Breaking News
Pearson Folds
Prentice Hall
Into PenguinNEW YORK, NY/10/16/02—Pearson Education Group, the world’s leading learning company owned by Pearson plc., apparently is moving the entire Prentice Hall book list to the Penguin Group’s Penguin Putnam, under the direction of Adrian Zackheim. An inside company spokesperson said Monday that some Prentice Hall lines will keep the Prentice Hall name but be distributed by Penguin, while new books will be folded into the Penguin lines. Prentice Hall is among the world’s leading publishers of academic and reference textbooks.
The move came on the heels of an announcement that Pearson Technology Group, also owned by Pearson plc, has restructured, eliminating its MacMillan imprint, and reducing the staff by about 50 people.
Details of the Pearson Education Group restructuring were not yet available, and it was unclear whether the changes will affect Prentice Hall School, Prentice Hall Direct, and Prentice Hall PTR, separate units under the Pearson Education banner. MediaBay
Revenues Up
26% for Quarter
CEDAR KNOLLS, NJ/10/08/02—MediaBay, Inc. (Nasdaq: MBAY), a leading media, marketing and publishing company specializing in audio content, has reported a 26% revenue increase to $15.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, compared to $12.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2001.
Gross revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 grew 10% to $43.5 million compared to $39.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. The Company saw strong growth across the board, in virtually every unit of its operations.
MediaBay’s Audio Book Club subsidiary acquired more than 72,500 new members in the quarter ended September 30, 2002, a 31% increase in the number of new members acquired as compared to the same period in 2001. During the nine months ended September 30, 2002, Audio Book Club acquired 232,500 new members, an increase of 49%, compared to the nine-month period ended September 30, 2001. The company had expected an increase in new member acquisitions of 30% in 2002 over the same period last year.
Michael Herrick, CEO of MediaBay, called the sales increase “. . . extraordinary, particularly when viewed against the economy as a whole. We have attracted more than 232,500 new members in Audio Book Club this year from combined marketing efforts including direct mail and Internet marketing. Because our average member purchases our products over a period in excess of one year, we should continue to see revenue benefits from this success in member recruitment in 2003. We are also very pleased with our classic radio business. Wholesale sales of our radio product were very strong this quarter and we have substantial holiday orders, which will ship in the early part of the fourth quarter. In addition our Worlds’ Greatest Old-Time Radio Shows continuity shipped its first customer shipments in September and we remain quite pleased with this new product.”
About MediaBay, Inc.
MediaBay, Inc. (Nasdaq/NM: MBAY) is a leading media, marketing and publishing company specializing in spoken audio content whose industry-leading businesses include direct response and interactive marketing, retail product distribution, media publishing and broadcasting. MediaBay’s content libraries include over 60,000 classic radio programs, 3,500 film and television programs and thousands of audiobooks, much of which is proprietary.
For more information on MediaBay’s brands, products and financial information, visit http://www.mediabay.com/ .
Pearson Restructures
Technology Unit,
Downsizes Staff
NEW YORK, NY, 10/11/02—Pearson Technology Group, owned by Pearson Plc., has quietly reorganized the group “around more business distinctions based on the riggor of the technology.” The changes took effect October 7.
In the process of restructuring, the company has reduced its staff by 50 people across all technology imprints, a move designed to eliminate redundancy.
Under the new structure, the MacMillan imprint will no longer exist, but will be folded into other units, which include: Addison Wesley Professional, Adobve Press, Alpha, Cisco Press, Prentice Hall, Peachpit Press, Sams, Reuters, and others.
A company spokesperson said Pearson Technology Group remains fully committed to producing more titles, even in a difficult climate. In 2003 the company will produce 700 new titles, and expects to generate more than $300 million in revenue from computer books.
Pearson Technology Group remains the largest publisher of technology books. The company anticiaptes a strong sales comback, if not in 2003 then soon afrerward. Frankfurt Book
Fair Attendance,
Exhibitors Decline
FRANKFURT, GERMANY/10/09/02—The Frankfurt Book Fair officially opened October 9 to smaller crowds and a 4% decline in exhibitors to 6,375.
However, the number of international exhibitors increased by 2%, to 4,247. The U.K. has the biggest presence this year with 859 exhibitors, followed by the U.S. with 734 participants. The overall decline in exhibitors was mainly attributed to fewer German exhibitors who have experienced a sluggish bookselling market this year. In the first eight months of 2002, sales in the German book trade declined 1.2%, and a number of smaller bookstores have closed. LLR Invests
$7.5 Million
to Expand Troll
10/07/02—LLR Partners has become a significant additional investor in Troll Communications, pumping an additional $7.5 million in expansion capital into the company. The move came only one month after Quad Ventures acquired Troll, then sought additional funding from LLR, a Philadelphia-based equity company.
An LLR spokesman said the firm is impressed with Troll’s turnaround within the past 12 months. The additional funds will be used for internal growth and acquisition of niche publications.
New Jersey-based Troll primarily publishes children’s books and video products.
Borders Books
to Return to Manhattan
in Spring 2003
ANN ARBOR, MI/10/08/02—Borders Books and Music(R) (NYSE:BGP) has signed a lease for a 33,000-square-foot store at 100 Broadway in Lower Manhattan. The new store at Pine and Broadway will occupy the bottom two floors of the American Surety Building, a historic structure designed by architect Bruce Price in 1897, and is expected to open in late spring 2003. This new flagship store will have two full floors of shopping space plus a mezzanine cafe with a full 100 feet of window frontage on Broadway. Trinity Church is located directly across the street from the site.
“Borders is thrilled to be coming back to Lower Manhattan,” said Tami Heim, president of Borders Stores and Borders Online. “This is a homecoming of sorts because our first New York store was our World Trade Center location. As we’ve heard form many customers since the 9/11 tragedy, spending time in our store there was a regular part of their day and a happy part of their normal routine. We’re so gratified today to let them know that while what’s normal has changed drastically since then, Borders will be back with a new location and a new experience that helps us all move forward.”
Borders will once again offer Lower Manhattan a comfortable place to explore over 200,000 book, music, DVD and periodical titles, as well as the opportunity to experience cutting-edge service technology backed by a knowledgeable staff with a commitment to the community.
As a retailer, Borders is unique in tailoring its title base to respond to the interests of the customers who shop each store location. Just 50 percent of Borders’ title base is common to all stores, while the other half is customized to the location by experienced buyers using the company’s sophisticated computerized inventory system.
In addition to offering books, music and movies, Borders invites shoppers to unwind at Cafe Borders. In the new Manhattan store, customers of the cafe can choose from a variety of gourmet coffees, teas and beverages and enjoy desserts and light lunch items.
“Borders is proud to contribute to the redevelopment of the Lower Manhattan financial district,” said Heim. “It will be exciting for us to be a part of this vibrant community again and we’re looking forward to serving our loyal customers in this new location.”
Borders Group, Inc., (NYSE:BGP) is a leading global retailer of books, music, video and other information and entertainment items with stores in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. A FORTUNE 500 company headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group employs 32,000 worldwide and operates over 385 Borders domestic superstores, 25 international Borders stores, 36 Books etc. locations and approximately 800 Waldenbooks stores. Teamed with Amazon.com, the company also offers online shopping through Borders.com ( http://www.borders.com/).
New York Times
Announces Winners
of Librarian Awards
NEW YORK, NY/10/08/02— The New York Times has announced the 15 winners of the 2002 New York Times Librarian Awards.
In this, the second year of the awards program, The Times expanded the awards to include not only the five boroughs of New York City but also the following communities in the tri-state area: Fairfield County, Connecticut; Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris and Union counties, New Jersey and Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties, New York.
An award will be given to one librarian from each of the participating areas and will be presented to those who have demonstrated outstanding public service. During the nomination period, which closed on September 6, The Times received more than 1,400 nominations for librarians from the general public throughout the tri-state area.
The 2002 winners of the Librarian Awards are:
New York City
Violet Alfalla, branch librarian, Castle Hill Branch Library of New York Public Library (the Bronx) Karla Kostick, senior children’s librarian, Great Kills Branch Library of New York Public Library (Staten Island) John Moran, reference librarian, Central Library of Queens Borough Public Library Leonard Martin Newman, senior children’s librarian, Kings Highway Branch of Brooklyn Public Library Gwendolyn Taylor-Davis, senior adult librarian, 96th Street Regional Branch Library of New York Public Library (Manhattan)
New York State
Karen Jaffe, reference librarian, Comsewogue Public Library (Suffolk County) Anita LaSpina, head of children’s services, Rockville Centre Public Library (Nassau County) Barbara Wenglin, adult services/program librarian, White Plains Public Library (Westchester County) George S. Yansick, Jr., reference librarian, Suffern Free Library (Rockland County)
Connecticut
Jose Ruiz-Alvarez, world languages/literacy librarian, The Ferguson Library (Fairfield County)
New Jersey
Lynne M. Olver, reference librarian, Morris County Library Kimberly L. Paone, teen services librarian, Free Public Library of Elizabeth (Union County) Sai Rao, library director, North Bergen Free Public Library (Hudson County) Carolyn Ryan Reed, library director, East Orange Public Library (Essex County) Arlene Sahraie, library director, Fairview Free Public Library (Bergen County)
Winners were chosen by a selection committee composed of leading library professionals from Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. Committee members included representatives from The Times as well as the following individuals:
Mary Rinato Berman, deputy director, Westchester Library System Norma Blake, New Jersey State librarian Francine Fialkoff, editor, Library Journal Maurice J. Freedman, director, Westchester Library System Harriet Gottfried, director of training and development, New York Public Library Robert Hubsher, director, Ramapo Catskill Library System Susan L. Keitel, executive director, The New York Library Association Valerie Kilmartin, director of branch libraries, Queens Borough Public Library Jerry Nichols, director, Suffolk Cooperative Library System Marie L. Radford, acting dean, Pratt Institute School of Information and Library Science Sofia Sequenzia, deputy director for public service, Brooklyn Public Library Jackie Thresher, director, Nassau Library System Pat Tumulty, executive director, New Jersey Library Association Janet Martin Welch, New York State librarian Kendall F. Wiggin, Connecticut State librarian
“Support of public libraries is a natural extension of The Times’s commitment to literacy and education,” said Alyse Myers, vice president, marketing services, The New York Times. “We recognize the enormous impact that libraries and library professionals have on their communities. In addition to honoring exceptional librarians through The New York Times Librarian Awards, we also present free programs in library branches throughout New York City that bring our journalists together with the public for discussion of topical issues. Libraries are ideal venues for such open exchanges of information and dialogue and we are proud to help further their mission of education as we further The Times’s own mission of enhancing society.”
Winners of the Librarian Awards were honored at an awards reception at The Times on October 8. Each winner was to receive $2,500 from The New York Times. For information about future expansion of the Librarian Awards, visit www.nytco.com/community.
About The New York Times Company
The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), a leading media company with 2001 revenues of $3.0 billion, publishes The New York Times, The Boston Globe and 16 other newspapers; owns eight network-affiliated television stations and two New York radio stations; and has more than 40 Web sites, including NYTimes.com and Boston.com. In 2002 the Company was ranked No. 1 in the publishing industry in Fortune’s list of America’s Most Admired Companies. Among all 530 companies on the list, the Company ranked No. 1 in quality of products/services and No. 1 in social responsibility. The company’s core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.
Digital Magazines,
Newspapers Added
to OverDrive Network
CLEVELAND, OH/10/08/02—OverDrive, Inc., a global leader of eCommerce, Media and Digital Rights Management (DRM) solutions, has expanded its secure media distribution network to include electronic versions of leading magazines, journals and newspapers. OverDrive’s Content Reserve ( http://www.contentreserve.com/) is now providing distribution and digital rights management (DRM) services for a variety of digital publications including consumer, IT, lifestyle and educational periodicals. Electronic editions of magazines, newsletters, and book chapters are being added to the eBookstore inventories at Barnesandnoble.com, eFollett.com, WHSmith Online, OfficeMax Digital Bookstore and other leading digital bookstores.
“Magazine, journal and newspaper publishers are converting individual articles and entire editions of their periodicals into popular Microsoft, Adobe, and Palm eBook formats preparing for next month’s release of the Tablet PC,” said Druanne Martin, Director of ePublishing at OverDrive. “The Tablet PC will enable students, managers, professionals, and travelers to read and annotate periodicals and other publications on-screen. The Tablet PC’s high resolution display and mobility make it an unbeatable platform for reading digital editions of books, magazines and newspapers,” Ms. Martin added. The Open eBook Forum is hosting a Tablet PC Digital Publishing Conference in New York City on December 5, 2002. Information can be found at www.openebook.org/tabletpc/.
Penton Media, the publisher of Windows and .NET Magazine has begun to prepare back issues of its popular Windows and Security newsletters for sale from its own Digital Kiosk as well as prepare them for sale via Content Reserve’s growing network of online eBookstores. Online textbook retailer efollett.com is expanding its offering of eBook versions of study guides for college students. For example, the eBook version of Student Solutions Manual for Physical Chemistry, 7e, from W.H. Freeman, found at http://ebooks.efollett.com/eBookCover.asp?eBookID=6469 permits students to buy and download the entire edition for $37.50 or buy 2 specific chapters for $3.75.
“Both publishers and online retailers have been very excited about leveraging the success of the eBook formats and our DRM services to build profitable reseller channels for digital magazines, newsletters, and journals,” stated Pamela Turner, Director of Content for OverDrive. “Content Reserve provides the catalog management, copyright protection services and trusted DRM fulfillment that enable any periodical publisher to sell and securely deliver electronic publications to connected readers using PCs, laptops, PDAs, Pocket PCs and other mobile devices,” Ms. Turner added.
OverDrive’s Content Reserve already hosts over 32,000 premium eBook titles from more than 400 publishers including HarperCollins, Random House, McGraw-Hill, AOL Time Warner Book Group, John Wiley & Sons, Simon & Schuster and St. Martin’s Press. In response to publisher demand, OverDrive has expanded its high quality conversion services for ePublishing and digital distribution to include the conversion of back issues of magazines, newspapers and journals to XML and popular eBook formats.
About OverDrive
OverDrive, Inc. ( http://www.overdrive.com/) is a leading provider of eBook, DRM and media marketplace technologies enabling the secure management and distribution of digital media over global networks. As a strategic partner with Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT), Adobe Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADBE) and Palm Digital Media, OverDrive delivers proven technology for secure fulfillment and resale of premium content from the world’s leading media companies. As a Principal Member of the Open eBook Forum (OeBF), OverDrive is strategically focused on driving specifications and standards for the emerging and rapidly evolving electronic publishing industry. The company was founded in 1986, and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.
Bertelsmann
Apologizes
for Nazi Ties
BERLIN/10/07/02—Gunter Thielen, chief executive of German publishing conglomerate Bertelsmann, apologized for inaccuracies in the company’s official history about its involvement with the Nazis during the World War II era, and said the company has adopted a new history report by an independent panel of historians that found the company made indirect use of Jewish slave laborers during the war.
Chief executive Thielen expressed “sincere regret” over inaccuracies in the company’s previous history about its Nazi involvement.. The new report was compiled by a commission headed by Israeli historian Saul Friedlaender.
Bertelsmann asked Friedlaender to investigate its wartime activities in 1998, after a German journalist reported that Bertelsmann tried to cover up its Nazi ties.
“We have learned that we cannot neglect our history, rather, our goal was to uncover the truth and learn from the mistakes that we have made,” Thielen said in a statement, adding that all the material used for the 800-page report would be made public.
The new report says the company used no slave laborers at its headquarters in Guetersloh, but that Jews were forced from ghettos to work at printing facilities used by Bertelsmann in Nazi-occupied Vilnius, Lithuania and probably in Riga, Latvia.
Bertelsmann reportedly used about 100 printing shops on a contract basis during World War II, about half in Germany and half in foreign countries mostly in the Netherlands. The commission said it did not know if Bertelsmann knew about the slave laborers in the print shops, but concluded that slave laborers wer epresent in thes hops used by Bertelsmann to print their books. The committee also reported that Bertelsmann had close ties to the Nazi Propaganda Ministery.
Bertelsmann circulated 19 million volumes during World War II, making it the largest publisher for the German army. The company also distributed more than a quarter of the 75,000 texts distributed to soldiers, including manuals and propaganda material.
The committee said they had disproved a long-held story that the company, founded in 1835 as a publisher of prayer books and hymnals, was shut down by the Nazis in 1944 because the then-chairman, Heinrich Mohn, was a devout Christian. In a detailed investigation of Mohn’s activities, the committee found that the chairman never joined the Nazi party but was a financial backer of the SS, Hitler’s elite troops, and supported his children’s membership in the Hitler Youth and other Nazi organizations. Instead, the committee concluded the publishing house was likely shut down for political and economic resasons.
GENERAL NEWS BOOK SENSE
NATIONAL
BESTSELLER LIST
Published Thursday, October 10, 2002 (for sales week ending Sunday, October 6), based on reporting from over 350 independent bookstores across America.
New to the List This Week Blue Shoe by Anne Lamott (HC Fiction #3) The Murder Book by Jonathan Kellerman (HC Fiction #9) The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor (HC Fiction #10) War of Honor by David Weber (HC Fiction #15) Leadership: How to Run Your Business Like the Greatest City in the World by Rudolph Giuliani (HC NonFiction #1) Walking in This World: The Practical Art of Creativity by Julia Cameron (HC NonFiction #11) Worth the Fighting for: What I’ve Learned from Mavericks, Heroes, and Politics by John McCain (HC NonFiction #13) Triss: A Tale from Redwall by Brian Jacques, David Elliot (Illus.) (Child. Fic #1) Double Fudge by Judy Blume (Child. Fic #9) Micawber’s Museum of Art by John Lithgow (Child. Pic #2) Knick-Knack Paddywhack: A Moving Parts Book by Paul Zelinsky (Child. Pic #7) Corduroy’s Trick or Treat a Pumpkin Shaped by Don Freeman, Lisa McCue (Illus.) (Child. Pic #12)
TRADE PAPERBACK FICTION
Peace Like a River Leif Enger, Grove, $13 Bel Canto Ann Patchett, Perennial, $14 Empire Falls Richard Russo, Vintage, $14.95 The Corrections Jonathan Franzen, Picador, $15 Falling Angels Tracy Chevalier, Plume, $13 White Oleander Janet Fitch, Back Bay, $13.95 Five Quarters of the Orange Joanne Harris, Perennial, $13.95 Good Harbor Anita Diamant, Scribner, $12 Year of Wonders Geraldine Brooks, Penguin, $14 Austerlitz W. G. Sebald, Modern Library, $13.95 The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Michael Chabon, Picador, $15 Blue Diary Alice Hoffman, Berkley, $13 How to Be Good Nick Hornby, Riverhead, $13 The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Alexander McCall Smith, Anchor, $11.95 The Red Tent Anita Diamant, Picador, $14.95
ON THE RISE
29. The Future Homemakers of America Laurie Graham, Warner, $14
76 Pick for Nov/Dec; great reading group book, too.
TRADE PAPERBACK NONFICTION
Nickel and Dimed Barbara Ehrenreich, Owl, $13 Seabiscuit Laura Hillenbrand, Ballantine, $15 John Adams David McCullough, Touchstone, $18.95 A Girl Named Zippy Haven Kimmel, Broadway, $12.95 Fast Food Nation Eric Schlosser, Perennial, $13.95 The Botany of Desire Michael Pollan, Random House, $13.95 Savage Beauty Nancy Milford, Random House, $14.95 Onion Ad Nauseum Onion (Ed.), Three Rivers Press, $17 Founding Brothers Joseph J. Ellis, Vintage, $14 The Four Agreements Don Miguel Ruiz, Amber-Allen, $12.95 Lucky Alice Sebold, Back Bay, $11.95 Me Talk Pretty One Day David Sedaris, Little Brown, $14.95 The Old Farmer’s 2003Almanac Yankee, $5.95 A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius Dave Eggers, Vintage, $14 Ava’s Man Rick Bragg, Vintage, $13
ON THE RISE
21. Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood Oliver Sacks, Vintage, $14 The man who takes a look at his life with a cap.
HARDCOVER FICTION
The Lovely Bones Alice Sebold, Little Brown, $21.95 Blessings Anna Quindlen, Random House, $24.95 Blue Shoe – Debut Anne Lamott, Riverhead, $24.95 From a Buick 8 Stephen King, Scribner, $28 Nights in Rodanthe Nicholas Sparks, Warner, $22.95 The Last Girls Lee Smith, Algonquin, $24.95 Lullaby Chuck Palahniuk, Doubleday, $24.95 Red Rabbit Tom Clancy, Putnam, $28.95 The Murder Book – Debut Jonathan Kellerman, Ballantine, $26.95 The Story of Lucy Gault – Debut William Trevor, Viking, $24.95 The Piano Tuner Daniel Philippe Mason, Knopf, $24 The Nanny Diaries Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus, St. Martin’s, $24.95 Standing in the Rainbow Fannie Flagg, Random House, $25.95 Caramelo Sandra Cisneros, Knopf, $24 War of Honor – Debut David Weber, Baen, $26
ON THE RISE
40. Ignorance Milan Kundera, HarperCollins, $23.95
Top Ten 76 Pickfor Nov/Dec.
