BookLife

On Wednesday we introduced you to prolific author, consultant and popular blogger Nicola Morgan, and as promised, today is your opportunity to ask her any of your own questions about publishing, writing and other literary concerns. Just leave your questions in the comments section of this post, and check back later for answers.

Selected posts from Nicola’s blog, Help! I Need a Publisher!
Failure to be published: the harsh reality

What to expect around publication

Book launch truths

Deciphering your rejection letter(s)

In defense of authors

Additional literary news:
Ravit Lichtenberg predicts ten ways social media will change in 2010

Numerous sources are reporting that both Kirkus Reviews and Editor & Publisher will be ceasing publication.

The New York Times reports that some publishers are delaying the release of e-book editions of some new titles due to possible concerns that they might cut into hardcover sales.

Some independent bookstores are fighting competition from e-book sales and chain retailers by importing UK editions of books not due for sale yet in the United States.

Leading periodical publishers have formed a venture that some are describing as a “Hulu for Magazines.”

Matt Staggs is a literary publicist and the proprietor of Deep Eight LLC, a boutique publicity agency utilizing the best publicity practices from the worlds of traditional media and evolving social technologies. He has worked in the fields of public relations and journalism for almost a decade. In addition to his work as a publicist, Matt is a book reviewer and writer whose work appears in both print and web publications.

As I promised on Wednesday, Colleen Lindsay is here to answer any questions you might have about the publishing industry. All you’ve got to do to participate is leave your question in the comments section of this post.

Although I provided a very brief introduction to Colleen in the prior post, I asked her if she would mind giving us a more detailed statement about her life and work. Here it is:

Colleen Lindsay is a literary agent with FinePrint Literary Management, LLC. Colleen’s first job in publishing was in Northern California as a mass merchandise sales assistant for Ballantine Books. For five years she served as Director of Publicity for Del Rey Books where she specialized in the creative publicity and marketing of science fiction, fantasy, pop culture, YA fantasy, graphic novels, manga and third-party licensed media. Some of the authors whose publicity campaigns Colleen had the privilege to manage at Del Rey include Terry Brooks, Sir Arthur C. Clarke, Stephen Baxter, Elizabeth Moon, China Mieville, Richard K. Morgan, Minister Faust, Matthew Stover, R.A. Salvatore, and Harvey Pekar. Some of the non-genre titles whose publicity Colleen has managed include the New York Times Bestselling Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light and Will Bowen’s A Complaint Free World. She has also worked as a freelance publicist, copywriter, and online marketer for several major trade publishers and as a book reviewer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Colleen also spent twelve years working as floor manager, backlist buyer and events manager at several San Francisco Bay Area independent bookstores. She joined FinePrint as an agent in March of 2008; her first book sale was Alan DeNiro’s Total Oblivion, More or Less. You can learn more about her at her blog (http://theswivet.com) or her Twitter feed (@colleenlindsay).

Read five of my favorite posts from The Swivet, as well as a few items of note from the publishing world at large, after the jump:

Continue reading →

I’m very pleased to announce that publishing consultant Colleen Lindsay has offered to answer questions from our readers. Colleen has worked as a publicist for Random House, as well as other publishers, and is a successful literary agent with Fine Print Literary Management. In addition, she runs a very popular blog called The Swivet, and contributed sections on marketing and publicity to Booklife‘s appendix.

To participate, return on Friday and leave a question in that day’s links post. See you then!

Copyblogger uses lovable Sesame Street curmudgeon Oscar the Grouch to explain how to build a better blog.

Making Light reports on the Romance Writers of America’s strong response to Harlequin’s decision to offer self-publishing options to erstwhile author. Some feel that the company’s decision has compromised its image as a reputable publisher.

Troubled bookstore chain Borders announces that it will be the exclusive book retailer for RomCon, the annual Romance Readers Conference. Will Borders pursue more contracts like this as a source of additional revenue?

Walmart continues to defend its nine dollar book pricing as “not predatory.” The Justice Department declines to comment.

The Vroman’s Bookstore blog asks if we can mass-curate literary fiction, If we try to, what might happen to writers whose style is difficult or challenging?

Follow the Reader looks at the marketplace and asks when, if ever, will the hardcover book format be retired?

Literary agent Nathan Bransford reveals what he learned about writing from watching reality television

Melville House Publishing reports that the Google Books settlement is drawing criticism from around the world.

E-book publisher Smashwords reached an agreement with Shortcovers to distribute and sell their books.

Reclusive author Cormac McCarthy grants a rare interview to the Wall Street Journal to discuss his novel The Road.

Matt Staggs is a literary publicist and the proprietor of Deep Eight LLC, a boutique publicity agency utilizing the best publicity practices from the worlds of traditional media and evolving social technologies. He has worked in the fields of public relations and journalism for almost a decade. In addition to his work as a publicist, Matt is a book reviewer and writer whose work appears in both print and web publications.