I would go to the Books section, search without selecting any of the categories (so you basically get every single book related item on the site), and [...]

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Here’s a good bit of ranting about poetry editors from The Buffaloe Pen. Nice way to inject some venom and energy into your Monday morning. [via Literary Rejections on Display.]

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Jonathan Miles’s debut novel, Dear American Airlines gets a good review from Richard Russo in the New York Times. I’m about halfway through this quick novel and will have more about it later. But for now, I just wonder what the airline’s PR department thinks about it. Granted, a literary novel isn’t exactly going to [...]

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