HARDCOVER NONFICTION
Leadership: How to Run Your Business Like the Greatest City in the World – Debut Rudolph Giuliani, Miramax Books, $25.95 Longitudes and Attitudes Thomas Friedman, FSG, $23 Abraham Bruce Feiler, Morrow, $23.95 Blue Latitudes Tony Horwitz, Holt, $26 Let’s Roll Lisa Beamer, Ken Abraham, Tyndale House, $24.99 Stupid White Men Michael Moore, Regan, $24.95 The Power of Now Eckhart Tolle, New World Library, $21.95 A Mind at a Time Dr. Mel Levine, S&S, $26 Slander Ann H. Coulter, Crown, $25.95 Let Freedom Ring Sean Hannity, Regan, $25.95 Walking in This World: The Practical Art of Creativity – Debut Julia Cameron, J. P. Tarcher, $24.95 Nothing Is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life Christopher Reeve, Random House, $19.95 Worth the Fighting for: What I’ve Learned from Mavericks, Heroes, and Politics – Debut John McCain, Mark Salter, Random House, $25.95 The Lobster Chronicles Linda Greenlaw, Hyperion, $22.95 Small Wonder Barbara Kingsolver, HarperCollins, $23.95
ON THE RISE
29. Live from New York: An Oral History of Saturday Night Live Tom Shales, James Andrew Miller, Little Brown, $25.95 The complete inside dirt.
MASS MARKET
Full House Janet Evanovich, St. Martin’s, $6.99 Violets Are Blue James Patterson, Warner, $7.99 Isle of Dogs Patricia Cornwell, Berkley, $7.99 A Traitor to Memory Elizabeth George, Bantam, $7.99 Red Dragon Thomas Harris, Dell, $7.99 Flesh and Blood Jonathan Kellerman, Ballantine, $7.99 Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution Robert C. Atkins, M.D., Avon, $7.99 The Blue Last Martha Grimes, Onyx, $7.99 Last Man Standing David Baldacci, Warner, $7.99 Tell No One Harlan Coben, Dell, $6.99
CHILDREN’S FICTION
Triss: A Tale from Redwall – Debut Brian Jacques, David Elliot (Illus.), Philomel, $23.99 Thanksgiving on Thursday Mary Pope Osborne, Random House, $3.99 Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire J.K. Rowling, Scholastic, $8.99 Summerland Michael Chabon, Talk Miramax/Hyperion, $22.95 Hoot Carl Hiaasen, Knopf, $15.95 The Thief Lord Cornelia Funke, Chicken House/Scholastic, $16.95 Tuck Everlasting Natalie Babbitt, FSG, $4.95 Good Morning, Gorillas Mary Pope Osborne, Random House, $3.99 Double Fudge – Debut Judy Blume, Dutton, $15.99 Junie B., First Grader at Last Barbara Park, Random House, $3.99 The Bad Beginning Lemony Snicket, HarperTrophy, $9.95 Meet Kaya: An American Girl Janet Shaw, Pleasant, $5.95 Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban J.K. Rowling, Scholastic, $7.99 Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets J.K. Rowling, Scholastic, $6.99 Because of Winn-Dixie Kate DiCamillo, Candlewick, $5.99
CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS
I’m Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem Jamie Lee Curtis, Laura Cornell (Illus.), Joanna Cotler/HarperCollins, $15.99 Micawber’s Museum of Art – Debut John Lithgow, C. F. Payne (Illus.), S&S, $17 Goodnight Moon Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd (Illus.), HarperCollins, $7.95 The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything Linda Williams, Megan Lloyd (Illus.), HarperCollins, $5.95 Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Bill Martin, Eric Carle (Illus.), Holt, $6.95 If You Take a Mouse to School Laura Joffe Numeroff, Felicia Bond (Illus.), Laura Geringer/HarperCollins, $15.95 Knick-Knack Paddywhack: A Moving Parts Book – Debut Paul Zelinsky, Dutton, $18.99 Pat the Bunny Dorothy Kunhardt, Golden, $7.99 Toot & Puddle: Top of the World Holly Hobbie, Little Brown, $15.95 The Three Questions Jon J. Muth, Leo Tolstoy, Scholastic, $16.95 The Very Hungry Caterpillar Board Book Eric Carle, Putnam, $9.99 Corduroy’s Trick or Treat a Pumpkin Shaped – Debut Don Freeman, Lisa McCue (Illus.), Viking, $5.99 Slowly, Slowly, Slowly, Said the Sloth Eric Carle, Philomel, $16.99 Olivia Ian Falconer, Atheneum, $16 Love You Forever Robert Munsch, Sheila McGraw (Illus.), Firefly, $4.95
May We Recommend
Hardcover:
I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT: The Life of Kate Reddy, Working Mother: A Novel, by Allison Pearson (Knopf, $23, 0375414053; Oct.) “Any working woman will recognize the hilarious absurdities of Kate’s working and family life, while cheering her on for her juggling expertise, her mentoring skill, and her very large heart. It also segues beautifully into the changing visions we acquire about our parents, our priorities and our happiness as we grow older. Kate Reddy strikes a beautiful, and very wise, balance, but it is also one of the funniest books I’ve ever read.. ” – Melissa Bernstrom, Hawley-Cooke Booksellers, Louisville, KY Also a Random House Audio (CD, 0739301721)
IN HER SHOES, by Jennifer Weiner (Atria/S&S, $25, 0743418190; Sept.) “I don’t know whether to congratulate Jennifer Weiner on another blockbuster of a novel, or cuss her out for my puffy eyelids after going through the sister/family rollercoaster. With this hilarious tearjerker, she has established herself as the queen of woman’s fiction!” – Sally Brewster, Little Professor/Park Place Books, Charlotte
NC IT’S A FREE COUNTRY: Personal Freedom in America After 9/11, edited by Danny Goldberg, Victor Goldberg, and Robert Greenwald (RDV Books/Akashic Books, $19.95, 0971920605; Sept.) “Contributors as diverse as Michael Moore, Ani Difranco, Matt Groening, and Howard Zinn, to name just a few, question here the implications of the ‘war on terrorism’ on our rights and liberties. Read this book now.” – Dan Weller, Tudor Bookstore, Kingston, PA
Paperback:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR, by John Colapinto (Perennial, $12.95, 0060932171) “This mystery about a ‘borrowed’ manuscript, a lie and the cover-up, and the price of fame is a roller coaster ride. Just when you think you’ve reached the last curve, there’s another dip that puts a knot in your stomach.” – Donna Kane, Powell’s Books, Portland, OR
LOVE AMONG THE RUINS, by Robert Clark (Vintage, $13, 1400030307) “This novel is a stunner. It’s the story of two high school students who fall in love in the summer of 1968, their idealism and innocence juxtaposed against the world run amok. There is a sweetness and tenderness in Clark’s language that is extraordinary.” – Mary Gleysteen, Eagle Harbor Book Co., Bainbridge Island, WA
POWDER, by Kevin Sampson (Cannongate, $15, 1841953717; Sept.) “The Grams are tabbed to be the next kings of British pop, but can the band survive the drugs, sex, egos, and industry execs that come with success? If you love rock and roll, you really don’t want to miss out on this thrill ride of a book.”
THE NEW ENGLAND INDEPENDENT BESTSELLER LIST
The New England Independent Bestseller List, as brought to you by Book Sense and NEBA, for the week ending Sunday, October 6, 2002.
Based on reporting from the independent booksellers of the New England Booksellers Association and Book Sense.
TRADE PAPERBACK FICTION
Bel Canto Ann Patchett, Perennial, $14, 0060934417 Empire Falls Richard Russo, Vintage, $14.95, 0375726403 Peace Like a River Leif Enger, Grove, $13, 0802139256 Good Harbor Anita Diamant, Scribner, $12, 0743225724 Austerlitz W. G. Sebald, Modern Library, $13.95, 0375756566 The Corrections Jonathan Franzen, Picador, $15, 0312421273 Five Quarters of the Orange Joanne Harris, Perennial, $13.95, 0060958022 Falling Angels Tracy Chevalier, Plume, $13, 0452283205 White Oleander Janet Fitch, Back Bay, $13.95, 0316284955 Year of Wonders Geraldine Brooks, Penguin, $14, 0142001430 The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Alexander McCall Smith, Anchor, $11.95, 1400031346 Blue Diary Alice Hoffman, Berkley, $13, 0425184943 Good in Bed Jennifer Weiner, Washington Sq., $13, 0743418174 The World Below Sue Miller, Ballantine, $13.95, 0345440765 How to Be Good Nick Hornby, Riverhead, $13, 1573229326
TRADE PAPERBACK NONFICTION
John Adams David McCullough, Touchstone, $18.95, 0743223136 2 Nickel and Dimed Barbara Ehrenreich, Owl, $13, 0805063897 A Girl Named Zippy Haven Kimmel, Broadway, $12.95, 0767905318 Seabiscuit Laura Hillenbrand, Ballantine, $15, 0449005615 Savage Beauty Nancy Milford, Random House, $14.95, 0375760814 The Old Farmer’s 2003 Almanac Yankee, $5.95, 1571982639 The Hungry Ocean Linda Greenlaw, Hyperion, $14, 0786885416 Lucky Alice Sebold, Back Bay, $11.95, 0316096199 The Botany of Desire Michael Pollan, Random House, $13.95, 0375760393 Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood Oliver Sacks, Vintage, $14, 0375704043 Founding Brothers Joseph J. Ellis, Vintage, $14, 0375705244 What to Expect When You’re Expecting Arlene Eisenberg, Workman, $14.95, 0761121323 Fast Food Nation Eric Schlosser, Perennial, $13.95, 0060938455 A Child Called “It” Dave Pelzer, HCI, $9.95, 1558743669 The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2003 Edward B. Fiske, Sourcebooks, $22.95, 1570719578
HARDCOVER FICTION
The Lovely Bones Alice Sebold, Little Brown, $21.95, 0316666343 Blessings Anna Quindlen, Random House, $24.95, 0375502238 Blue Shoe Anne Lamott, Riverhead, $24.95, 1573222267 The Story of Lucy Gault William Trevor, Viking, $24.95, 0670031542 Nights in Rodanthe Nicholas Sparks, Warner, $22.95, 0446531332 I Don’t Know How She Does It: The Life of Kate Reddy, Working Mother Allison Pearson, Knopf, $23, 0375414053 The Piano Tuner Daniel Philippe Mason, Knopf, $24, 0375414657 From a Buick 8 Stephen King, Scribner, $28, 0743211375 The Nanny Diaries Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus, St. Martin’s, $24.95, 0312278586 Tricky Business Dave Barry, Putnam, $24.95, 0399149244 The Crimson Petal and the White Michel Faber, Harcourt, $26, 015100692X July, July Tim O’Brien, Houghton Mifflin, $26, 0618039694 Family Matters Rohinton Mistry, Knopf, $26, 0375403736 Standing in the Rainbow Fannie Flagg, Random House, $25.95, 0679426159 The Last Girls Lee Smith, Algonquin, $24.95, 1565123638
HARDCOVER NONFICTION
Longitudes and Attitudes Thomas Friedman, FSG, $23, 0374190666 Leadership: How to Run Your Business Like the Greatest City in the World Rudolph Giuliani, Miramax Books, $25.95, 0786868414 The Lobster Chronicles Linda Greenlaw, Hyperion, $22.95, 0786866772 Blue Latitudes Tony Horwitz, Holt, $26, 0805065415 Worth the Fighting for: What I’ve Learned from Mavericks, Heroes, and Politics John McCain, Mark Salter, Random House, $25.95, 0375505423 The Heart of a Soldier James B. Stewart, S&S, $24, 0743240987 Stupid White Men Michael Moore, Regan, $24.95, 0060392452 Perfect House: A Journey With the Renaissance Architect Andrea Palladio Witold Rybczynski, Scribner, $25, 0743205863 The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College Jacques Steinberg, Viking, $25.95, 0670031356 Sandy Koufax: A Lefty’s Legacy Jane Leavy, HarperCollins, $23.95, 0060195339 Out of the Flames: The Remarkable Story of Michael Servetus and One of the Rarest Books in the World Lawrence Goldstone, Broadway, $24.95, 0767908368 The Sopranos Family Cookbook Artie Bucco, Michele Scicolone, Allen Rucker, Warner, $29.95, 0446530573 The Cell John J. Miller, Michael Stone, Chris Mitchell, Hyperion, $24.95, 0786869003 Nothing Is Impossible Christopher Reeve, Random House, $19.95, 0375507787 Small Wonder Barbara Kingsolver, HarperCollins, $23.95, 0060504072
MASS MARKET
A Traitor to Memory Elizabeth George, Bantam, $7.99, 0553582364 Full House Janet Evanovich, St. Martin’s, $6.99, 0312983271 Violets Are Blue James Patterson, Warner, $7.99, 0446611212 Isle of Dogs Patricia Cornwell, Berkley, $7.99, 0425182908 Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger, Warner, $5.99, 0316769487 Mystic River Dennis Lehane, HarperTorch, $7.99, 0380731851 Last Man Standing David Baldacci, Warner, $7.99, 0446611778 Red Dragon Thomas Harris, Dell, $7.99, 0440206154 Tucker Peak Archer Mayor, Warner, $6.99, 0446612081 Princess Bride William Goldman, Ballantine, $6.99, 0345348036
CHILDREN’S BOOKS (FICTION & ILLUSTRATED)
Triss: A Tale from Redwall Brian Jacques, David Elliot (Illus.), Philomel, $23.99, 0399237232 Toot & Puddle: Top of the World Holly Hobbie, Little Brown, $15.95, 0316365130 Good Morning, Gorillas Mary Pope Osborne, Random House, $3.99, 0375806148 I’m Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem Jamie Lee Curtis, Laura Cornell (Illus.), Joanna Cotler/HarperCollins, $15.99, 0060287616 The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything Linda Williams, Megan Lloyd (Illus.), HarperCollins, $5.95, 0064431835 Tuck Everlasting Natalie Babbitt, FSG, $4.95, 0374480095 Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire J.K. Rowling, Scholastic, $8.99, 0439139600 Goodnight Moon Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd (Illus.), HarperCollins, $7.95, 0694003611 The Thief Lord Cornelia Funke, Chicken House/Scholastic, $16.95, 0439404371 Summerland Michael Chabon, Talk Miramax/Hyperion, $22.95, 0786808772 Junie B., First Grader at Last Barbara Park, Random House, $3.99, 0375815163 Micawber’s Museum of Art John Lithgow, C. F. Payne (Illus.), S&S, $17, 0689833415 Pat the Bunny Dorothy Kunhardt, Golden, $7.99, 0307120007 Knick-Knack Paddywhack: A Moving Parts Book Paul Zelinsky, Dutton, $18.99, 0525469087 Meet Kaya: An American Girl Janet Shaw, Pleasant, $5.95, 1584854235 THE SOUTHEASTERN INDEPENDENT BESTSELLER LIST
The Southeastern Independent Bestseller List, as brought to you by Book Sense and SEBA, for the week ending Sunday, October 6, 2002.
Based on reporting from the independent booksellers of the Southeast Booksellers Association and Book Sense.
The Book Sense National List, along with Subject Category Bestseller Lists and our national recommendations list (the Book Sense 76), can be found at www.bookweb.org and www.booksense.com.
TRADE PAPERBACK FICTION
Peace Like a River Leif Enger, Grove, $13, 0802139256 Empire Falls Richard Russo, Vintage, $14.95, 0375726403 Bel Canto Ann Patchett, Perennial, $14, 0060934417 The Corrections Jonathan Franzen, Picador, $15, 0312421273 Falling Angels Tracy Chevalier, Plume, $13, 0452283205 Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind Ann B. Ross, Perennial, $13, 0688177751 Five Quarters of the Orange Joanne Harris, Perennial, $13.95, 0060958022 Year of Wonders Geraldine Brooks, Penguin, $14, 0142001430 Austerlitz W. G. Sebald, Modern Library, $13.95, 0375756566 Good Harbor Anita Diamant, Scribner, $12, 0743225724 White Oleander Janet Fitch, Back Bay, $13.95, 0316284955 The Red Tent Anita Diamant, Picador, $14.95, 0312195516 Miss Julia Takes over Ann B. Ross, Penguin, $14, 0142000892 These People Are Us: Stories George Singleton, Harvest, $13, 015601274X New Stories from the South: The Year’s Best, 2002 Shannon Ravenel, Larry Brown, Algonquin, $14.95, 1565123751
TRADE PAPERBACK NONFICTION
A Girl Named Zippy Haven Kimmel, Broadway, $12.95, 0767905318 Seabiscuit Laura Hillenbrand, Ballantine, $15, 0449005615 John Adams David McCullough, Touchstone, $18.95, 0743223136 Ava’s Man Rick Bragg, Vintage, $13, 0375724443 Savage Beauty Nancy Milford, Random House, $14.95, 0375760814 Nickel and Dimed Barbara Ehrenreich, Owl, $13, 0805063897 How the Scots Invented the Modern World: The True Story of How Western Europe’s Poorest Nation Created Our World Andeverything in It Arthur Herman, Three Rivers Press, $14.95, 0609809997 The Four Agreements Don Miguel Ruiz, Amber-Allen, $12.95, 1878424319 Lucky Alice Sebold, Back Bay, $11.95, 0316096199 Fast Food Nation Eric Schlosser, Perennial, $13.95, 0060938455 Nine Parts of Desire Geraldine Brooks, Random House, $14, 0385475772 The Sweet Potato Queens’ Book of Love Jill Conner Browne, Three Rivers, $12, 0609804138 What to Expect When You’re Expecting Arlene Eisenberg, Workman, $14.95, 0761121323 I Thought My Father Was God Paul Auster (Ed.), Picador, $15, 0312421001 Wittgenstein’s Poker David Edmonds, Ecco Press, $13.95, 0060936649
HARDCOVER FICTION
The Last Girls Lee Smith, Algonquin, $24.95, 1565123638 The Lovely Bones Alice Sebold, Little Brown, $21.95, 0316666343 Nights in Rodanthe Nicholas Sparks, Warner, $22.95, 0446531332 Blessings Anna Quindlen, Random House, $24.95, 0375502238 Standing in the Rainbow Fannie Flagg, Random House, $25.95, 0679426159 From a Buick 8 Stephen King, Scribner, $28, 0743211375 Blue Shoe Anne Lamott, Riverhead, $24.95, 1573222267 The Sunday Wife Cassandra King, Hyperion, $23.95, 0786869054 Red Rabbit Tom Clancy, Putnam, $28.95, 0399148701 Tricky Business Dave Barry, Putnam, $24.95, 0399149244 The Story of Lucy Gault William Trevor, Viking, $24.95, 0670031542 The Crimson Petal and the White Michel Faber, Harcourt, $26, 015100692X The Piano Tuner Daniel Philippe Mason, Knopf, $24, 0375414657 The Beach House James Patterson, Peter de Jonge, Little Brown, $26.95, 0316969680 The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd, Viking, $24.95, 0670894605
HARDCOVER NONFICTION
Leadership: How to Run Your Business Like the Greatest City in the World Rudolph Giuliani, Miramax Books, $25.95, 0786868414 Longitudes and Attitudes Thomas Friedman, FSG, $23, 0374190666 Abraham Bruce Feiler, Morrow, $23.95, 0380977761 A Mind at a Time Dr. Mel Levine, S&S, $26, 0743202228 Let’s Roll Lisa Beamer, Ken Abraham, Tyndale House, $24.99, 0842373195 Blue Latitudes Tony Horwitz, Holt, $26, 0805065415 Let Freedom Ring Sean Hannity, Regan, $25.95, 0060514558 Out of the Flames: The Remarkable Story of Michael Servetus and One of the Rarest Books in the World Lawrence Goldstone, Broadway, $24.95, 0767908368 Self Matters Phillip C. McGraw, Free Press, $25, 074322423X The Bitch in the House: 26 Women Tell the Truth About Sex, Solitude, Work, Motherhood, and Marriage Cathi Hanauer, Morrow, $23.95, 0066211662 Slander Ann H. Coulter, Crown, $25.95, 1400046610 Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam 1862 James M. McPherson, Oxford Univ Press, $25, 0195135210 Who Moved My Cheese? Spencer Johnson, Putnam, $19.95, 0399144463 Live from New York: An Oral History of Saturday Night Live Tom Shales, James Andrew Miller, Little Brown, $25.95, 0316781460 Running With Scissors Augusten Burroughs, St Martin’s, $23.95, 0312283709
MASS MARKET
1. Full House Janet Evanovich, St. Martin’s, $6.99, 0312983271 2. Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution Robert C. Atkins, M.D., Avon, $7.99, 006001203X 3. Violets Are Blue James Patterson, Warner, $7.99, 0446611212 4. Isle of Dogs Patricia Cornwell, Berkley, $7.99, 0425182908 5. Red Dragon Thomas Harris, Dell, $7.99, 0440206154 6. Tell No One Harlan Coben, Dell, $6.99, 0440236703 7. Flesh and Blood Jonathan Kellerman, Ballantine, $7.99, 034541389X 8. Last Man Standing David Baldacci, Warner, $7.99, 0446611778 9. Orchid Blues Stuart Woods, Signet, $7.99, 0451206711 10. A Traitor to Memory Elizabeth George, Bantam, $7.99, 0553582364 CHILDREN’S BOOKS (FICTION & ILLUSTRATED) Triss: A Tale from Redwall Brian Jacques, David Elliot (Illus.), Philomel, $23.99, 0399237232 Summerland Michael Chabon, Talk Miramax/Hyperion, $22.95, 0786808772 Tuck Everlasting Natalie Babbitt, FSG, $4.95, 0374480095 I’m Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem Jamie Lee Curtis, Laura Cornell (Illus.), Joanna Cotler/HarperCollins, $15.99, 0060287616 Micawber’s Museum of Art John Lithgow, C. F. Payne (Illus.), S&S, $17, 0689833415 Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire J.K. Rowling, Scholastic, $8.99, 0439139600 The Thief Lord Cornelia Funke, Chicken House/Scholastic, $16.95, 0439404371 Junie B., First Grader at Last Barbara Park, Random House, $3.99, 0375815163 Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Bill Martin, Eric Carle (Illus.), Holt, $6.95, 0805047905 The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything Linda Williams, Megan Lloyd (Illus.), HarperCollins, $5.95, 0064431835 The Reptile Room Lemony Snicket, HarperTrophy, $9.95, 0064407675 Meet Kaya: An American Girl Janet Shaw, Pleasant, $5.95, 1584854235 Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets J.K. Rowling, Scholastic, $6.99, 0439064872 Gathering Blue Lois Lowry, Laureleaf, $6.50, 0440229499 Mossflower Brian Jacques, Ace, $6.99, 0441005764 THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST INDEPENDENT BESTSELLER LIST
The Pacific Northwest Independent Bestseller List, as brought to you by Book Sense and PNBA, for the week ending Sunday, October 6, 2002.
Based on reporting from the independent booksellers of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association and Book Sense.
TRADE PAPERBACK FICTION
Peace Like a River Leif Enger, Grove, $13, 0802139256 Empire Falls Richard Russo, Vintage, $14.95, 0375726403 Bel Canto Ann Patchett, Perennial, $14, 0060934417 The Corrections Jonathan Franzen, Picador, $15, 0312421273 The Red Tent Anita Diamant, Picador, $14.95, 0312195516 Year of Wonders Geraldine Brooks, Penguin, $14, 0142001430 White Oleander Janet Fitch, Back Bay, $13.95, 0316284955 Five Quarters of the Orange Joanne Harris, Perennial, $13.95, 0060958022 Falling Angels Tracy Chevalier, Plume, $13, 0452283205 The Fiery Cross Diana Gabaldon, Delta, $14.95, 0385336764 The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint Brady Udall, Vintage, $14, 0375719180 Blue Diary Alice Hoffman, Berkley, $13, 0425184943 The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay Michael Chabon, Picador, $15, 0312282990 The World Below Sue Miller, Ballantine, $13.95, 0345440765 The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Alexander McCall Smith, Anchor, $11.95, 1400031346
TRADE PAPERBACK NONFICTION
Nickel and Dimed Barbara Ehrenreich, Owl, $13, 0805063897 Fast Food Nation Eric Schlosser, Perennial, $13.95, 0060938455 The Botany of Desire Michael Pollan, Random House, $13.95, 0375760393 Seabiscuit Laura Hillenbrand, Ballantine, $15, 0449005615 John Adams David McCullough, Touchstone, $18.95, 0743223136 Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay Nancy Milford, Random House, $14.95, 0375760814 A Girl Named Zippy Haven Kimmel, Broadway, $12.95, 0767905318 Onion Ad Nauseum Onion (Ed.), Three Rivers Press, $17, 1400047242 Me Talk Pretty One Day David Sedaris, Little Brown, $14.95, 0316776963 The Four Agreements Don Miguel Ruiz, Amber-Allen, $12.95, 1878424319 Founding Brothers Joseph J. Ellis, Vintage, $14, 0375705244 Without Reservations Alice Steinbach, Random House, $12.95, 0375758453 Ava’s Man Rick Bragg, Vintage, $13, 0375724443 My Story As Told by Water David James Duncan, Sierra Club, $16.95, 1578050839 Theodore Rex Edmund Morris, Modern Library, $16.95, 0812966007
HARDCOVER FICTION
The Lovely Bones Alice Sebold, Little Brown, $21.95, 0316666343 Blue Shoe Anne Lamott, Riverhead, $24.95, 1573222267 Lullaby Chuck Palahniuk, Doubleday, $24.95, 0385504470 Blessings Anna Quindlen, Random House, $24.95, 0375502238 The Grave Maurice: A Richard Jury Mystery Martha Grimes, Viking, $25.95, 0670030457 Dune: The Butlerian Jihad Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, Tor, $27.95, 0765301571 From a Buick 8 Stephen King, Scribner, $28, 0743211375 Red Rabbit Tom Clancy, Putnam, $28.95, 0399148701 Blood of Victory Alan Furst, Random House, $24.95, 0375505741 Nights in Rodanthe Nicholas Sparks, Warner, $22.95, 0446531332 The Murder Book Jonathan Kellerman, Ballantine, $26.95, 0345452534 War of Honor David Weber, Baen, $26, 0743435451 The Nanny Diaries Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus, St. Martin’s, $24.95, 0312278586 The Piano Tuner Daniel Philippe Mason, Knopf, $24, 0375414657 The Emperor of Ocean Park Stephen L. Carter, Knopf, $26.95, 0375413634
HARDCOVER NONFICTION
Longitudes and Attitudes Thomas Friedman, FSG, $23, 0374190666 Blue Latitudes Tony Horwitz, Holt, $26, 0805065415 Abraham Bruce Feiler, Morrow, $23.95, 0380977761 The Power of Now Eckhart Tolle, New World Library, $21.95, 1577311523 Stupid White Men Michael Moore, Regan, $24.95, 0060392452 Perricone Prescription Nicholas Perricone, Harper Resource, $27.50, 0060188790 Walking in This World: The Practical Art of Creativity Julia Cameron, J. P. Tarcher, $24.95, 1585421839 Nothing Is Impossible Christopher Reeve, Random House, $19.95, 0375507787 Step Across This Line: Collected Nonfiction 1992-2002 Salman Rushdie, Random House, $24.95, 0679463348 A Mind at a Time Dr. Mel Levine, S&S, $26, 0743202228 Let Freedom Ring Sean Hannity, Regan, $25.95, 0060514558 Slander Ann H. Coulter, Crown, $25.95, 1400046610 Leadership: How to Run Your Business Like the Greatest City in the World Rudolph Giuliani, Miramax Books, $25.95, 0786868414 Sacred Contracts Caroline Myss, Harmony, $25, 0517703920 The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature Steven Pinker, Viking, $26.95, 0670031518
MASS MARKET
Full House Janet Evanovich, St. Martin’s, $6.99, 0312983271 A Traitor to Memory Elizabeth George, Bantam, $7.99, 0553582364 Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution Robert C. Atkins, M.D., Avon, $7.99, 006001203X The Two Towers J.R.R. Tolkien, Ballantine, $6.99, 0345339711 Violets Are Blue James Patterson, Warner, $7.99, 0446611212 The Blue Last Martha Grimes, Onyx, $7.99, 0451410556 Return of the King J. R. R. Tolkien, Ballantine, $6.99, 0345339738 Two for the Dough Janet Evanovich, Pocket, $6.99, 0671001795 Isle of Dogs Patricia Cornwell, Berkley, $7.99, 0425182908 Tell No One Harlan Coben, Dell, $6.99, 0440236703
CHILDREN’S BOOKS (FICTION & ILLUSTRATED)
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire J.K. Rowling, Scholastic, $8.99, 0439139600 Triss: A Tale from Redwall Brian Jacques, David Elliot (Illus.), Philomel, $23.99, 0399237232 The Thief Lord Cornelia Funke, Chicken House/Scholastic, $16.95, 0439404371 Because of Winn-Dixie Kate DiCamillo, Candlewick, $5.99, 0763616052 Summerland Michael Chabon, Talk Miramax/Hyperion, $22.95, 0786808772 Good Morning, Gorillas Mary Pope Osborne, Random House, $3.99, 0375806148 Tuck Everlasting Natalie Babbitt, FSG, $4.95, 0374480095 Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets J.K. Rowling, Scholastic, $6.99, 0439064872 The Bad Beginning Lemony Snicket, HarperTrophy, $9.95, 0064407667 Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident Eoin Colfer, Talk Miramax/Hyperion, $16.95, 0786808551 Taggerung Brian Jacques, Ace, $7.99, 0441009689 Holes Louis Sachar, Yearling, $5.99, 0440414806 After Hamelin Bill Richardson, Firefly, $8.95, 1550376284 Meet Kaya: An American Girl Janet Shaw, Pleasant, $5.95, 1584854235 Goodnight Moon Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd (Illus.), HarperCollins, $7.95, 0694003611 McGraw-Hill/Dushkin,
Moreover Technologies
Provide Real TimeNews
SAN FRANCISCO, CA/10/07/02—McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, a unit of McGraw-Hill Higher Education, has announced that it is using Moreover Technologies’ Connected Intelligence(TM) (CI) technology to help provide college educators with supplemental textbook information and up-to-the-minute customized news and articles, improving the content of college courses and level of education. By delivering this information in real-time via the Web, professors are able to quickly identify and implement material relevant to their courses, making classes more meaningful and current.
“Providing easy access to additional knowledge about the subject at hand is of great value to instructors,” said Jeffrey Hahn, vice president of eContent Development, McGraw-Hill/Dushkin. “The real-time delivery of targeted information reduces the time it takes professors to find appropriate classroom material to enhance the curriculum and ensures that students receive an optimum education.”
In the competitive environment of college textbook publishing, McGraw-Hill/Dushkin differentiates itself by offering its college subscribers access to Moreover’s CI-Watch. With hundreds of thousands of registered users, CI-Watch delivers information in over 140 categories matching course topics from more than 4,000 national and international sources. These headlines update automatically every 15 minutes and link to full-text articles on the original publisher’s site, enabling professors to track the latest news in any field from public policy to biotechnology. Additionally, any other topic can also be searched.
“McGraw-Hill/Dushkin is the only publisher to offer this kind of capability to its college subscribers. Through the use of Moreover technology, professors are able to focus on what they do best: – provide the best education for their students,” said Angus Banks, Chief Technology Officer, Moreover Technologies.
Because Moreover’s solutions are XML-based, the integration within the Dushkin Online portal was easy and seamless, which was significant benefit for McGraw-Hill/Dushkin project managers.
About McGraw-Hill/Dushkin
McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, specializes in providing the highest quality, supplementary materials available in the higher education market. It publishes eight different types of series products and is best known for its Annual Editions and Taking Sides. McGraw-Hill Dushkin is part of McGraw-Hill Higher Education, a unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP), a global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor’s and Business Week. Founded in 1888, the Corporation has more than 300 offices in 33 countries. Sales in 2001 were $4.6 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.
About Moreover Technologies
Moreover Technologies is a provider of real-time information management solutions to Global 2000 companies, delivering essential online information in time to impact business decisions. Unlike traditional news services that resell archived information, Moreover’s robust technology scours the web every 15 minutes to capture the most actionable information from more than 4,000 qualified, hand-picked sources—including news sites, company websites, and industry sources. Moreover’s Connected Intelligence(TM) solution embodies over 30 person years of domain expertise that is customized to provide business users with continuous, business function-specific information.
Applying proprietary database technology to manage quickly-changing online information such as breaking news and industry coverage, Moreover provides corporate intranets, portals, and desktops with a single point of access to real-time business intelligence. Customers like British Telecom, PeopleSoft, McCann-Erickson, and The McGraw-Hill Companies rely on Moreover’s easy-to-integrate suite of custom solutions to target revenue opportunities, outsmart their competition, and save money by increasing productivity.
Leading technology companies including Inktomi, Microsoft, Autonomy, Epicentric, PeopleSoft, and Plumtree also license Moreover’s dynamic database to power their applications with real-time online information.
Moreover has offices in San Francisco, London and NYC, and is backed by prominent venture firms including Reuters Venture Capital and Atlas Ventures.
Press Club to Induct
Six Local Journalists
Into Journalism Hall of Fame
CLEVELAND, OH/10/10/02—The Press Club of Cleveland will induct six distinguished journalists into its Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame at a ceremony to be held at the Marriott Key Center in downtown Cleveland on Thursday, October 24. Plain Dealer columnist and Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame member, Dick Feagler will be this year’s Master of Ceremonies.
“These six individuals represent the best of Cleveland journalism over the past half-century,” said Press Club President Cindy Walker. “Each one of them has actively participated in advancing the field of journalism and we are pleased to honor them for the honest and straightforward manner in which they presented the news.”
The Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame Class of 2002 includes the following:
Robert G. McGruder joined The Plain Dealer as its first African-American reporter in 1963. He was city editor, then managing editor of The Plain Dealer before joining the Detroit Free Press in 1986. At the time of his death this past April, Bob was executive editor of the Free Press. He stood for integrity, excellence and diversity in journalism and was nationally recognized for his efforts in those areas.
Stan Modic, an innovator in trade journalism, was instrumental in resurrecting the Press Club of Cleveland in the late 1970s. Modic began his career at the Painesville Telegraph but in 1965 joined Steel Magazine, where he was part of the team that converted it to Industry Week, today the flagship of Penton Media. He was editor-in-chief for 15 years, during which he organized trade study missions to Japan and China. He left Penton in 1989 for Huebcore, which became Adams Business Media; he retired this year. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame by John Sheridan, retired senior editor of IndustryWeek magazine.
Carl Monday has been a fixture in Cleveland television news, at WJW TV-8 from 1979 until 2001 and now at WKYC TV-3. As an investigative reporter, he has blown the cover of many a miscreant and the lid off many a simmering story. A master of the hidden camera, the hidden microphone and the confrontational interview, Carl was a pioneer of investigative television journalism in Cleveland. His many awards include 36 Emmys.
Brent Larkin joined The Plain Dealer in 1981 as politics writer and later became a columnist; today he is director of the newspaper’s opinion pages. A Cleveland native, he was with the Cleveland Press from 1970 to 1981, covering City Hall during some of the city’s most tumultuous years. Larkin has a doctorate of law from Cleveland Marshall College of Law and was admitted to the practice of law in 1987. Plain Dealer publisher, Alex Machaskee, will induct Larkin into the Hall of Fame.
Arnold Miller was “Lou Grant” long before Ed Asner created the television role. As managing editor of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram from 1972 through 1997, he was a boss who was tough but fair, known for his energy, humor, precise editing and his ability to motivate others to excel. Many journalists who learned their trade under Arnold’s watchful eye moved on to wire services or larger daily papers. Chronicle-Telegram Assistant Managing Editor Patti Ewald will present Miller into the Hall of Fame.
Peter Miller covered many major news events in 42 years as a television photojournalist, but he prided himself on tackling even the most mundane assignments with energy and creativity, and he enjoyed sharing his expertise with many younger co-workers. With WJW TV-8 for 26 years, then with WKYC TV-3 for 16 more years, he won many professional awards. He was WKYC’s chief photographer at the time of his death in 2001. Miller’s brother, William Miller, a former Plain Dealer reporter, will induct him into the Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony begins at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and the program.
The Press Club of Cleveland is an established tradition in Northeast Ohio created to unite news breakers and news makers in the complicated and ever-changing world of journalism. More than a century old, the Press Club is an organization for print and broadcast journalists and editors, public relations and advertising professionals, students and anyone who works with them. The club provides its members with numerous networking and professional opportunities, promotes careers within the industry, and maintains a history of Cleveland journalism including the Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame.
Xerox Award
to Recognize Innovation
in Digital Color Printing
ROCHESTER, NY/10/04/02—Oct. 4, 2002—As part of its ongoing effort to build awareness on the benefits and capabilities of digital color printing, Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX) today announced that it will sponsor the 2003 Printing Innovation with Xerox Imaging (PIXI) Awards in the United States and Canada.
The program honors excellence in digital color printing applications and helps promote new ways for printers, their customers, and creative teams to use new technology and variable information to increase volume, revenue and communication effectiveness.
The PIXI Awards showcase excellence ranging from simple short-run color applications to complex one-to-one marketing fulfillment programs.
“Our business is shifting from traditional printing to more powerful digital technologies in order to meet customers’ demand for fast turnaround, shorter run lengths and personalized communications,” said Elaine Wilde, senior vice president and general manager, Xerox Worldwide Graphic Arts Business. “This program recognizes the team of professionals who create and deliver value-added services and solutions to their customers. It also provides an opportunity for them to share their vision and innovation with others in the industry.”
Entries will be accepted from Jan. 1 – June 30, 2003, and must be produced on a Xerox digital printer. They will be judged on overall aesthetics, business effectiveness, the use of digital technology and degree of innovation. Awards, including an overall grand prize, will be awarded in four categories:
Variable color / 1:1. Short-run digital full color. Digital books and manuals. Web fulfillment.
A panel of independent leaders representing key segments of the graphic arts industry will judge the entries, with winners announced at Graph Expo 2003.
AWARDS Fox News
Correspondent Gets
Headliner Award
DENVER, CO/10/07/02—Rita Cosby, Senior Correspondent for FOX News Channel, is the recipient of the 2002 Headliner Award given annually by The Association for Women in Communications.
The award was presented at their Annual Professional Conference, held this year in Denver, Colorado, October 9-12, 2002.
The Headliner Award rewards recent national or international accomplishments, as well as consistent communications excellence. Since AWC created the award in 1939, the association has recognized over 200 prominent leaders in communications disciplines.
As anchor of FOX News Channels, Rita Cosby continues to out-scoop her seasoned colleagues while covering national and international breaking news stories. Most recently, she made international headlines by obtaining exclusive interviews with former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and back to back interviews with Mideast leaders Yasser Arafat and Ariel Sharon.
Currently the youngest senior news correspondent in network television, this three-time Emmy winner for investigative reporting has consistently broken major news stories throughout the world. Live in Belgrade during the bombing, Cosby was first to report that the three American POWs were going to be released; scored the only interview with the Montana Freemen during their 1996 standoff; covered the entire Elian Gonzalez custody battle; and traveled to Cuba to report on the Pope’s historic meeting with Fidel Castro.
Cosby has also interviewed four U.S. Presidents and has been a lead reporter covering the Presidential campaigns of 1996 and 2000. Her political savvy and adept handling of “quips and rips” on the Washington scene have made her a regular guest on national radio.
As a University of South Carolina honor graduate, Cosby has taught numerous college classes, and in 1998 was presented with USC’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Fluent in Spanish and proficient in five other languages, she is listed in “Outstanding People of the 20th Century.” Cosby continues to provide her unique and diverse perspective on national and international issues when asked to chair panels or serve as a keynote speaker for industry forums, professional organizations and charitable events.
The Association for Women in Communications, founded in 1909 as Theta Sigma Phi, is a non-profit organization of over 7,500 members that champions the advancement of women across all communications disciplines by recognizing excellence, promoting leadership and positioning its members at the forefront of the evolving communications era. The association has members in more than 100 professional and student chapters around the world and a strong network of independent members.
For more information about the association, visit the AWC Web site at http://www.womcom.org/
PEOPLE Hollywood Producer and Novelist David B. Charnay Dies at Age 90
LOS ANGELES, CA/10/07/02—Hollywood producer and novelist David B. Charnay, of Calabasas, CA, died on October 2, 2002 at Cedars Sinai Hospital at age 90 of complications from surgery.
Charnay was born in New York City on April 13, 1912. In 1967 he assumed control of Four Star International, Inc., a publicly-held movie and television studio formed by Dick Powell, Charles Boyer and David Niven, which Charnay ran for 16 years. Four Star produced “The Big Valley” with Barbara Stanwyck; The Rogues” with David Niven, Ida Lupino, Charles Boyer and Gig Young; “Wanted Dead or Alive” with Steve McQueen; “The Thrillseekers”; “Here Come The Stars,” etc. Charnay later sold control of the Company to McAndrews and Forbes, owned by Ron Perelman, who merged Four Star’s library with New World Pictures and retired to write novels and publish “The American Eagle,” a newsletter.
Prior to his move to Los Angeles, Charnay had been successively an award-winning New York journalist with the New York American, New York Daily Mirror (five years) and the New York Daily News (for ten years), which in those days had the highest circulation with two and one-half million weekdays and four and one-half million on Sundays. As a reporter, he chased Nazis before the war. He was recruited to train at OSS at Fairfax, VA.
Charnay’s latest novels were: “Operation Lucifer: The Chase, Capture and Trial of Adolf Hitler” (an alternative history inspired in part by his wartime OSS training) and “Target 1600” (a political thriller).
Charnay attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT and NYU in NYC. His high school studies were at Peddie Institute in Hightstown, NJ and MacKenzie Prep in Monroe, NY. He was a member of the Overseas Press Club, the New York Press Club, The National Press Club, The Society of Silurians, the Producers Guild of America and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Charnay was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Isadore and Jeannette Lipton Charnay, a leading NYC Courtier, and his daughter, Dr. Joyce Leonard. He is survived by his wife, Martha Arnold-Charnay of Calabasas, CA; his sister, Beatrice Maybruck of NYC; his son, John Charnay of Los Angeles, CA; two daughters: Janis Charnay of Palm Springs, CA and Jeannette Hower of Chaparral, NM; seven grandchildren; one special nephew; one niece; two great-nieces; one great-nephew; and one great, great-niece.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2002 at Frank Campbell Mortuary, 1076 Madison Avenue, NYC.
Paul Caine Named Publisher of TEEN PEOPLE Magazine
NEW YORK, NY/10/07/02—Paul Caine has been named Publisher of TEEN PEOPLE magazine.Nora McAniff, executive vice president of Time Inc., made the announcement. Caine joins TEEN PEOPLE from PEOPLE, where he served as associate publisher since November 2001.
Caine, 38, had previously served as associate publisher of TEEN PEOPLE from 1997.
Prior to launching TEEN PEOPLE, Caine was a New York divisional manager for PEOPLE, with responsibility for ad sales efforts in the New York and Southeast territories. Before joining Time Inc. in September 1989, he worked for USA Today and J. Walter Thompson.
Caine is on the board of Fashion Group International. He also serves on the executive board of CJ Foundation for SIDS; and he and his wife, Pam, founded The Griffin Fund, in memory of their son, Griffin Matthew. The Griffin Fund is dedicated to supporting surviving and subsequent siblings in families who have lost a child.
A graduate of Indiana University with a B.S. in Business Communication, Caine was entered into its Telecommunications Alumni Hall of Fame in 2000. He resides in Tenafly, New Jersey with his wife and their three children.
Kathleen Kayse Named Publisher at PEOPLE Magazine
NEW YORK, NY/10/07/02—Kathleen Kayse has been named Publisher of PEOPLE magazine. The announcement was made by PEOPLE president Peter Bauer. In her new job, she will oversee all advertising sales and marketing operations. She had previously served as publisher of MONEY magazine since November 2001.
An 19-year Time Inc. veteran, Kayse, 44, replaces Bauer, who moved from publisher to president of the magazine in August of 2002. Prior to joining Money, Kayse had been publisher at FSB: FORTUNE SMALL BUSINESS, the sister magazine of FORTUNE, since 1998. She had previously been based in Chicago, where she held two positions concurrently: Midwest advertising manager for TIME magazine, and national advertising director of TIME FOR KIDS. She joined the company as a sales trainee for TIME in 1983.
Kayse began her career in 1980 in media planning, with brief stints at Wells, Rich, Greene and J. Walter Thompson, Chicago. A Chicago native, she graduated from the University of Illinois. She is a member of the Advertising Women of New York, and The Financial Communications Society.
Michael Dukmejian Named Publisher of MONEY Magazine
NEW YORK, NY/10/07/02—David Kieselstein, President of The Money Group, has announced that Michael Dukmejian, 48, most recently publisher of MUTUAL FUNDS, has been named the new publisher of MONEY. Dukmejian will replace Kathy Kayse, who has been named the new publisher of PEOPLE.
Dukmejian is a Time Inc. veteran who joined the company in 1980. Over the past two decades, he has served in key advertising and marketing roles at TIME, FORTUNE, and SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. Since 1999, Mike has served as publisher at MUTUAL FUNDS magazine.
In his tenure at Time, Inc., Dukmejian has served as both advertising manager and business development director at TIME magazine, as well as serving as marketing director at FORTUNE. From 1993 through the end of 1998, he served as the director of sales development at SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. While at MUTUAL FUNDS, his success at developing new business and launching the magazine’s 2002 redesign were widely recognized.
MONEY is published by Time Inc. With a circulation of 1.9 million and a total readership of nearly 8 million, MONEY is the largest financial management publication in the world.
FINANCIALS McGraw-Hill to Report
Third Quarter
Earnings for 2002
NEW YORK, NY/10/04/02—The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) will release its third quarter 2002 earnings results before the start of NYSE trading on Tuesday, October 22, 2002.
At 9:00 AM Eastern Time, following the earnings announcement, the Corporation’s senior management will host a conference call to discuss the results. The call will be open to all interested parties and will also be available through the Internet. Discussions may include forward-looking information.
A recorded replay will be available beginning approximately two hours after the meeting and will be available by telephone and the Internet for seven days. The prepared remarks and slides will also be available for downloading in the Web site’s Management Commentary archive several hours later at: www.mcgraw-hill.com/investor_relations.
RSVP Requested: Telephone participants are asked to RSVP on or before October 21, 2002 by leaving a voice message. Domestic participants may call (800) 753-0663; international participants may call +1 (402) 998-1879 (long distance charges will apply). Internet participants do not need to RSVP.
Book/Movie Deals PublishersLunch.com
Reports Book
Deals for October Look for more October deals in our November 1 Authorlink edition
These book deals are reported on Authorlink as a courtesy of PublishersLunch.com. For more like these, visit the PublishersLunch.com site. Deals are rated as follows:
“nice deal” $1 – $100,000 “good deal” $101,000 – $250,000 “significant deal” $251,000 – $500,000 “major deal” $501,000 and up NA, amount of the deal not available
NONFICTION
October 2002 : Leanne Ely’s MENU MAILER BY THE BOOK, a user-friendly cookbook (an offshot of menumailer.net) that provides weekly menus, nutritionally balanced recipes and an itemized grocery list that groups items by product type (for example, the dairy products for all the recipes are categorized together), which can be taken out of the book and used as an actual grocery list, Maureen O’Neal at Ballantine, at auction, by Michelle Tessler at Carlisle & Company (world).
FICTION
October 2002: Elsie V. Aidinoff’s THE GARDEN, a crossover young adult/adult novel that retells the story of Adam and Eve from Eve’s point of view, written by the daughter of William and Anne Vanderbilt, to Ruth Katcher at HarperCollins, in a very nice deal, by Kathleen Anderson at Anderson Grinberg (NA). KAndersonGrin@aol.com 11 October, 2002 non-fiction Thomas deZengotita’s MEDIATED: How We Became What We Are, a provocative and satirical social criticism of how the media has impacted our lives over the past 50 years, with the result being that we now function as actors who are self-consciously performing –not just living– our lives, to Bill Swainson at Bloomsbury UK, and separately to Colin Dickerman at Bloomsbury US, in nice deals, Michelle Tessler at Carlisle & Company.
October 2002: Jennie Shortridge’s first novel RIDING WITH THE QUEEN, about big-haired, big-voiced, royally messed-up singer Tallie Beck,and how she finally goes home and grows up at thirty-five–with the help of a ghost named Big Gal Sal, to Leona Nevler for NAL Accent, in a nice deal, by Jody Rein (NA).
October 2002: Novelization rights to the much-anticipated movie Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, to be written by David Hagberg, to James Frenkel at Tor Books/Tom Doherty, in a significant deal, for three books (including two spinoff novels), at auction, by Ellen Geiger at Curtis Brown and Justin Manask of Joel Gotler & Associates.
Authorlink News, Success Stories,
And Recognition An Updated Report
on Selected Authorlink Successes
10/18/02—This is a partial list of authors who have recently sold work as a result of having been listed with Authorlink (http://www.authorlink.com).
FICTION
HOW YOU PLAY THE GAME , a novel by Jimmy Gleacher, sold to Scribner, an imprint of Rawson Associates (Simon & Schuster) for five figures by Meredith Phelan, then with the Linda Chester Agency, now with Judith Ehrlich Literary Management. Paperback rights subsequently sold by Scribner to Jennifer Jahner, Editor, NAL (Penguin Putnam), for release in February 2003. Endorsed by Academy Award winning actress, Gwyneth Paltrow. Meredith discovered Jimmy as a direct result of Authorlink. First-time author .
MEMOIR
SLIM TO NONE, by Graydon D. (Dee) Hubbard directly sold from Authorlink to Michele Pezzuti at McGraw-Hilll for release in January 2003. The poignant story of his daughter’s long (and fatal) journey through the wasteland of anorexia treatment is told mostly through her hospital journals. Hubbard’s first agent, signed through Authorlink, terminated for health reasons. His second agent, also found through Authorlink, lost her position when her agency downsized after 9/11. Fortunately, a few months later, McGraw Hill editor Michele Pezzuti spotted the work on Authorlink, made a direct request for the materials, and subsequently offered a contract. First-time author.
NONFICTION
BEYOND ANGER: A GUIDE FOR MEN by Thomas J. Harbin, Ph.D, to Avalon (Marlowe & Company). The book originally sold to John Muir Publications as a direct inquiry from the publisher. Muir later was acquired by Marlowe. First-time author.
PROFITS IN NATURAL RESOURCES by Roland Jansen, to John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Both the agent, Elizabet McHugh, and the publisher made direct requests for this work, ultimately represented by McHugh. First-time author.
Selected Authorlink Contest Winners
Who Have Won Major Publishing Contracts
Six winners of the annual Authorlink New Author Awards competition have won significant publishing contracts, partly influenced by having been winners in the Authorlink contest, which turns six years old in July 2003. This is a partial list.
FICTION
D’ ANGELO’S DESTINY by Ginger Hanson to Ballad (Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2002) in a two-book deal. Ms. Hanson won the Best of Show and Historical Romance awards in the 2001 Authorlink New Author Awards Competition. First-time author.
BEST SERVED COLD by Cynthia G. Alwyn (pen name) to St. Martin’s Press (2001) by Anne Hawkins, John Hawkins & Associates. Ms. Alwyn placed among the top three in the 1999 Authorlink awards competition for her novel , TALE OF THE SERPENT. First-time author.
SONG OF THE BEAST by Carol Berg to Roc (Penguin Putnam, 2000) in a three-book deal. Berg was the 1999 Authorlink first-place Science Fiction/Fantasy winner. First-time author.
BINGO QUEENS by June London (aka June Park) to Cliff Street (HarperCollins, April 1999) in a two-book, six-figure deal by Robert Tabian of Robert Tabian Literary Agency. Ms. London was the Mainstream Fiction winner in the 1998 New Author Awards competition . First-time author.
A Comprehensive Listing of Sold Titles
Major Publishers
Browse Authorlink
for Manuscripts
Statistical Update
DALLAS, TX/ 07/01/02—Literary agents and editors regularly surf Authorlink in search of good writers. Among major houses making requests and/or visiting the site, are: Random House, Knopf, St. Martin’s Press, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Putham and many other smaller publishers. More than 700 writers are currently listed with us. Since tracking began, 1658 requests have been processed for requested manuscripts. Of the 348 editor or agent offers we’ve been able to track, 77 have lead to publication as a direct or indirect result of exposure on Authorlink. Additional sales and agent contracts are pending.
On average, about 55-65% of the listed writers have received requests by editors and agents, some receiving multiple requests. Of those who have received interest, about 20- 30% are signed with agents and 15- 20% have directly sold their works to publishers during this time, not including pending sales.
The site, which matches literary agents and editors with writers, has received praise from editors at Penguin UK, Avon, Berkley, Random House, Time-Warner, Bantam Doubleday Dell and other major publishers.
See “What People Are Saying About Authorlink”
Authorlink News Archives Authorlink Writer
Hubbard Sells Book
to McGraw Hill Second in One Month to Land Contract
5/1/02—Graydon D. (Dee) Hubbard has sold his book, Slim to None, to McGraw-Hill as a direct result of Authorlink. The poignant story of his daughter’s long (and fatal) journey through the wasteland of anorexia treatment is told mostly through her hospital journals. The title will be released in January 2003, leading into National Eating Disorders Month.
Hubbard is the 76th Authorlink writer to sell his work. The manuscript, originally titled, Why Won’t Jenny Eat? had been listed with Authorlink for about a year. Hubbard’s first agent, signed through Authorlink, terminated for health reasons. His second agent, also found through Authorlink, lost her position when her agency drastically downsized after September 11. Fortunately, a few months later, McGraw Hill editor Michele Pezzuti spotted the work on Authorlink, made a direct request for the materials, and subsequently offered a contract.
Another writer, Ginger Hanson, who won the Best of Show and Historical Romance awards in the 2001 Authorlink New Author Awards Competition, has secured a two-book contract with Kensington Publishing Corporation. Her award-winning book, D’ Angelo’s Destiny, will be published as the lead title of two under Kensington’s Ballad imprint next spring.
Ginger is the sixth contest winner to attract a publisher, partly based on having won the Authorlink Award, which turns five years old in July 2002. She’s the 75th writer for whom Authorlink has played a role in helping to become published.
Authorlink, online for more than six years, is the award-winning rights marketplace where editors and agents buy and sell unpublished and published manuscripts and screenplays. The site features publishing industry news and provides serious writers with access and exposure to the broadest range of legitimate publishing professionals.
Authorlink is among the top one percent of most clicked sites on the web, and generates more than 2.5 million page views per year.
Hanson Signs Two-Book
Deal With Kensington;
Becomes Authorlink’s
75th Success Story,
and the 6th Authorlink Contest
Winner to Publish
DALLAS, TX/ 04/01/02—Ginger Hanson, who won the Best of Show and Historical Romance awards in the 2001 Authorlink New Author Awards Competition, has won a two-book contract with Kensington Publishing Corporation.Her award-winning book, D’ ANGELO’S DESTINY, will be published as the lead title of two under Kensington’s Ballad imprint next spring. Ginger is the sixth author to attract a publisher, partly based on having won the Authorlink Award, which turns five years old in July 2002. She’s the 75th writer for whom Authorlink has played a role in helping to become published.
“I’m still in shock,” said Ginger in notifying Authorlink about the sale. “The editor actually e-mailed me last August, right after I won the contest. But I never received the message. With all the traumatic events in New York last fall, I didn’t contact her until earlier this year, saying that DESTINY had won the Authorlink Best of Show. She’s buying the books from my proposal alone. Nothing but good things have happened to me since first winning Best of Show. I have sold four articles to a regional magazine, and now I have a two book contract with Kensington.”
Other contest winners who have attracted publishing contracts include: June Park, BINGO QUEENS OF PARADISE (Harper Collins); Cynthia G. Alwyn, BEST SERVED COLD (St. Martin’s Press); Michaela August, SWEETER THAN WINE (Neighborhood Press), and Ekaterine Nikas (Katy) Terlinden, DIVIDED CHILD (Avid Press). Suarez Becomes
74th Authorlink Writer
to Sell Manuscript
Danette Suarez, who has listed her work in the Emerging Writers section of Authorlink since last November, has sold her manuscript, OMEGA, to Brown Bag Books, an imprint of World Holdings Group, Inc. in New York.
World Holdings is a start up publisher with no track record as yet. The company was established in April 2001. The house plans to focus on children’s and ethnic titles.
Suarez’s 85,000 word novel is about a young man who must accept the shameful knowledge of his father’s infidelities and his illegitimate sibling.
Authorlink Writer
Freni Sells Work
to California Press
73rd Authorlink Writer to Land Publisher
MARLBORO, MD/1/1/02—Authorlink writer Pamela S. Freni has become the 73rd author to sell her manuscript as a direct result of the popular online marketing service. Her book, SPACE FOR WOMEN will be released in mid 2002 by Seven Locks Press, Santa Ana, CA (www.sevenlockspress.com) and will be available at major bookstores and online booksellers.
Ms. Freni who lives in Upper Marlboro, MD (twenty miles east of Washington, DC), was listed with Authorlink for about two years and had several queries for the manuscript before Seven Locks offered her a contract. She is represented by the Stefanidis Agency which is active on Authorlink. Seven Locks made the direct request for Freni’s manuscript through the Authorlink service.
In announcing the sale, Freni called Authorlink “a fine and useful service.”
The 25-year-old Seven Locks Press publishes quality books covering a wide variety of contemporary topics that provoke thought, enlighten, and entertain. Its authors include political figures, icons of journalism, and recognized experts including Bill Moyers, Hedrick Smith, Congressman Cecil Heftel, Sir Eldon Griffiths, Jane Glenn Haas, and Alan Bock.
Ms. Freni’s book is about the heated space race between the US and Russia. After Russia sent the first man into space, the US was backed into a public relations corner that could only be answered by sending the first woman into space.
Thirteen enormously talented women tested and trained and were on the verge of being astronauts in 1960 when political pressure forced them off the stage. Even forty-one years later,they are talented and ambitious and some of them are still looking for a ride into space.
Pam began writing the book as a direct result of hearing of the thirteen women discussed in her book. “I was so incensed at how they’d been treated by NASA and others, I decided that the story should be told, so I naively began to write a book,” Pam said. “It’s amazing how much ignorance played a part in the process. I thought if you wrote a book, someone just published it.”
Freni’s favorite authors are Michener and Dava Sobel. They can tell a story that quickly fades from words to mind pictures. You don’t even realize you’re reading, just pictures passing over your mind’s eye.
Does she have any advice for newcomers trying to break into publishing?
“As a newcomer, I have read a thousand documents all reminding writers not to take any rejections personally and to persevere. It’s true. Also, never take ‘No’ for an answer if you believe in your writing.”
Asked why she thinks so many writers get rejected, and so few become published, and what elements of good writing would she guess are missing from an aspiring writer’s work, Pam had this to say:
“It doesn’t seem to be a single element so much as it is the ‘heart’ many of us miss adding into our books. We make word choices that either describe something or that grab the imagination and wrestle it to the ground. We can either say, ‘The fireman raised the flag,’ or we can say, ‘The fireman cradled the scarlet and white banner as he struggled to the top of a small smouldering mountain of debris where he defiantly raised it to the top of the mast of the remains of the World Trade Center.’ I think we have to be honest with our emotions and let them enter into our stories. That gives them heart and catches the eyes of the editors.”
Pam says she has learned her craft from, “Reading, reading, reading. Dissecting word usage from authors I enjoy. Reading every web page targeted at authors such as Authorlink.com. Listening to a really good editor who has worked on two manuscripts for me.
And what’s the funniest thing that ever happened to her on the way to getting published?
“After twenty-three rejections on Space for Women, I mentioned it to a friend from the office. She looked startled and asked if I would like an agent. She then handed me the phone number of an author friend of hers who recommended his agents to me. Thinking that it couldn’t be this easy, I contacted them and they became my agents. See it’s easy! I was so lucky and have felt from that day, that this book was destined to be published.”
Seven Locks Press has won a Benjamin Franklin Award and the Category Bestseller Award from Amazon.com. In the last few years Seven Locks Press selection of books has expanded to include a collection of coffee table books, gift books, celebrity bios, and new age titles. The company has introduced a line of juvenile titles and launching a line of fiction titles. Seven Locks Press is the publishing arm of Chapman University Press and a distributor for other small presses that rely on the marketing and publicity capabilities of Seven Locks Press. This year, Seven Locks Press will be publishing twenty-one new titles and will distribute nine titles for other publishers. In 2001, the publishing program will nearly double to forty new titles. James C. Riordan is publisher.
Joyce Lackey
Sells Book
to Gardenia Press
72nd Authorlink Writer to Land Publisher
A publisher contact made several years ago has finally paid of for Authorlink writer Joyce Lackey. The author who received a request for her novel as a result of her Authorlink listing for, The Ghosts of Buffalo Creek, has at last sold the work to Gardenia Press, a small publisher who plans to release the work in July 2002.
71st Authorlink Writer
to Sell Manuscript
June1, 2001—Michael E. Bemis of Kennebunk, Maine, became the 71st author to sell his work as a direct result of listing his work on Authorlink.com.
His book, Safe & Sound, a nonfiction work about how to buy a safe, private, and quiet home, will be published by Hanrow Press of Rancho Santa Fe, California. The small press, founded in 1982, has specialized in law and safety engineering books until now. The publication date for Safe & Sound has not yet been determined. Michael’s work had been listed with Authorlink for about a year when Hanrow requested a look at the full manuscript. Authorlink interviewed the author about his success:
AUTHORLINK: When did you begin your writing career, and what prompted you to do so? Is there a special story behind your decision to become an author?
BEMIS: I started writing in earnest while serving as Sheriff of York County, Maine. When I left law enforcement full-time I was able to devote more time to my writing.
AUTHORLINK: Who was the greatest influence on your decision to write, and in what ways did they encourage you?
BEMIS: My mother who is a published author.
AUTHORLINK: How important has your agent been in guiding your career?
BEMIS: I briefly had an agent but due to personal hardship they were forced to close. I presently do not have an agent.
AUTHORLINK: How did Authorlink help?
BEMIS: Authorlink’s excellent service and support has consistently exceeded my expectations. Without Authorlink, Safe & Sound would not be poised for publication.
AUTHORLINK: Do you have any advice or insights for newcomers trying to break into publishing?
BEMIS: It sounds monotonous, but they should just keep trying.
AUTHORLINK: Do you perceive New York publishing to be a closed society or an open one?
BEMIS: I think it’s open to good writing and content that’s timely and unique.
AUTHORLINK: What are publishers looking for today?
BEMIS: What will sell and authors with a passion to sell it.
AUTHORLINK: How did you learn your craft? Through reading? Conferences? A university? Mentoring? A combination of these, or other means?
BEMIS: Nothing formal, just a lot of research, reading and writing.
70 th Authorlink Writer
to Land Publisher
April 15, 2001—Jan Letoha this month became the 70 th Authorlink writer to sign a publishing contract as a result of her listing on Authorlink.com. Her first book, Bury The Past , will be published by Port Town Publishing in August, 2002.
Port Town Publishing (PTP) is a small publishing house located in Superior, Wisconsin. The company was founded in 1999 by Jean Hackensmith, a struggling romance author who got tired of getting rejection letters from the New York publishers. PTP publishes about 4-5 novels per year, including original romance, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and horror.
Bury The Past was listed on Authorlink for 22 months. During that time, Jan also signed with an agent through Authorlink, but the agent closed her agency due to illness.
Jan has also listed her second book, Fire On The Moon, with Authorlink. It’s another spooky, romantic suspense story.
How did Jan feel when she heard that her book would be published?
“Like a genie popped out of a bottle and granted me three wishes! It’s the best feeling in the world!”
Jan began writing about ten years ago. “I read a time travel/historical romance and thought, ‘If this author can get away with such a fantastic story, maybe my ideas aren’t so crazy after all.’ So I started writing Bury The Past. Writing fiction was a lot harder than I thought it’d be, though. Getting the hang of writing dialogue was really tough.
Before listing her work with Authorlink, Jan had tried the traditional methods of marketing — sending out query letters and sample chapters. “I had another agent a few years back,” Jan said. “A word of advice — if an agent asks for money up front, look out! Maybe I’m just jinxed when it comes to agents. Anyway, I’m convinced that Bury The Past would be sitting in a shoe box on my closet shelf if I hadn’t discovered Authorlink.”
When Jan is working on a book, she’s a person obsessed — or possessed. She’ll write 10 – 12 hours a day, especially during the summer.
In the real world, Jan teaches Psychology and U.S. History at a South Georgia high school.
What advice would she give to writers who want to be published?
“Research the requirements for different types of novels. It seems that publishers want to see key elements in a book that will appeal to their specific type of market. Read a book on editing manuscripts so you can delete what publishers don’t want to see. List your book on Authorlink — it’s the only thing that worked for me! Then develop a huge store of patience and persistence and don’t think you’re home free once you sign a contract. That’s when the real work starts!”
Authorlink Writer
Joy Jasper Sells Work
to St. Martin’s Press
67th Authorlink Sale
2/26/01—Joy Waldron Jasper this month became the 67th Authorlink writer to sell a manuscript as a direct result of contacts made through Authorlink. Jasper found her New York agent— Sam Fleishman of Literary Artists Representatives — via Authorlink, and he subsequently sold one of her works to St. Martin’s Press.
The new book, “The USS Arizona: The Ship, the Men, the Attack!,” will be in bookstores November 1, 2001, in time for Veteran’s Day (November 11) and the 60th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day (December 7, 2001)
“After meeting my agent through Authorlink, we signed a contract in December 2000 to represent my novel. Then we signed a second contract in January to represent my nonfiction book,” Jasper explained. “As is often the case, the nonfiction sold first. St. Martin’s Press bought it in February 2001, and has moved at an impressive speed to release it in less than a year, so as to offer it to readers at the 60th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day — a mere nine months later, which is stunning in the world of publishing! Kudos to my wonderful editor, Mac Talley at St. Martin’s Press, and to my amazing agent, Sam Fleishman.”
Joy became an Authorlink writer in October, 2000. The fictional work that originally attracted her agent is titled “Betrayal at Pearl Harbor.” While that novel hasn’t yet sold (as of press time), the nonfiction book on Pearl Harbor was rapidly sold through the agent who connected with Jasper through Authorlink.
The USS Arizona book is the story of life aboard the USS Arizona in peacetime, and the survival stories of 10 men who lived through the attack. As a journalist and a diver, Joy first visited the USS Arizona underwater in 1983, covering the story of the photo documentation and scientific illustration of the gallant battleship, the greatest casualty of the Pearl Harbor attack. She was so enthralled with the story, she searched out survivors and began interviewing them, crisscrossing the country for several years to hear their stories. Hearing their emotional tales, she was fascinated by the tremendous bond and affection they felt for their ship, and she felt it was a story that needed to be told.
“I’m a writer who prefers to write every day, in the morning when I’m fresh, and for a period of three to four hours,” Jasper said of her working habits. ” If I’m on a splendid roll, I might write for longer, but I like to achieve 10 pages a day that I’ll keep. It never hurts to stop in the middle — of an idea, a sentence, a chapter. I like returning the next day to something unfinished so that I’m inspired to jump in again. I don’t think there’s any one way to write, but I think it’s important to find your own best period of the day and the length of time that makes sense for you. Writing books is my top priority, and I write full time.”
For the record, Joy’s children are grown, and she lives in New England with her husband and a garden full of perennials
“I’ve completed my second novel in a series of underwater thrillers (the first — working title, Betrayal at Pearl Harbor, which is listed on Authorlink — is under review at several major houses at this time),” Joy said.
I’m currently working on another nonfiction book on the Lewis and Clark expedition, and another historical biography is in the outline stage.
“I want to thank Authorlink for providing me a forum for my work, she added. “I was encouraged by having been selected for the Authorlink web site, and once I had a page there (http://www.authorlink.com/001051th.html), I had confidence to approach agents. I sent a number of Authorlink-listed agents an email, condensing my query to three paragraphs and asking them to look for more information on my page. I got positive responses from eight out of ten queries I sent. Of those eight, I was extremely fortunate to find a superb agent to represent me, and who got a sale within a month at a major press.
“Thanks to all at Authorlink. And I want to say to my fellow writers: ‘”Keep writing, and don’t lose heart! If it happened to me, it can happen to you.'”
Authorlink Writer
Chopra Finds
Publisher for Work
68th Authorlink Sale
4/1/01—Dr. Prem Chopra, author of the new age nonfiction book, “If I Had Known,” has sold his work to Hanrow Press in Rancho Santa Fe, California. The small press, founded in 1982, has specialized in law and safety engineering books until now. Chopra’s book is their first venture into trade books.
Dr. Chopra has been listed with Authorlink since October 2000. He signed a contract with Hanrow Press early this year. He became the 68th author to sell his work through Authorlink in the last 36 months.
Jan Wallace Becomes
69thAuthorlink Writer
to Sign With Publisher
69th Authorlink Sale
4/1/01—Jan Wallace became the 69th writer to sign a publishing contract through Authorlink in the past 36 months in late March. Ms. Wallace, a first-time author, signed a deal with PortTown Publishing for her book, Where Roses Grow Wild. The publisher is a small Wisconsin house that releases about four books per year.
Ms. Wallace had two manuscripts listed on Authorlink between 1999 and 2000. In January 2000, Authorlink received a request from WMG Promotions, a literary agency, requesting the manuscript. She signed a contract with WMG the very next month, and shortly thereafter WMG sold the work to PortTown.
Port Town senior editor Jean Hackensmith wrote to Agents Cary and Sherry Wolf that she found the manuscript to be “funny, romantic and tragic.” She said she had tears streaming down her face in the end.
Jan Wallace credits the editor with giving each writer a lot of attention to make sure the manuscript is everything it should be for the reader.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling knowing someone reads your manuscript and it really has an effect on them positive effect at that, that you make them feel for the characters themselves, because that’s what it’s all about-believing in the story.”
“Authorlink has made it possible for writers to link up with the correct agents and publishers, and gives agents a chance to review works by various writers,” Jan explained.
I started along time ago writing, as child I would write stories and put on plays in the basement of my parents’ home. I’ve always told stories, then one day said, lets see if anyone would like to publish any of the stories. Friends have read them and said they were good, but, hey, these are friends after all.
Jan once worked for The University of Georgia Extension Service in the Fort Valley, Georgia office. Today she is a fulltime writer.
“I start a manuscript and work each day 6 to 8 hours,” she said. “It usually takes 3 months to finish a draft, then another three months to get the bugs out. I edit, fix mistakes and read it over and over, proofing each page until it is correct.
“I can see why books cost what they do and why some people just give up, it is not an easy job to do it over and over, no ones manuscript is correct the first go around, you realize when you re-read it the feeling might not be there so you have to correct it put heart where there was none.”
Jan is married to her childhood sweetheart, and they have four children. Twenty-six years ago they bought an old historic house with 17 rooms in Marshallville, Georgia, restored it and live there today with their family and many dogs, cats, doves, ducks, chickens and rabbits.
“My advise to other writers is: don’t quit dreaming about what you believe in, you have to believe in yourself, before anyone else will, and then you go from there, keep writing don’t give up. “Write from your heart, and let it be about something you know. If you venture into another area you don’t know the reader will know it too, and you’ve lost. So stay with what you feel and understand most about life. “It’ll work for you.
“I am especially thankful for my agents,” Jan said. “They have worked late into the mornings trying to find a suitable publisher. They work with writers because they love the written word.”
Davis’ ‘Twin City’
Nominated for Townsend
Prize in FictionATLANTA, GA/3/14/02—Jerry Lee Davis’ novel, TWIN CITY (Authorlink Press), has been nominated for the Townsend Prize for Fiction. This spring, THE CHATTOHOOCHEE REVIEW, a literary journal, again will award the Townsend Prize, Georgia’s most prestigious literary citation, which honors the career and legacy of Jim Townsend, founding editor of ATLANTA magazine and mentor to a generation of Georgia writers. Awarded biennially, the Prize has recognized distinguished fiction by Alice Walker, Celestine Sibley, Ferrol Sams, JoAllen Bradham, Judson Mitcham, and James Kilgo.
The 2000-2001 winner will be announced at a luncheon in honor of nominees on May 9, 2002 at the Wyndham Midtown Atlanta hotel.
Davis is an established Atlanta playwrite. TWIN CITY is his first published novel. about a young boy struggling for acceptance and peace in a dark and chaotic world. Through his relationship with the young daughter of the only Jewish family in town, he confronts the harsh realities of cruelty, hatred, and misery to discover the power of humor and love. Authorlink’s Goldring
Wins Series Contract
With Berkley Publishing
Kat Goldring, among new writers listed on Authorlink, has signed a three-book contract with Berkley Publishing Group for her cozy mystery series, Crow’s Feet and Lemon Drops, to be released in September 2001. Kim Waltemyer is the Berkley editor who made the acquisition, and Carol McCleary of Wilshire Literary Agency, made the sale for four figures.
McCleary had represented the series 5 1/2 years before the first book sold.
“I already had an agent when Authorlink was kind enough to list me in some of their first presentations,” said Kat. “Ours was a mutual endeavor as Authorlink was just starting up and I had just finished a revision with the first novel under the wings of the DFW Writers’ Workshop. Just as an aside, that DFW Writers’ Workshop stands for that and never has meant “Dallas Ft. Worth” as some like to say. In fact one of the founding members with whom I was lucky enough to work with and helped name the group told me it really meant, Damn Fine Writers.
“I believe the fact that AUTHORLINK listed me was one of the reasons my agent did not give up on presenting my work to top notch publishers. I have a few magazine articles and short stories published but my best and most extensive showcase was writing and illustrating with my original drawings a newspaper column for a year titled ‘THE MEDICINE PATH.’
“AUTHORLINK has been wonderful. My agent and I have always been grateful for the professional format available on the site for presenting my work. We came very close to making a sale through the site with China, and may yet sell the foreign rights with help through AUTHORLINK.
Kat Goldring works full time as a high school foreign language department head and Spanish teacher. She spends an hour to hour and a half per day in editing and rewriting the novels and outlines for the first three in the WILLI GALLAGHER MYSTERY SERIES. During holidays and summer time (8 weeks) that time increases to 3-4 hours a day. This doesn’t include the hours for research, marketing, the time to work with other writers on shared projects, and commitments to two writing groups.
“Not only do I work the 40-hour drill and the writing tight-wire,” Kat explains, “but I also sing and play the guitar in two groups: SISTERS OF THE WIND includes a fellow writer, Shirley McKee. We two do mostly classic/golden country western and cowboy/girl programs for local clubs, groups, schools, city gatherings and such. The HIGH MILEAGE country western band, some seven members strong, includes three law officers, performs for trail drives and city functions.
How does it feel to have a published contract?
“I go back and forth between elation of having a fantastic adventure and panic attacks,” says Kat. “I am so thankful for all the wonderful folks, including AUTHORLINK, who have crossed my path at the right time, and have helped me make a lifelong dream come true. WAKAN TANKA (Great Spirit), of course, I thank for all lessons learned and all paths. This is one of those paths strewn with bluebonnets, soft moss and warm cuddly critters. The panic part has to do with getting to those book signings. I’m directional dyslexic and panic when traveling to new places. So . . . maybe that’s the next adventure and lesson!”
Kat Goldring currently is working on the next two novels in the WILLI GALLAGHER SERIES: SNOW SNAKE and SWEET CHARIOT. She also have a second series, the DELTA PAIGE SERIES, and has finished the first book in that series, COOPER STREET GIRLS.
Authorlink asked the author: How helpful was DFW Writers’ Workshop?
“I would not have cleared out the flaws in my manuscript. The members helped me to develop a selling novel. I would not have met my agent, Carol McCleary, if DFW Writers’ Workshop had not had her as a guest. I would not have had the opportunity to meet my editor, KIM WALTEMYER with BERKLEY PUBLISHING. I interviewed with her during her visit with DFWWW. Although I’ve served as an officer and hosted many dinners as well as parties at my own country home for the members, editors and agents, I still owe DFWWW a great deal.”
Two Authorlink Press
Writers Earn
Top Recognition
Dallas and Atlanta/2/15/01— Jerry Lee Davis, author of Twin City (AUTHORLINK PRESS), and Ginnie Bivona, author of Ida Mae Tutweiler and the Traveling Tea Party (AUTHORLINK PRESS), have recently earned top recognition in two different markets.
Jerry Lee Davis of Atlanta has been nominated for the First Novel Award in the 37th annual Georgia Author of the Year Awards, sponsored by the Georgia Writers’ Association. Ginnie Bivona’s Ida Mae Tutweiler recently climbed to number one on the Dallas Morning News Bestseller List for paperback fiction. Ginnie lives in Dallas.
The Georgia Awards ceremony, hosted by Mercer University Press, will be held at a dinner March 17 at Mercer University in Macon,Georgia.
Among a number of recent review of Ginnie Bivona’s book was an article by Don Johnson on Read-a-Bargain.com.Johnson called Bivona’s Ida Mae “A wonderful,character-driven story that produces open memories we thought we’d forgotten. . . . I expected a typical ‘woman’s’ book but found a story of human beings for human beings. Man or woman your time won’t be wasted on this one.”
66th Authorlink
Writer Signs
Publishing Contract
Charlene Tess has become the 66th author to find a publisher as a direct result of Authorlink. Port Town Publishing, a small Wisconsin publisher, will release Ms. Tess’s THE VAN WINKLE BRIDE as a trade paperback romance in June 2001. The book, originally listed on Authorlink as THE VAN WINKLE CONNECTION, is Ms. Tess’s first published work.
“The senior romance editor of Port Town Publishing saw my posting on the Authorlink website and thought my novel sounded intriguing and suitable for her list for 2001,” Charlene explained. “She contacted Authorlink Editor Doris Booth, who contacted me. Doris Booth forwarded an e- mail to me from Port Town Publishing. I sent the publisher a copy of my manuscript by snail mail. The editor read it and said she could not put it down. She offered me a contract by e-mail and then sent me a written contract by snail mail.”
Charlene listed her novel on Authorlink on April 10, 2000, and sold it on November 25.
“My husband and I met Doris Booth at a SouthWest Writers Conference and decided to advertise our editing business on Authorlink. Two of my novels had won first place at Southwest Writers Conference Contests, and I had been trying to get them published by the old-fashioned way: query, partial, full manuscript, SASE, wait, wait, wait method. Authorlink sounded like an attractive, modern way to market my novels. And it worked! I am delighted with the results,” Charlene said.
“I have been writing as long as I can remember and have published essays, feature articles, short stories, and a nonfiction book, but this will be my first published novel.
“Presently, I am working on a rewrite of a romance novel that my sister and I co-wrote, and I am about one-third of the way through a mainstream novel entitled The Greatest Gift. It is the story of the unshakable bond between a mother and daughter in spite of tragic circumstances that shatter their lives.”
Charlene says her best advice when it comes to becoming published is “to be like the old Timex watch slogan: ‘Take a licking, but keep on ticking.’ In other words, keep trying. And don’t forget to try new ideas if the old ones aren’t working for you.”
Authorlink’s Goldring
Wins Series Contract
With Berkley Publishing
Kat Goldring, among new writers listed on Authorlink, has signed a three-book contract with Berkley Publishing Group for her cozy mystery series, Crow’s Feet and Lemon Drops, to be released in September 2001. Kim Waltemyer is the Berkley editor who made the acquisition, and Carol McCleary of Wilshire Literary Agency, made the sale for four figures.
McCleary had represented the series 5 1/2 years before the first book sold.
“I already had an agent when Authorlink was kind enough to list me in some of their first presentations,” said Kat. “Ours was a mutual endeavor as Authorlink was just starting up and I had just finished a revision with the first novel under the wings of the DFW Writers’ Workshop. Just as an aside, that DFW Writers’ Workshop stands for that and never has meant “Dallas Ft. Worth” as some like to say. In fact one of the founding members with whom I was lucky enough to work with and helped name the group told me it really meant, Damn Fine Writers.
“I believe the fact that AUTHORLINK listed me was one of the reasons my agent did not give up on presenting my work to top notch publishers. I have a few magazine articles and short stories published but my best and most extensive showcase was writing and illustrating with my original drawings a newspaper column for a year titled ‘THE MEDICINE PATH.’
“AUTHORLINK has been wonderful. My agent and I have always been grateful for the professional format available on the site for presenting my work. We came very close to making a sale through the site with China, and may yet sell the foreign rights with help through AUTHORLINK.
Kat Goldring works full time as a high school foreign language department head and Spanish teacher. She spends an hour to hour and a half per day in editing and rewriting the novels and outlines for the first three in the WILLI GALLAGHER MYSTERY SERIES. During holidays and summer time (8 weeks) that time increases to 3-4 hours a day. This doesn’t include the hours for research, marketing, the time to work with other writers on shared projects, and commitments to two writing groups.
“Not only do I work the 40-hour drill and the writing tight-wire,” Kat explains, “but I also sing and play the guitar in two groups: SISTERS OF THE WIND includes a fellow writer, Shirley McKee. We two do mostly classic/golden country western and cowboy/girl programs for local clubs, groups, schools, city gatherings and such. The HIGH MILEAGE country western band, some seven members strong, includes three law officers, performs for trail drives and city functions.
How does it feel to have a published contract?
“I go back and forth between elation of having a fantastic adventure and panic attacks,” says Kat. “I am so thankful for all the wonderful folks, including AUTHORLINK, who have crossed my path at the right time, and have helped me make a lifelong dream come true. WAKAN TANKA (Great Spirit), of course, I thank for all lessons learned and all paths. This is one of those paths strewn with bluebonnets, soft moss and warm cuddly critters. The panic part has to do with getting to those book signings. I’m directional dyslexic and panic when traveling to new places. So . . . maybe that’s the next adventure and lesson!”
Kat Goldring currently is working on the next two novels in the WILLI GALLAGHER SERIES: SNOW SNAKE and SWEET CHARIOT. She also have a second series, the DELTA PAIGE SERIES, and has finished the first book in that series, COOPER STREET GIRLS.
Authorlink asked the author: How helpful was DFW Writers’ Workshop?
“I would not have cleared out the flaws in my manuscript. The members helped me to develop a selling novel. I would not have met my agent, Carol McCleary, if DFW Writers’ Workshop had not had her as a guest. I would not have had the opportunity to meet my editor, KIM WALTEMYER with BERKLEY PUBLISHING. I interviewed with her during her visit with DFWWW. Although I’ve served as an officer and hosted many dinners as well as parties at my own country home for the members, editors and agents, I still owe DFWWW a great deal.”
Former LA Times Reporter
to Contribute Kids’ Book
Column to Authorlink
Laguna Beach, CA/12/15/00—Barbara J. Odanaka, former LA Times sports reporter and columnist, will join Authorlink on January 1 2001 as a regular columnist. Her articles will provide writers with in-depth insights on writing and publishing children’s books, and will include interviews with children’s editors at major publishing houses.
Among upcoming topics for her column will be:
January 1: Rejection 101 February 1: A Crime to Rhyme? March 1: Every Story Tells A Picture April 1: Successful School Visits May 1: Beautiful Noise—Why “Quiet” Picture Books No Longer Make the Grade June 1: Five to Watch: A look at Upcoming Children’s Authors
From time to time, she will provide special reports on major children’s book conferences.
Ms. Odanaka left her career at the Times to write books for children. She is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators.
Barb earned a BA in English from the University of Southern California. She lives with her husband and son in a California beach town, and is a founding member of the Skateboarding Moms Society. She can be reached at bodanaka@aol.com
Authorlink Writer
Lands First Book
Deal With Scribner
NEW YORK,NY/10/1/00—Jimmy Gleacher, who has been listed as an Authorlink writer since October, 1999, has sold his first novel to prestigious Scribner, an imprint of Rawson Associates and part of Simon & Schuster.
Meredith Phelan of Linda Chester and Associates in New York found Jimmy’s novel, “Roll Again,” on one of her frequent searches of Authorlink, signed him on, and subsequently sold the work for five figures. The mainstream fictional work, to be released in 2002, is the 64th title to be sold either as a direct or indirect result of Authorlink.
Agent Wray
Signs Fifteen
Authorlink Writers
9/00—Pamela Wray, owner of the new and growing Pamela Wray Literary Agency, has agreed to represent 15 writers found over the last several months as a direct result of Authorlink.
Among the works now represented by Wray are several thrillers and young adult works. Ms Wray, an aggressive agent, already has sent works by the newest Authorlink ensigns out to key publishers.
In another case, Ms. Wray signed a children’s author who, while not officially listed on Authorlink, connected with Wray through the service. The work is a moral folk tale, similar to Uncle Remus.
“I was so excited about this book that he expressed it to me over night, and I have already spoken with numerous publishers, special merchandising and TV producers, ” said Wray. “I am going to put this book up for auction because there is so much interest.”
“The Authorlink website is the ultimate place for any editor, literary agent or publisher, and I am so thankful the staff’s hard work and diligence,” Ms. Wray said in a note to Authorlink.
Ms. Wray is among a number of agents who regularly surf the Authorlink site in search of good manuscripts.
Clemente Becomes
61st Authorlink Writer
to Sell To Manuscript
New York House Pays Handsome Advance
New York, NY/5/26/00 —Authorlink writer Gary Clemente became the 61 st author to sell his work to a key New York publisher.
Lebhar-Friedman, New York has slated a 2002 publication date for ” Confessions of a G-Man: Inside the FBI, originally listed on Authorlink as The Marking of a Hoover. Clemente will be paid a $5,000 advance plus royalties for the work, half up front and half on delivery of the finished manuscript. Sale of the book is the direct result of Clemente’s listing on Authorlink.
“Confessions” will be an inside look at the FBI through the eyes of Clemente’s father, who was a career agent for 26 years. The book will deal with anecdotal stories and inside information about the Bureau, the war on Communism in the Fifties, the mob, and J. Edgar Hoover among other things.
How did he find Authorlink? A writer friend told him about it and spoke highly of the service.
Authorlink seemed to be up front about everything and didn’t present itself as a scheme to make money off of writers,” Gary said. “Doris Booth answered all of my questions promptly and professionally while the book was made available for review. I was pleased with how some of the particulars of the book was presented and listed on-line.”
How long were you listed on Authorlink before the sale Gary’s book was listed on Authorlink for about five months before Lebhar-Friedman Editor Frank Scatoni (formerly with Simon & Schuster) spotted the title and requested a proposal. This was all done through e-mail.
Gary, 48, has been writing full time and semi-professionally since he got out of college. He’s written in a number of different mediums along the way. He has several other projects in the working stage, including a collection of short stories; a humor book based on the newspaper column he writes weekly; and a suspense book in the same vein as Michael Creiton.
How does it feel to be a published author?
“My first and only published book was a children’s piece that came out in 1995, called ‘Cosmo Gets An Ear,’ about a little boy who gets his first hearing aid. Being published in book form is a wonderful feeling. It’s an achievement I’m the most proud of in my writing career.
And does he have any advice for new writers?
“Take it from somebody who has written all of his adult life and even some before as a kid — it’s got to be in your blood, because getting published is not the easiest thing to do. You write because you have to — it’s who you are and nobody’s going to make you stop. One thing that can be valuable is to learn how to distill and recognize exactly what it is on a gut level that attracts people to certain stories and why. There are usually one or two elements working that can make a successful story or book. Examine a well-made movie or book and practice how to recognize the “concept” that made it work. Other than that, as Winston Churchill said, ‘Never, never, never give up.'”
Pamela Wray
Literary Agency Signs
Four Authorlink Writers
5/00—Pamela Wray Literary Agency based in Alabama, has signed four Authorlink writers for representation.
They are Steven Rudd, Midnight Run; Jan Letoha, Bury the Past; J.E. Deegan, In Dark Covenant; Norman Davis, Stonecypher’s Gold.
Authorlink Author
Carolee Joy Takes
Rising Star Award
6/15/00—Carolee Joy, author of Wild Angel (Authorlink Press) won second place in the prestigious short contemporary category of the Rising Star 2000 Awards, a division of the Romance Writers of America.
The winners, including the Grand Prize winner, were offered free registration at the RWA national conference or equivalent cash. Winners were presented at the Sooner Area Romance Authors in Tulsa, Oklahoma May 20.
Fifth Authorlink
Contest Winner Earns
Publishing Contract
Los Angeles, CA/ 5/15/00 —Ekaterine Nikas (Katy) Terlinden, the 1998 Best of Show and mystery winner of the Authorlink New Author Awards Competition, has landed a publishing contract with Avid Press
( www.avidpress.com Her winning novel, Divided Child, will be released by Avid in Winter 2000 under her pen name, Ekaterine Nikas. It is the fifth time in two years an Authorlink contest winner has won a substantial publishing contract.
“Authorlink.com offered a wonderful contest that gave me an important boost to my career, got me access to editors and agents, and provided a very impressive reference for query letters,” said Terlinden.
Katy had been writing for about ten years before she heard about Authorlink on one of her writer lists. She advises new writers to “be persistent, be part of a network, enter contests (they are a great way to get agents and editors to look at your work), and keep your mind open to the possibilities offered by small presses and e-book publishers, especially if your book does not fit easily into the New York mold.”
Katy also says, “utilize the Internet to the fullest. I probably would not have made my sale without it. I think Authorlink is a great resource for writers and an excellent example of how new writers can use the Internet to break through the barriers to publication.
Authorlink Writer’s
New Book Released
by Marlowe, New York
NEW YORK, NY/5/1/00—Beyond Anger: A Guide for Men, by Thomas J. Harbin, Ph.D, has just been released by New York Publisher Marlowe & Company’s Avalon imprint. Author Tom Harbin directly attributes the sale of his book to his listing on Authorlink.
Forensic Psychologist Harbin sold his nonfiction manuscript, originally titled STANCE OF ANGER, to established publisher, John Muir Publications as the result of a direct inquiry by the publisher in May, 1998. Muir was bought by Marlowe Books, a division of Avalon last year.
In his new book, Dr. Harbin helps men understand their anger by explaining what the specific symptoms of chronic anger are and by showing angry men how their actions negatively affect family, friends and co-workers.
Tom is one of nearly 60 Authorlink writers to sign a contract with a publisher since sales tracking began in early 1997.
Tom had been listed on the site for eight or nine months before receiving the request. Generously sharing the sales figures with other Authorlink writers, Tom said he was paid a $1,000 advance upon signing a contract, another $1500 upon delivery of the revised manuscript, and the final $1000 was paid when the book was released.
Tom began writing the manuscript about seven years ago, for use with angry men in his clinical practice. “The book sort of grew over the next couple of years and I guess I have been actively trying to sell it for about three years,” he said.
“At first, I naively sent it to editors who had done similar work. Then, I engaged a New York agent who had promoted books for a friend of mine. Honestly, I was about to put the manuscript away and forget about it or start the self-publishing journey. Then I became aware of Authorlink while absently surfing the net for agents.”
While not officially working on any new titles, he has started writing some short stories about the goings on in his rural North Carolina county, and he’s been keeping copious notes for a possible book about his role as a forensic psychologist.
When asked what he would advise first-time writers, he said I would not presume to offer anyone advice. I think that lucked out so far.
And how important was Authorlink to his begin published? My book would still be sitting on a dusty disk somewhere, without Authorlink, he concluded.
In little more than three years, nearly 300 writers have reported signing with agents as a direct result of Authorlink, and more than 1500 requests from editors and agents have been processed.
The author lives and practices in North Carolina.
Authorlink
Correspondent
Joins LA Times
Authorlink writer, Michelle Lovato, has been hired by the Los Angeles Times to cover special sections issues.
Regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious news organizations, the Los Angeles Times has a full circulation of 1.4 million copies per Sunday issue.
Lovato’s work will premier March 13.
With more than two years experience as an Authorlink California publishing correspondent, Lovato has covered several events, and can be found by searching archives.
Lovato is the owner/publisher of The Silver Lakes Gazzette, a weekly newspaper, and a columnist and reporter for The Inland Empire Business Journal, a Southern California regional business magazine.
Accompanying Lovato in her new post will be her husband, Vince, a 20- year veteran of journalism. Among Vince’s credits are previous LA Times bylines,
the sales of two short stories to Stephen Speilberg, two nominations for California Newspaper Publisher’s Association awards and was the recipient of a fellowship to Rice University in Houston Texas.
Lovato has 10 years experience as a political and business reporter
and specializes in feature stories. She writes a newspaper column entitled, Thank You, Lord and has won several awards for her short fiction.
Both Lovatos are pursuing careers in the publishing industry. Ms.Lovato will continue contributing articles to Authorlink.
Authorlink Author
Carolee Joy Ranks
as RWA Finalist
DALLAS/FORT WORTH, TX/ 3/13/000—WILD ANGEL (Authorlink Press, April 2000) by Carolee Joy has been named a finalist in the Golden Quill contest sponsored by the Desert Rose Chapter of Romance Writers of America. Other finalists include multi-published authors such as Vicki Lewis Thompson, one of Harlequin TemptationsTemptation’s biggest sellers.
In addition to WILD ANGEL, SECRET LEGACY, another novel by Ms. Joy, is also a finalist in the Golden Quill competition for Best Romantic Suspense and Best First Book.
New Author
Ranks #12
on Amazon
ATLANTA,GA/3/10/00—A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO DAY TRADING ONLINE (Adams Media) by first-time author, has risen to #12 on Amazon.com’s top 100.
The book, agented by Deidre Knight of the Knight Agency (listed on Authorlink), was released only a week ago, and began its quick rise after the author appeared on CNBC Today.
American Self
Publishers’ Group
Honors Mitchell
SAN FRANCISCO, CA/ 3/1/00—Ed Mitchell, whose manuscript had been listed with Authorlink before he decided to self publish, has been awarded the National Publishers Freedom Award for Best new Fiction. The honor will be bestowed by the year-old American Self Publishers Association (ASPA) for Mitchell’s novel, GOLD RUSH 2000. Resource Library. The ASPA award will be given in a formal ceremony May 13 in San Francisco. In addition, the work was accepted by the National Steinbeck Center Resource Library.
Mitchell attributes part of his success to Authorlink for having seen “the quality in my book, and having had the courage to publicly declare that assessment.” Authorlink, while not a self publisher, helps writers market their work through promotion to editors and agents, and through listings of their work on its award-winning site, authorlink.com
Third Authorlink Contest
Winner Signs Contract
With Major Publisher
Dallas, TX/1/1/00—Three winners of the Authorlink New Author Awards competition have landed major publishing contracts within the past 18 months. The latest Authorlink contestant to become published is Cynthia G. Alwyn (pen name), who placed among the top three in the 1999 Authorlink awards competition.
Carol Berg of Ft. Collins, CO, the 1999 Authorlink first-place, science fiction/fantasy winner for Song of the Beast, won a three-book contract with Roc (an imprint of Penguin Putnam). And June London, 1998 Authorlink mainstream winner signed a six-figure contract with Harper Collins for her novel, Bingo Queens and a second work-in-progress, tentatively titled Stray Bullets.
Ms. Alwyn won the 1999 competition for a book titled, Tail of the Serpent, but it was her newest work, Best Served Cold, that convinced New York Agent Anne Hawkins of John Hawkins & Associates, to become her agent. Hawkins subsequently sold the work to St. Martins Press for an undisclosed amount. The title will be released in the Winter of 2001.
“I have been surprised how fast things can happen,” said Cynthia. “I met Anne Hawkins, who is now my agent, at a conference in 1998. We kept in contact, and when I visited with her at the 1999 Authorlink Awards presentation in Georgia, we finalized our business partnership with my new book BEST SERVED COLD. A short time later, St. Martin’s bought the project. I’m thrilled and stunned at the same time. It didn’t feel real to me until I started getting mail from them.”
BEST SERVED COLD features protagonist Brenna Scott and her search dog, Feather, a black Bouvier Des Flandres. Together, they search for lost or missing people. In this book, Brenna and Feather race the clock to locate a child before the kidnapper makes good his threat to take the little girl’s life.
“I wasn’t sure the book would sell, but Anne believed in it and in me. Since I’d worked with a canine search and rescue team for nine years, I do have first-hand knowledge of how dogs and handlers work. Although the story is fiction, I believe my experience in this area helped sell the book,” said Cynthia.
Due to the commitment of her day job, Cynthia’s writing time is limited. “I usually write Thursday through Sunday and a solid eight hours a day while on vacation. I frequently work out plot points and tidbits about characters driving to and from work. Most days, I’ll sit in my car during lunch break (it’s the only quiet place at work) and make notes. Although I’ve started writing the next Brenna Scott book, it doesn’t yet have a title.”
The 2000 Authorlink New Author Awards Competition is now accepting entries for this year’s contest through March, 2000. Awards again will be presented at the annual Harriette Austin Writers Conference, University of Georgia, in July, 2000. Top prize is $500.
For details see: http://www.authorlink.com/contest_00.html
Three More
Authorlink Writers
Sign Publishing Deals
8/15/99—Three more writers have won publishing contracts as a direct result of their listings with Authorlink. All three are clients of Elisabet McHugh, McHugh Literary Agency, who discovered them on Authorlink several months ago. This brings to a total of 49 the number of books that have been sold through Authorlink during the past 2 1/2 years.
Chris Spicer has accepted an offer form McFarland & Co. for Frankly, My Dear. . .:The Life of Clark Gable.
Publication will be in 1001, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Gable’s birth.
Neva Hacker, author of Missing Candy, and Charles Crone, author of The Palestinian Solution, have sold their work as e-books to Fictionworks, through Ms. McHugh.
E.A. Blair Becomes
43 rd Author to Find
Publisher Via Authorlink
7/1/99—Scrivenery Press will publish Authorlink writer E. A. Blair’s A Journey to the Interior, in November, 1999, making Blair the 43 rd author to find a publisher via Authorlink since sales tracking began in 1997. Thirty-one writers have been published as a result of Authorlink, with houses such as Berkley, Tor, John Wiley & Sons, Carol Publishing Group and others. Twelve more titles will be released in August, 1999 by Authorlink’s own imprint—Authorlink Press, bringing the total of successfully published authors to forty-three.
“I had tried sending material to about 50 agents, and though many were favorably impressed, all rejected the work, probably because their slice of an author’s first book might not have seemed profitable enough,” said E.A.
Blair, who holds a Masters Degree in Fine Arts has been writing since 1951. His day job for the past 30 years has been in publications for the aerospace industry. Some time back, he wrote and published a professional book, but turned to serious fiction only about ten years ago.
E.A. had been trying to sell his work through agents for five years, when he discovered Authorlink in May, 1998. He had been listed on the site for ten months when Scrivenery Press Publisher Ed Williams spotted his work on the web site. Scrdivenery, whose titles are distributed by Ingram Book Group, is actively building both its fiction and non-fiction lines.
Asked how it feels to be a published author, Blair said, “Vindicated. The related adjectives will come later.”
Blair’s contract did not include an advance, but does pay standard royalties.
“My impression of Scrivenery is that they are professional, intelligent and use advanced publishing technologies—as witnessed by the use of Authorlink and Ingram Book.
“Finding Authorlink was like a door to opportunity suddenly opening,” said Blair.
He advises the unpublished writer to “Write patiently, critically.”
He has a second title underway.
Authorlink Writer’s
Novel Released
by Berkley Publishing
NEW YORK,NY/6/10/99— LOST RIVER, a novel by Authorlink writer, Pax Riddle, is now on bookstore shelves. Pax made the deal with Berkley Publishing Group (division of Penguin/Putnam) as part of the connections he made through Authorlink. The book is available via: http://www.lostriver.org/, barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com
Authorlink Named
Among Best Education
Resources on the Web
6/10/99—Authorlink has been selected as a featured site in StudyWeb
( http://www.studyweb.com/) as one of the best educational resources on the web.
StudyWeb is one of the Internet’s premier sites for educational resources for students and teachers. Since 1996 professional reviewers have scoured the Internet to select only the finest sites to be included in StudyWeb’s reviews. Each site in StudyWeb includes a detailed review describing it’s merits.
Authorlink Teams
With Lightning to Offer
On-Demand Book Imprint
DALLAS, TX /5/1/99—Authorlink, the award-winning news/information and marketing site for the publishing industry, will launch its own book imprint, Authorlink Press, this summer. The move results in part from a new publishing partnership between Authorlink and Lightning Print, Inc, the print on demand subsidiary of Ingram Book, worlds largest book distributor.
Authorlink Press will carry the fine tradition of New York-style publishing into the digital age, said Authorlink President Doris Booth. We will serve as a market proving ground for the titles that truly deserve to be published and read—titles that eventually may find their way to larger houses, after we establish a solid track for them, said Ms. Booth.
Lower-cost digital and on-demand printing now enable Authorlink Press to publish books once considered economically too risky. The company will aggressively market the titles, establish sales records and then seek to turn them over to larger publishers.
The imprint will use the latest technology to publish digitally-downloadable books and trade paperbacks, printed on demand. Titles will be distributed through multiple on and off-line sales channels, including Ingram, which serves major booksellers such as Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.com.
Authorlink has also established an alliance with Peanut Press, to help supply electronic books for 2 million Palm Pilot and IBM WorkPad owners. Authorlink marketing ties also include alliances with the book review site, Bookbrowse.com (280, 000 page views annually), larger publishing houses, and other distribution and marketing resources.
Authorlink Press emphasizes aggressive, targeted marketing and distribution for every title it buys-a vital element often missing from tight production and promotional budgets at traditional publishers. The company’s own loyal audience of 170,000 book lovers provides one the ready audiences of book buyers.
Not only do our readers support fellow writers by buying and reading their work. They provide vital marketing feedback. At Authorlink the end consumer will tell us which books they like and why—not marketing reps, nor retail booksellers with special agendas, but the readers themselves, said Ms. Booth.
Admittedly, digital publishing furrows new ground for Authorlink Our imprint is a test of its own-measuring whether consumers will buy truly good titles through Internet sites, hand-held devices and on-demand, with books printed at the time of their order (one- off). Ms. Booth explained.
In 1999 Authorlink Press initially will release 12 fiction and non-fiction titles, both in digital and trade paperback (on demand), with 12 to 24 titles to follow next year. They will be promoted to targeted, vertical markets, and to horizontal mass audiences via the Internet and traditional channels.
The imprints digital books will be available on the Authorlink.com site and through Peanut Press
( http://www.peanutepress.com/) late this summer. Most titles-and all of the initial 12—will also be available in the Ingram title base and may be ordered through all Ingram ordering systems, accessible to Barnes & Noble, Barnesandnoble.com, Amazon.com and, other major booksellers and libraries.
Both first-time and seasoned authors will be included in the list. Categories include suspense/thrillers, mainstream commercial fiction, science fiction/fantasy, romance, and narrative and commercial nonfiction. No anthologies or short stores are considered, and length ranges from 70,000-80,000 words. The new house is not a subsidy or vanity publisher, and will pay standard publishing industry royalties.
Unsolicited manuscripts are NOT accepted at this time and will be automatically recycled. Prospective authors should, instead, consider submitting their work for possible listing in the site’s Author Showcase section.
Authorlink will continue to showcase listings of ready-to-publish manuscripts, and to market them worldwide to editors and agents, as it successfully has done for thee years. Authorlink has been rated among the top 25% of most useful sites on the web by Microsoft’s One Click Away E- zine.
Web site: http://www.authorlink.com/arch4_files/authorlink.htm
Authorlink Named
Among Writer’s Digest
Top 101 Sites For Writers
Writers Digest magazine has selected Authorlink as one of The 101 Best Web Sites for Writers. The 101 were culled from the Digest staffs lists of favorites, as well as from nominations made by about 1,500 visitors to writersdigest.com.
The 101 Best is the cover story of the May 1999 issue of Writers Digest. The list is also published in its entirety on the Writer’s Digest website, at http://www.writersdigest.com/101sites.
The list of recommended websites is just one of several recent additions to writersdigest.com.
Authorlink holds other distinguished industry awards, and including its ranking by Microsoft’s One Click Away E- zine among the top 25% of most useful sites on the web.
Four Authorlink Writers
Sign With WriterBeck
Agency in Two Weeks
5/1/99—Four Authorlink writers will have signed with a single literary agent within the past two-weeks. Beck Roberts, owner of the Writerbeck Agency, has contracted Mackey Murdock and Andrea Giacomuzzi—both listed with Authorlink and found through the site. Two more writers were polishing their manuscripts, but were expected to sign with Ms.Roberts within days.
Beck Roberts represents 70% fiction and 30% nonfiction, and handles most categories except for erotica and cartoons. She has 30 years of experience as a published writer in both fiction and nonfiction and 20 years in related marketing fields. Ms. Roberts has been an agent for a little more than a year, and has already signed seven writers, including the new Authorlink people.
Her agency is based in South Carolina, where she moved with her husband and two children to have a simpler lifestyle than in Atlanta.
“Being a relatively new agent, I am more eager than some to work with the authors and their manuscripts, sending them out with strong cover letters to publishers. I am tireless in my efforts and truly get excited about seeing good works in print,” she said.
The agency has no sales at present but, as Ms. Roberts said, “Good things take time and I am confident in the authors’ work and my ability to promote it successfully.”
Editor’s Note, 5/11/99: This agent has retired due to a severe illness and will not be accepting other clients.
Update: Authorlink Writer
Sells WOLF’S TALE
To TOR Books
Agent Describes Publishing Recipe
By Sam Hughes
The Dickens Group Literary Agency
3/99—David Holland and his upcoming first novel MURCHESTON: THE WOLFS TALE (TOR Books) is a lesson to all who serve as functionaries in today’s literary marketplace. Success may well depend on an old recipe: a good writer, a persistent agent who is willing to nurture true talent, and an editor who takes his or her job to heart and who will fight for a book. In the case of David Holland, whose work has appeared on Authorlink the factors that traditionally made the publishing industry great came together after seven years of productive author/agent interaction.
The heroes of this story are Hollland, one of the finest writers our agency has seen, agent Bob Solinger, who recognized brilliant writing and spent seven years pounding on doors to sell Hollands work, and Karla Zounek, the TOR editor who fell under the spell of Hollands writing and worked one-on-one with him to produce a fine literary horror story with a distinctive Victorian setting and tone.
For agents and editors struggling against adverse forces in the current marketplace, it is important to recognize the Holland phenomenon. Services such as Authorlink — a sterling example of what Internet marketing can and should be are invaluable to everyone, especially to new writers. And the ultimate lesson for writers, agents and editors alike: eventually, good writing sells.
Writer’s Seven Year
Effort Pays Off,
Authorlink Plays Part
Louisville, KY/1/1/99—David Holland, a writer featured on the Authorlink site, since August, 1997, has sold his novel, THE WOLF’S TALE, with The Dickens Group as his agency. David has tried for seven years to become published, and at last found an agency that believed in his work and found the right publisher. More details of his success will be published here soon.
Psychologist Tom Harbin
Becomes 25th Authorlink
Writer to Sell Work
2/15/99—Forensic Psychologist Tom Harbin has sold his nonfiction manuscript, STANCE OF ANGER: RECOGNIZING AND CHANGING THE PATTERNS OF MENS ANGER, to established publisher, John Muir Publications. Tom is the 25th Authorlink writer to sign a contract with a publisher Since sales tracking began in early 1997.
The title will be released in the spring of 2000, according to acquisitions editor Cassandra Conyers, who requested the manuscript directly from Authorlink in May, 1998. Tom had been listed on the site for eight or nine months before receiving the request.
Generously sharing the sales figures with other Authorlink writers, Tom said he was paid a $1,000 advance upon signing a contract, another $1500 upon delivery of the revised manuscript, and the final $1000 will be paid when the book is released. Authorlink assumes a royalty arrangement is also included in the contract.
Tom began writing STANCE about seven years ago, for use with angry men in his clinical practice. The book sort of grew over the next couple of years and I guess I have been actively trying to sell it for about three years.
At first, I naively sent it to editors who had done similar work. Then, I engaged a New York agent who had promoted books for a friend of mine. Honestly, I was about to put the manuscript away and forget about it or start the self-publishing journey. Then I became aware of Authorlink while absently surfing the net for agents.
Tom said having his first work published feels daunting. Muir wants him to increase the book length by about 67% during revision, and he’s not a full-time author. He hopes he can get it done on time, especially since there are substantial penalties for being late.
While not officially working on any new titles, he has started writing some short stories about the goings on in his rural North Carolina county, and he’s been keeping copious notes for a possible book about his role as a forensic psychologist.
When asked what he would advise first-time writers, he said I would not presume to offer anyone advice. I think that lucked out so far.
And how important was Authorlink to his begin published? My book would still be sitting on a dusty disk somewhere, without Authorlink, he concluded.
John Muir Publications, established in 1969, will release 68 titles in 1999, and 75 in 2000. Main interests are in travel and alternative health.
In little more than two years, 215- plus writers have reported signing with agents as a direct result of Authorlink, and more than 960 requests from editors and agents have been processed.
Writer Cindy Appel
Lands Columnist Job
as Result of Authorlink
2/15/99—Cindy Appel, recently named Cyber Columnist of the Quarter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, attributes her job as a Star Telegram Online Columnist directly to Authorlink and the 1998 Authorlink Electrify Your Writing seminar.
I found out how to become a cyber-columnist from the talk given at the Authorlink workshop last May by Star Telegram Online Marketing Director Bonnie Bradshaw. I became a weekly columnist by July of last year, said Cindy.
Her column, titled, Every Day IS Mothers Day can be found at www.star-telegram.com/homes/cappel/columns/momsday.htm. Cindy takes a semi-humorous look at the world through the eyes of being a full-time mom and struggling writer. She has even developed a loyal following of sorts, too, and takes suggestions from readers on future column topics.
I just thought that others who read Authorlink might like to know how helpful it can be to their writing careers, said Cindy.
Agent McHugh Signs
12 Authorlink Writers,
Sells to Key Publishers
12/1/98—Twelve Authorlink writers have signed contracts within the past couple of years with Literary Agent Elisabet Mchugh, all as a direct result of the Authorlink service. And McHugh has sold many of their works to major publishers.
One of these clients, Roland Jansen, whose first book Profits From Natural Resources was just published by John Wiley, is now working on a second investment book. Linda Swink, Eric Winkler, David Whale and Sam Sackett also sold their books through Ms. McHugh.
In recent months, this agent has added a number of other Authorlink writers, including: Steven Levi, David Dial, S.Alan Hepps, Terry Milton, Jim Norton, Rebecca Spalten, and Lewis Tracy. A thirteenth writer is about to be signed with her.
“Authorlink is providing a great service for agents and editors,” says Ms. McHugh, who works exclusively through the Internet and has clients in eight countries. “I’m impressed not only by the quality of the manuscripts that you have listed, but also the prompt service rendered by your staff when I request a manuscript. And I check out the new listings on your website on a regular basis.”
Authorlink Writer
Sells Nonfiction Title
to Lone Wolf Enterprises
12/1/98—Dale C. Maley, author of Road Map to Retirement: How to Quickly and Easily Develop a Financial Plan for Retirement, has sold his work to Roger Wolf’s Lone Wolf Enterprises, Ltd. ( http://www.lonewolfent.net/) as a direct result of Authorlink
The book will be released both in hardcover and online in the first quarter of 1999. Lone Wolf has more than 60 titles in print.
Maley will receive 15% of gross for printed book and 15% of gross for electronic book sales.
Maley discovered Authorlink when he picked up a paper flier at the Harriet Austin Writer’s Conference in Athens, Georgia last July, then followed up by visiting the site at http://www.authorlink.com/arch4_files/authorlink.htm. (Note: The second annual Authorlink New Author Awards Banquet will be held as part of the 1999 Harriet Austin Writer’s Conference in Athens, July 23-25, 1999).
Dale, who has been writing for about two years, said it took him only 15 months to find a publisher through Authorlink He first found an agent through Authorlink who tried, but failed to sell the title to a large publisher.
How does it feel to have his first work published? “Very exciting, it has been a long, arduous, and perilous journey from writing those first few words of the manuscript until getting it published, “ said Dale.
He advises new writers to “Make sure your book is either the best among all the competition or among the first few books published in a new subject area. Be diligent, patient, and believe in your yourself and your work.
Authorlink Helps
Writer Secure
International Agent
12/1/98—J.D. Wetterling, author of SON OF THUNDER, has sold his first work to domestic publisher, Rivilo Books, Felix C. Lowe, publisher. The title was schedule for release in November, 1998. While J.D. located a publisher on his own, it was Authorlink that helped him find his agent. The Stefanidis Agency based in Geneva, Switzerland, discovered J.D.s listing on the Authorlink site and requested a review of the manuscript. The writer agreed to let Stefanidis handle the foreign rights.
Wetterling , who has been writing for nine years, had tried to locate an editor and agent for the last eight years. He found Authorlink while surfing the net. He found the publisher networking through friends.
How does it feel to have his first work published? “Wonderful!” he exclaimed. Wetterling, whose day job is as a Stockbroker with Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, has two more novels in progress. He hopes to write all day, every day, for the rest of his days. Books and the Internet helped him more than anything else to improve his craft.
He advised new writers to “never give up.”
Authorlink Writers
Now Able to Track
Their Own Page Hits
12/1/98— Authorlink writers are now able to track the number of hits to their individual pages each month. We’re now adding individual counters to every page, so writers can determine the level of interest in their listed manuscripts. The counter, which resets at the first of each month, does not show who visited the page, but it gives the writer an idea of how interested editors, agents and general readers are in his or her topic and title.
The counter is now being added to every new writer’s page. Writers with existing listings can request an ID and password for the service by emailing: dbooth@authorlink.com
JLA Agency Signs
Four Authorlink Writers
In 60 Days, Praises Site
11/15/98—Jay Lace, owner of JLA Literary, reports that he has signed contracts to represent four Authorlink writers during the past 60 days.
They include: Michael Sedge, Author of the novel, The Oracle, and a nonfiction work, Fettuccini or the Frustrated Soul; Margaret Brennecke, author of the novel, Seeking Refuge; Miles Twaddell, author of the novel, Victory Day, and Charles Carron, author of the non-fiction work, The Suing Game.
JLA, a new agency actively looking to build a small roster of clients, found all four writers listed on Authorlink
“We are looking for original works with commercial appeal,” said Mr. Lace. “We have discovered that using Authorlink helps us separate the chaff from the wheat, and saves us hundreds of hours that would otherwise be wasted on unsuitable manuscripts.”
The agency adheres to the AAR’s guidelines, although it is not yet a registered member.
Wiley Releases
Authorlink Writer’s
First Book in November
11/1/98—Roland Jansen, who found an agent and publisher through Authorlink, has received the first copy of his new book, Profits in Natural Resources, from publisher John Wiley & Sons. The new release shipped to major bookstore chains in early November.
“It all started with Authorlink, ” Jansen said in a message to Authorlink this week. “The Internet works.”
Agent Signs
Three Authorlink
Writers Within Months
AUSTIN, TX/10/98—Brian G. Clark, Esq., owner of BGC Literary Management, has signed contracts to represent three Authorlink writers within less than two months.
BGC is an aggressive and highly professional new agency headquartered in Austin, TX.
Clark said he has signed Eric Scherer, author of THE OLYMPUS PROJECT; Ekaterine (Katy) Terlinden, who wrote THE DIVIDED CHILD, and Pete Murphy, author of SALAMANDERS. Ms. Terlinden was Best of Show (suspense/mystery/thriller) winner in the first annual Authorlink New Author Awards competition. (See the second annual Authorlink competition guidelines at http://www.authorlink.com/contest_99.html).
“The advent of literary agents came as publishing houses cut editorial staff, allowing agents to step in as the front line arbiters of taste and commercial viability,” said Clark. “Authorlink has become the new additional front line for the busy agent, a source for trusted pre-screened material to pursue at their convenience.”
Authorlink Finalists
Sign Publishing Contract
With Neighborhood Press
8/29/98—Marian Gibbons and Karin Welss, finalists in both the Romance and SF/Fantasy/Horror categories in the 1998 Authorlink New Author Awards Competition, have signed a publishing contract with Neighborhood Press for their historical romance novel, SWEETER THAN WINE. SWEETER THAN WINE is scheduled to be released in May, 1999, under the pseudonym of Michaela August.
In this novel WWI widow Alice Roye must fight to save her Sonoma winery from the threat of Prohibition. She falls in love with her new vintner, a European refugee, not knowing that he served as an enemy soldier during the war.
“We believe that entering our work in contests such as the one sponsored by Authorlink really opened some doors for us, ” said Karin Welss. “SWEETER THAN WINE is definitely a local history novel, highlighting a little-known aspect of Prohibition,” explains Welss when asked about how she and Gibbons chose the subject for their novel . “A lot of hard-working American winemakers and grape-growers lost their livelihoods when beer and wine were outlawed along with hard liquor, and California’s wine industry languished for the next fifty years.”
Gibbons adds, “It was a very emotional time, so soon after World War I and the deadly influenza epidemic. Although the concept of Prohibition was well-intentioned, its effect was devastating even before gangsters and bathtub gin became the popular symbols of its failure. Grape-growers didn’t know, right up to harvest in 1919, whether or not they could legally pick the best crop they’d ever seen. I found the research fascinating.”
How did they make the sale? After finishing the manuscript, Gibbons and Welss spent a year sending out query letters and partials. They also entered several writing contests, including the Authorlink contest. “The romance writing community is incredibly supportive of new writers,” Welss says, and Gibbons agrees: “We got a lot of help and encouragement from the published authors who judged two of the contests.” A major obstacle to overcome in selling SWEETER THAN WINE was its WWI-era setting. “It’s always difficult for new authors to break in,” remarks Gibbons, “and even more difficult when editors are convinced that no one wants to read historicals set in the early 20th century.” Their finalist status helped generate leads for possible publishers, as did their membership on several writing-related Internet listservs.
Welss remembers: “Someone on RWALINK (the Romance Writers of America members-only listserv) mentioned that Neighborhood Press was a fairly new publishing house open to romance submissions, and they spoke very highly of the Senior Editor, Rhea Griffiths. We queried Rhea via email, got a favorable response, and the rest is history.” Marian Gibbons and Karin Welss are working on separate solo projects at the moment, although they have several more co-authored novels in the planning stages, including a sequel to SWEETER THAN WINE.
Gibbons is currently writing a sequel to In a Mirror, Darkly, set amid the turmoil of Berkeley in the 60’s. Welss has another historical romance in progress, a tale of love and blackmail set in Restoration England.
About Neighborhood Press: Rhea Griffiths founded Neighborhood Press in 1995 with nothing but a desktop computer, an America Online account and the belief that “if she built it, they would come…” Now a rapidly growing small press, Neighborhood Press plans to publish twelve novels in 1999 as well as six issues of The Lovers Knot, a new magazine aimed at readers and writers of romance. Additional information about Marian Gibbons and Karin Welss, writing together as Michaela August, is available at the HREF=”http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Square/3524/”Michaela August Web Page.
Another Writer Wins
Publishing Contract
Via Authorlink
EquiLibrium Press Signs Mitchell
NEW YORK, NY & CULVER CITY, CA/ 8/98—Joyce Slayton Mitchell, author of more than 32 nonfiction books published by major houses such as Bantam, Dell, Simon & Schuster, and others, has sold another nonfiction work as a direct result of Authorlink
Ms. Mitchell’s newest manuscript, Pregnant in New Zealand: Mother and Daughter Letters from Afar, will be published in May, 1999 by EquiLibrium Press, Inc. of Culver City, California.
EquiLibrium Press Publisher Susan Goland requested the manuscript several months ago after seeing Mitchell’s listing on Authorlink This will be EquiLibrium’s first title as a new publisher, specializing in all aspects of health and wellness for women.
Pregnant in New Zealand is the story of a courageous and adventuresome young woman who finds an exotic life in the Pacific. This collection of New Zealand-to-Vermont letters is written in the first hours of pregnancy, leads to a dramatic 45-hour labor, and reveals the tensions of midwifery, and differences in generations, race and hemisphere.
Ms. Mitchell, who lives in New York, has successfully listed several works with Authorlink since late 1997. The newest book had been listed on the site for about 45 days or less, when Publisher Goland spotted it. The entire process, from listing to sale, took place within about three months.
Authorlink Winner
Signs Six-Figure
Deal at Harper Collins
7/98—June London, mainstream winner of the 1998 Authorlink New Author Awards Competition, has signed a six-figure contract with Harper Collins for her novel, Bingo Queens and a second work-in-progress, tentatively titled Stray Bullets.
The first title will be released in April, 1999, and the second manuscript will be completed in August, 1999. Both will be released under Harper Collins’ Cliff Street imprint.
Ms. London, whose real name is June Park, lives with her husband in a small Oklahoma town, similar to the setting for Bingo Queens, her first novel.
She met her agent, Robert Tabian of Robert Tabian Literary Agency , four years ago at an Oklahoma writers’ conference. He showed considerable interest in her story at the time, though only a few chapters had been completed.
June sent an earlier novel out to 20 agents, all of whom rejected her. In 1988, early in her career, she took lessons from well-known writing coach, Jack Bickam at the University of Oklahoma in 1988. “He was my mentor, one on one,” June said. She began winning various contests and published a few shorts stories. She also began teaching creative writing at local colleges. “The more I taught, the more I learned,” June told Authorlink.
When she finished Bingo Queens in February last year, she suddenly remembered the meeting with Tabian. A few weeks earlier, she had entered the Authorlink contest. On April 13, 1998 Authorlink notified her that she had won first place in the mainstream nonfiction category. About two weeks later, Tabian notified her that Harper Collins wanted to buy the work.
“While we weren’t responsible for making the direct connection with HarperCollins, “said Authorlink Editor Doris Booth. “we sure know how to spot the winners.”
Tabian is a former editor at Putnam and was with International Creative Management before opening his own agency. Among Tabin’s clients is 1993 Pulitzer Prize Winner Robert Olan Butler.
How does it feel to have her first two novels sold? “I don’t know,” says June. I suppose reality has yet to sink in.”
Asked when she first became interested in writing, Ms. Park, a native of London, England, said that as a child during World War II, she read books while sequestered in bomb shelters to calm her fears and remove her from reality.
For the past ten years she has devoted herself exclusively to her writing career.
Authorlink Author
Tim McGuire Tops
Ingram’s Hot List
DALLAS/FT. WORTH, TX/ 6/30/98—Tim McGuire’s newly-released Western, Danger Ridge (DORCHESTER/LEISURE BOOKS) has been listed by Ingram Book Company among the top ten most requested western fiction titles in the mass market/paperback category for several consecutive weeks in June. The excellent showing was posted even before the title was scheduled to reach bookstores by the end of that month.
Tim McGuire is among writers whose ready-to-publish and newly-released works are listed on Authorlink Danger Ridge is his first novel. Another western, titled, “Nobility,” , is due for release by LEISURE next year. Ingram is the world’s largest trade book distributor.
Authorlink Writer
Pax Riddle Sells
Book to Berkley
6/20/98—Authorlink writer, Pax Riddle, has sold his first novel “Lost River” to Berkley Publishing Group for the mid four figures. Pax joined the Authorlink site in early 1997. Some months later he signed with a top New York agent, whom he found through the Authorlink private agency directory. Berkley Editor Kim Waltemeyer bought the manuscript in June, 1998.
Lost River is the story of a young Modoc woman married to a white man, who struggles to balance her Indian heritage and her family in the face of looming war between her people and the US Army. The book will be released in Summer, 1999.
Pax Riddle writes full time, and lives with his wife and teenage daughter in Connecticut. He is working on a second novel, The Education of Ruby Loonfoot, and recently sold a nonfiction article to Wild West magazine.
Pax advises new writers to join a good work-oriented critique group, and consider their comments closely, while maintaining your style and integrity. “If you wish to sell your work, versus merely write it for artistic, self satisfaction, find out about the marketplace. See where you can find a niche,” he says.
New Author Finds
Agent on Internet,
Sells Six-figure Deal
7/98—First-time novelist William Kowalski of Erie PA. has sold his manuscript, Eddie’s Bastard, to Harper Collins. After receiving offers from several houses, agent Anne Hawkins of John Hawkins & Associates Inc., New York accepted a two book deal totalling in the mid six figures. Marjorie Braman, Senior Vice President for Harper Collins Adult Trade Books made the successful offer. Irv Schwartz of The Renaissance Agency, Los Angeles, CA, will handle film and television rights.
Kowalski first contacted Hawkins with an unsolicited E-mail query. He found her E-mail address via a search of AOL user profiles for literary agents.
In the fictional autobiography, William Kowalski explores the importance of family and the place of the individual in the continuum of history and time.
Living alone in a decaying mansion, Grandpa Mann is the last surviving member of a once-great family. Or so he believes until the day he stumbles drunkenly out the back door and discovers a baby in a picnic basket. A note taped to the handle identifies the occupant as “EDDIE’S BASTARD,” the child of his only
son recently killed in Viet Nam. What follows is the bittersweet story of the old man raising his grandson as the last, proud scion of the Mann family and steeping him in all of its rich and bizarre heritage.
Kowalski braids the story of the boy’s journey to young manhood together with family anecdotes and homespun philosophical excerpts from great-great grandfather Mann’s Civil War diary. The result is a story mixing warm humor with nostalgia and the inevitable sadness common to most American family histories.
Michigan Writer
Sells First Book
Via Authorlink
7/98—David Whale has found an agent and sold his book, HOW SCHOOLS REALLY WORK: AN ACTION GUIDE FOR PARENTS, through Authorlink Before having his work accepted for a listing on Authorlink he had written an agent himself, only to be turned down.
“It seemed like to me there should be a better way to reach potential editors and agents. Authorlink turned out to be the answer,” David said.
He found Authorlink through a search engine while surfing the web. “I liked the way it was laid out and the content,” he said. ” I figured it was worth a try, and the results and support were outstanding all the way.”
Whale said his agent has been great to work with. “We do all of our communicating via email. She is based in Idaho and I am in Michigan. We’ve never met face to face but I feel I know her and we have a very good relationship.”
David waited a number of months before his agent connected with him through Authrolink! But persistence paid off. About nine months after his listing on Authorlink Agent Elisabet McHugh had made a sale for David. That’s less than half the time it usually takes to sell a manuscript.
The hardcover book will be released in September, 1998 by Avisson. While David has published some scholarly papers and continues to do research and writing on the same topic as his book, this is his first full-length published work.
Sam Sackett’s
‘Career Karate’
Finds Publisher
6/98—Sam Sackett expected it would take a long time to find an agent, even with the help of Authorlink His listing first appeared on the site in April, 97, and about six or even months later he signed with agent, Elisabet McHugh, after receiving requests from three different representatives, and subsequently a publishing house.
“Placing the book with a publisher took longer than I thought, “said Sackett. “I think any author feels his work is so good that it will sell immediately, and I am no exception. Reality was, as it usually is, disillusioning.” That process took about four more months.
“Was I skeptical of Authorlink at first? Sure. Anybody who has lived long in this economy has run across enough scams to make him skeptical of anything that sounds like a good deal. It’s a by-product of the free enterprise system that crooks are free to function until they’re caught.
“I found Authorlink very professional and timely. I was particularly impressed with their efforts to make sure that the agents they list operate ethically, ” Sam said. ” I even passed along a couple of names of agents who approached me about whom I was leery, and Authorlink acted appropriately.”
How did Sam Sackett begin his writing career?
“Miss Grassle, my kindergarten teacher, assigned all of us to write a book in imitation of the little reader which was our text. I became hooked on writing and have been writing ever since.”
Right now Sam has obligations that prevent him from the kind of sustained writing effort that he would like to make, so he’s working along at translations of a couple of Flemish novels because he can do them a page at a time in between other chores. When he can free up his time more fully, he plans to finish a book on how to get a job, TWELVE STEPS TO FINDING THE PERFECT CAREER, which his present agent is also interested in representing.
Another agent whom he found through the Authorlink listings, has three of Sam’s novels: ADOLF HITLER IN OZ, AN AMERICAN PRODIGAL, and SWEET BETSY FROM PIKE.
Sam’s book, CAREER KARATE: WINNING STRATEGIES FOR MANAGERS, will be released by The Graduate Group sometime this spring.
“I think Authorlink is a great opportunity for writers. Before I discovered Authorlink, I had used the lists of agents in the Literary Market Place, only to be told by them — at least by those of them that answered at all — that they were not accepting work from new writers. The agents listed by Authorlink are all agents actively seeking new talent. For that reason Authorlink saves writers an enormous amount of time and effort in bringing them together with people who actually are interested in considering their work. So I am really very thankful to Authorlink and will be happy to sing its praises wherever and whenever I have the occasion.”
Eric Winkler Sells
First Work
Within Five Months
6/98—Eric Winkler signed with a literary agent and sold his first manuscript, Partnership Marketing, to Greenwood Publishing, all within only five months. How did he do that? Through Authorlink
“At first, I made the mistake that first-time authors make of trying to pitch my manuscript directly to publishing houses. While searching the Internet for publishers, I ran across Authorlink” Eric explained. “Rather than try and learn the book publishing industry overnight, I thought I’d “borrow some experience” from Authorlink and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results.”
Authorlink asked Eric if he were skeptical of the service at first, and why?
“I have to admit I was skeptical at first. There are so many mine fields on the Internet that I worry about paying for any service offered on the ‘net. I was impressed by the list of authors on the site and by the current publishing industry news. It seemed like a gamble worth taking and I’m very pleased with the connections Authorlink made for me.”
Eric had searched for several months and had a number of dead-end conversations with publishers. He made the mistake of thinking he didn’t need an agent. “Looking back, it was a little like thinking I could do my own dental work with a few lessons,” he commented.
Eric said he was surprised how fast Authorlink produced results for him. It took less than a month for him to sign with agent, Elisabet McHugh through Authorlink He agreed to partner with her in October. By December, 97 he had received his first serious offer from a publisher. Then, in February, 98, only five months after Authorlink connected him with an agent, he sold his first book.
Asked if he had any advice for other first-time authors, Eric advised: “Don’t be afraid to admit what you don’t know. Do you need Authorlink? Yes. You can’t possibly expect to learn the publishing industry overnight, so let Authorlink lend you their contacts and their expertise.
“I don’t know about other writers, but I asked myself over and over whether or not I needed an agent. I did. My agent helped me focus my work and helped crystallize the vision for my project. Unless you are fortunate enough to be a publisher writing about the publishing industry, you need an agent to help you navigate this complicated business.”
Eric Winkler said he had “nothing but praise” for Authorlink “This service sets realistic expectations and then exceeds them. I consider myself fortunate to have found Authorlink and even more fortunate that my agent found me through Authorlink This is a service I’d recommend to any first time author.”
Roland Jansen
Finds Publisher
In Six Months
5/98—Roland Jansen has just sold his first book to John Wiley & Sons as a direct result of having secured agent Elisabet McHugh through Authorlink
Unnatural Profits from Natural Resources: How to Make Big Profits, Globally, From Oil, Gas, Grains and Metals will be released by John Wiley & Sons in August, 1998.
Dutch-born Jansen, director of fund management for the oldest bank in Liechtenstein, wrote the book in German in September 1996 and originally titled it, The Coming Squeeze in Natural Resources. A friend who review it told him his German was “hopeless” and suggested he write it in English. He did. In January, 1997 he began surfing the Internet to find information on publishers and came across Authorlink
“I thought Authorlink was a great idea for an aspiring writer living in a remote area and with no contacts in the publishing world. My book was accepted for listing on the service and after only two months, in March, 1997, Authorlink Editor Doris Booth informed me that literary agent Elisabet McHugh was interested in reading the full manuscript. After receiving valuable background information from Doris about the agent, I signed with Ms. McHugh on April 3.”
In the following six months, Ms. McHugh encouraged Jansen to refocus the book and he completed the new version in August, 1997. Only a month later John Wiley & Sons made the offer to publish the book.
His advice to new writers: “Listen to the feedback you get from publishers who don’t want to buy. Your work must be unique and you must be able to tell a publisher why it is so special. Finally, don’t let anyone take away your dream of being published.”
Joyce Lackey
Sells Book
to Gardenia Press
72nd Authorlink Writer to Land Publisher
A publisher contact made several years ago has finally paid of for Authorlink writer Joyce Lackey. The author who received a request for her novel as a result of her Authorlink listing for, The Ghosts of Buffalo Creek, has at last sold the work to Gardenia Press, a small publisher who plans to release the work in July 2002.
News Archives
71st Authorlink Writer
to Sell Manuscript
June1, 2001—Michael E. Bemis of Kennebunk, Maine, became the 71st author to sell his work as a direct result of listing his work on Authorlink.com.
His book, Safe & Sound, a nonfiction work about how to buy a safe, private, and quiet home, will be published by Hanrow Press of Rancho Santa Fe, California. The small press, founded in 1982, has specialized in law and safety engineering books until now. The publication date for Safe & Sound has not yet been determined. Michael’s work had been listed with Authorlink for about a year when Hanrow requested a look at the full manuscript. Authorlink interviewed the author about his success:
AUTHORLINK: When did you begin your writing career, and what prompted you to do so? Is there a special story behind your decision to become an author?
BEMIS: I started writing in earnest while serving as Sheriff of York County, Maine. When I left law enforcement full-time I was able to devote more time to my writing.
AUTHORLINK: Who was the greatest influence on your decision to write, and in what ways did they encourage you?
BEMIS: My mother who is a published author.
AUTHORLINK: How important has your agent been in guiding your career?
BEMIS: I briefly had an agent but due to personal hardship they were forced to close. I presently do not have an agent.
AUTHORLINK: How did Authorlink help?
BEMIS: Authorlink’s excellent service and support has consistently exceeded my expectations. Without Authorlink, Safe & Sound would not be poised for publication.
AUTHORLINK: Do you have any advice or insights for newcomers trying to break into publishing?
BEMIS: It sounds monotonous, but they should just keep trying.
AUTHORLINK: Do you perceive New York publishing to be a closed society or an open one?
BEMIS: I think it’s open to good writing and content that’s timely and unique.
AUTHORLINK: What are publishers looking for today?
BEMIS: What will sell and authors with a passion to sell it.
AUTHORLINK: How did you learn your craft? Through reading? Conferences? A university? Mentoring? A combination of these, or other means?
BEMIS: Nothing formal, just a lot of research, reading and writing.
70 th Authorlink Writer
to Land Publisher
April 15, 2001—Jan Letoha this month became the 70 th Authorlink writer to sign a publishing contract as a result of her listing on Authorlink.com. Her first book, Bury The Past , will be published by Port Town Publishing in August, 2002.
Port Town Publishing (PTP) is a small publishing house located in Superior, Wisconsin. The company was founded in 1999 by Jean Hackensmith, a struggling romance author who got tired of getting rejection letters from the New York publishers. PTP publishes about 4-5 novels per year, including original romance, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and horror.
Bury The Past was listed on Authorlink for 22 months. During that time, Jan also signed with an agent through Authorlink, but the agent closed her agency due to illness.
Jan has also listed her second book, Fire On The Moon, with Authorlink. It’s another spooky, romantic suspense story.
How did Jan feel when she heard that her book would be published?
“Like a genie popped out of a bottle and granted me three wishes! It’s the best feeling in the world!”
Jan began writing about ten years ago. “I read a time travel/historical romance and thought, ‘If this author can get away with such a fantastic story, maybe my ideas aren’t so crazy after all.’ So I started writing Bury The Past. Writing fiction was a lot harder than I thought it’d be, though. Getting the hang of writing dialogue was really tough.
Before listing her work with Authorlink, Jan had tried the traditional methods of marketing — sending out query letters and sample chapters. “I had another agent a few years back,” Jan said. “A word of advice — if an agent asks for money up front, look out! Maybe I’m just jinxed when it comes to agents. Anyway, I’m convinced that Bury The Past would be sitting in a shoe box on my closet shelf if I hadn’t discovered Authorlink.”
When Jan is working on a book, she’s a person obsessed — or possessed. She’ll write 10 – 12 hours a day, especially during the summer.
In the real world, Jan teaches Psychology and U.S. History at a South Georgia high school.
What advice would she give to writers who want to be published?
“Research the requirements for different types of novels. It seems that publishers want to see key elements in a book that will appeal to their specific type of market. Read a book on editing manuscripts so you can delete what publishers don’t want to see. List your book on Authorlink — it’s the only thing that worked for me! Then develop a huge store of patience and persistence and don’t think you’re home free once you sign a contract. That’s when the real work starts!”
Authorlink Writer
Joy Jasper Sells Work
to St. Martin’s Press
67th Authorlink Sale
2/26/01—Joy Waldron Jasper this month became the 67th Authorlink writer to sell a manuscript as a direct result of contacts made through Authorlink. Jasper found her New York agent— Sam Fleishman of Literary Artists Representatives — via Authorlink, and he subsequently sold one of her works to St. Martin’s Press.
The new book, “The USS Arizona: The Ship, the Men, the Attack!,” will be in bookstores November 1, 2001, in time for Veteran’s Day (November 11) and the 60th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day (December 7, 2001)
“After meeting my agent through Authorlink, we signed a contract in December 2000 to represent my novel. Then we signed a second contract in January to represent my nonfiction book,” Jasper explained. “As is often the case, the nonfiction sold first. St. Martin’s Press bought it in February 2001, and has moved at an impressive speed to release it in less than a year, so as to offer it to readers at the 60th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day — a mere nine months later, which is stunning in the world of publishing! Kudos to my wonderful editor, Mac Talley at St. Martin’s Press, and to my amazing agent, Sam Fleishman.”
Joy became an Authorlink writer in October, 2000. The fictional work that originally attracted her agent is titled “Betrayal at Pearl Harbor.” While that novel hasn’t yet sold (as of press time), the nonfiction book on Pearl Harbor was rapidly sold through the agent who connected with Jasper through Authorlink.
The USS Arizona book is the story of life aboard the USS Arizona in peacetime, and the survival stories of 10 men who lived through the attack. As a journalist and a diver, Joy first visited the USS Arizona underwater in 1983, covering the story of the photo documentation and scientific illustration of the gallant battleship, the greatest casualty of the Pearl Harbor attack. She was so enthralled with the story, she searched out survivors and began interviewing them, crisscrossing the country for several years to hear their stories. Hearing their emotional tales, she was fascinated by the tremendous bond and affection they felt for their ship, and she felt it was a story that needed to be told.
“I’m a writer who prefers to write every day, in the morning when I’m fresh, and for a period of three to four hours,” Jasper said of her working habits. ” If I’m on a splendid roll, I might write for longer, but I like to achieve 10 pages a day that I’ll keep. It never hurts to stop in the middle — of an idea, a sentence, a chapter. I like returning the next day to something unfinished so that I’m inspired to jump in again. I don’t think there’s any one way to write, but I think it’s important to find your own best period of the day and the length of time that makes sense for you. Writing books is my top priority, and I write full time.”
For the record, Joy’s children are grown, and she lives in New England with her husband and a garden full of perennials
“I’ve completed my second novel in a series of underwater thrillers (the first — working title, Betrayal at Pearl Harbor, which is listed on Authorlink — is under review at several major houses at this time),” Joy said.
I’m currently working on another nonfiction book on the Lewis and Clark expedition, and another historical biography is in the outline stage.
“I want to thank Authorlink for providing me a forum for my work, she added. “I was encouraged by having been selected for the Authorlink web site, and once I had a page there (http://www.authorlink.com/001051th.html), I had confidence to approach agents. I sent a number of Authorlink-listed agents an email, condensing my query to three paragraphs and asking them to look for more information on my page. I got positive responses from eight out of ten queries I sent. Of those eight, I was extremely fortunate to find a superb agent to represent me, and who got a sale within a month at a major press.
“Thanks to all at Authorlink. And I want to say to my fellow writers: ‘”Keep writing, and don’t lose heart! If it happened to me, it can happen to you.'”
Authorlink Writer
Chopra Finds
Publisher for Work
68th Authorlink Sale
4/1/01—Dr. Prem Chopra, author of the new age nonfiction book, “If I Had Known,” has sold his work to Hanrow Press in Rancho Santa Fe, California. The small press, founded in 1982, has specialized in law and safety engineering books until now. Chopra’s book is their first venture into trade books.
Dr. Chopra has been listed with Authorlink since October 2000. He signed a contract with Hanrow Press early this year. He became the 68th author to sell his work through Authorlink in the last 36 months.
Jan Wallace Becomes
69thAuthorlink Writer
to Sign With Publisher
69th Authorlink Sale
4/1/01—Jan Wallace became the 69th writer to sign a publishing contract through Authorlink in the past 36 months in late March. Ms. Wallace, a first-time author, signed a deal with PortTown Publishing for her book, Where Roses Grow Wild. The publisher is a small Wisconsin house that releases about four books per year.
Ms. Wallace had two manuscripts listed on Authorlink between 1999 and 2000. In January 2000, Authorlink received a request from WMG Promotions, a literary agency, requesting the manuscript. She signed a contract with WMG the very next month, and shortly thereafter WMG sold the work to PortTown.
Port Town senior editor Jean Hackensmith wrote to Agents Cary and Sherry Wolf that she found the manuscript to be “funny, romantic and tragic.” She said she had tears streaming down her face in the end.
Jan Wallace credits the editor with giving each writer a lot of attention to make sure the manuscript is everything it should be for the reader.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling knowing someone reads your manuscript and it really has an effect on them positive effect at that, that you make them feel for the characters themselves, because that’s what it’s all about-believing in the story.”
“Authorlink has made it possible for writers to link up with the correct agents and publishers, and gives agents a chance to review works by various writers,” Jan explained.
I started along time ago writing, as child I would write stories and put on plays in the basement of my parents’ home. I’ve always told stories, then one day said, lets see if anyone would like to publish any of the stories. Friends have read them and said they were good, but, hey, these are friends after all.
Jan once worked for The University of Georgia Extension Service in the Fort Valley, Georgia office. Today she is a fulltime writer.
“I start a manuscript and work each day 6 to 8 hours,” she said. “It usually takes 3 months to finish a draft, then another three months to get the bugs out. I edit, fix mistakes and read it over and over, proofing each page until it is correct.
“I can see why books cost what they do and why some people just give up, it is not an easy job to do it over and over, no ones manuscript is correct the first go around, you realize when you re-read it the feeling might not be there so you have to correct it put heart where there was none.”
Jan is married to her childhood sweetheart, and they have four children. Twenty-six years ago they bought an old historic house with 17 rooms in Marshallville, Georgia, restored it and live there today with their family and many dogs, cats, doves, ducks, chickens and rabbits.
“My advise to other writers is: don’t quit dreaming about what you believe in, you have to believe in yourself, before anyone else will, and then you go from there, keep writing don’t give up. “Write from your heart, and let it be about something you know. If you venture into another area you don’t know the reader will know it too, and you’ve lost. So stay with what you feel and understand most about life. “It’ll work for you.
“I am especially thankful for my agents,” Jan said. “They have worked late into the mornings trying to find a suitable publisher. They work with writers because they love the written word.”
Authorlink’s Goldring
Wins Series Contract
With Berkley Publishing
Kat Goldring, among new writers listed on Authorlink, has signed a three-book contract with Berkley Publishing Group for her cozy mystery series, Crow’s Feet and Lemon Drops, to be released in September 2001. Kim Waltemyer is the Berkley editor who made the acquisition, and Carol McCleary of Wilshire Literary Agency, made the sale for four figures.
McCleary had represented the series 5 1/2 years before the first book sold.
“I already had an agent when Authorlink was kind enough to list me in some of their first presentations,” said Kat. “Ours was a mutual endeavor as Authorlink was just starting up and I had just finished a revision with the first novel under the wings of the DFW Writers’ Workshop. Just as an aside, that DFW Writers’ Workshop stands for that and never has meant “Dallas Ft. Worth” as some like to say. In fact one of the founding members with whom I was lucky enough to work with and helped name the group told me it really meant, Damn Fine Writers.
“I believe the fact that AUTHORLINK listed me was one of the reasons my agent did not give up on presenting my work to top notch publishers. I have a few magazine articles and short stories published but my best and most extensive showcase was writing and illustrating with my original drawings a newspaper column for a year titled ‘THE MEDICINE PATH.’
“AUTHORLINK has been wonderful. My agent and I have always been grateful for the professional format available on the site for presenting my work. We came very close to making a sale through the site with China, and may yet sell the foreign rights with help through AUTHORLINK.
Kat Goldring works full time as a high school foreign language department head and Spanish teacher. She spends an hour to hour and a half per day in editing and rewriting the novels and outlines for the first three in the WILLI GALLAGHER MYSTERY SERIES. During holidays and summer time (8 weeks) that time increases to 3-4 hours a day. This doesn’t include the hours for research, marketing, the time to work with other writers on shared projects, and commitments to two writing groups.
“Not only do I work the 40-hour drill and the writing tight-wire,” Kat explains, “but I also sing and play the guitar in two groups: SISTERS OF THE WIND includes a fellow writer, Shirley McKee. We two do mostly classic/golden country western and cowboy/girl programs for local clubs, groups, schools, city gatherings and such. The HIGH MILEAGE country western band, some seven members strong, includes three law officers, performs for trail drives and city functions.
How does it feel to have a published contract?
“I go back and forth between elation of having a fantastic adventure and panic attacks,” says Kat. “I am so thankful for all the wonderful folks, including AUTHORLINK, who have crossed my path at the right time, and have helped me make a lifelong dream come true. WAKAN TANKA (Great Spirit), of course, I thank for all lessons learned and all paths. This is one of those paths strewn with bluebonnets, soft moss and warm cuddly critters. The panic part has to do with getting to those book signings. I’m directional dyslexic and panic when traveling to new places. So . . . maybe that’s the next adventure and lesson!”
Kat Goldring currently is working on the next two novels in the WILLI GALLAGHER SERIES: SNOW SNAKE and SWEET CHARIOT. She also have a second series, the DELTA PAIGE SERIES, and has finished the first book in that series, COOPER STREET GIRLS.
Authorlink asked the author: How helpful was DFW Writers’ Workshop?
“I would not have cleared out the flaws in my manuscript. The members helped me to develop a selling novel. I would not have met my agent, Carol McCleary, if DFW Writers’ Workshop had not had her as a guest. I would not have had the opportunity to meet my editor, KIM WALTEMYER with BERKLEY PUBLISHING. I interviewed with her during her visit with DFWWW. Although I’ve served as an officer and hosted many dinners as well as parties at my own country home for the members, editors and agents, I still owe DFWWW a great deal.”
Two Authorlink Press
Writers Earn
Top Recognition
Dallas and Atlanta/2/15/01— Jerry Lee Davis, author of Twin City (AUTHORLINK PRESS), and Ginnie Bivona, author of Ida Mae Tutweiler and the Traveling Tea Party (AUTHORLINK PRESS), have recently earned top recognition in two different markets.
Jerry Lee Davis of Atlanta has been nominated for the First Novel Award in the 37th annual Georgia Author of the Year Awards, sponsored by the Georgia Writers’ Association. Ginnie Bivona’s Ida Mae Tutweiler recently climbed to number one on the Dallas Morning News Bestseller List for paperback fiction. Ginnie lives in Dallas.
The Georgia Awards ceremony, hosted by Mercer University Press, will be held at a dinner March 17 at Mercer University in Macon,Georgia.
Among a number of recent review of Ginnie Bivona’s book was an article by Don Johnson on Read-a-Bargain.com.Johnson called Bivona’s Ida Mae “A wonderful,character-driven story that produces open memories we thought we’d forgotten. . . . I expected a typical ‘woman’s’ book but found a story of human beings for human beings. Man or woman your time won’t be wasted on this one.”
66th Authorlink
Writer Signs
Publishing Contract
Charlene Tess has become the 66th author to find a publisher as a direct result of Authorlink. Port Town Publishing, a small Wisconsin publisher, will release Ms. Tess’s THE VAN WINKLE BRIDE as a trade paperback romance in June 2001. The book, originally listed on Authorlink as THE VAN WINKLE CONNECTION, is Ms. Tess’s first published work.
“The senior romance editor of Port Town Publishing saw my posting on the Authorlink website and thought my novel sounded intriguing and suitable for her list for 2001,” Charlene explained. “She contacted Authorlink Editor Doris Booth, who contacted me. Doris Booth forwarded an e- mail to me from Port Town Publishing. I sent the publisher a copy of my manuscript by snail mail. The editor read it and said she could not put it down. She offered me a contract by e-mail and then sent me a written contract by snail mail.”
Charlene listed her novel on Authorlink on April 10, 2000, and sold it on November 25.
“My husband and I met Doris Booth at a SouthWest Writers Conference and decided to advertise our editing business on Authorlink. Two of my novels had won first place at Southwest Writers Conference Contests, and I had been trying to get them published by the old-fashioned way: query, partial, full manuscript, SASE, wait, wait, wait method. Authorlink sounded like an attractive, modern way to market my novels. And it worked! I am delighted with the results,” Charlene said.
“I have been writing as long as I can remember and have published essays, feature articles, short stories, and a nonfiction book, but this will be my first published novel.
“Presently, I am working on a rewrite of a romance novel that my sister and I co-wrote, and I am about one-third of the way through a mainstream novel entitled The Greatest Gift. It is the story of the unshakable bond between a mother and daughter in spite of tragic circumstances that shatter their lives.”
Charlene says her best advice when it comes to becoming published is “to be like the old Timex watch slogan: ‘Take a licking, but keep on ticking.’ In other words, keep trying. And don’t forget to try new ideas if the old ones aren’t working for you.”
Authorlink’s Goldring
Wins Series Contract
With Berkley Publishing
Kat Goldring, among new writers listed on Authorlink, has signed a three-book contract with Berkley Publishing Group for her cozy mystery series, Crow’s Feet and Lemon Drops, to be released in September 2001. Kim Waltemyer is the Berkley editor who made the acquisition, and Carol McCleary of Wilshire Literary Agency, made the sale for four figures.
McCleary had represented the series 5 1/2 years before the first book sold.
“I already had an agent when Authorlink was kind enough to list me in some of their first presentations,” said Kat. “Ours was a mutual endeavor as Authorlink was just starting up and I had just finished a revision with the first novel under the wings of the DFW Writers’ Workshop. Just as an aside, that DFW Writers’ Workshop stands for that and never has meant “Dallas Ft. Worth” as some like to say. In fact one of the founding members with whom I was lucky enough to work with and helped name the group told me it really meant, Damn Fine Writers.
“I believe the fact that AUTHORLINK listed me was one of the reasons my agent did not give up on presenting my work to top notch publishers. I have a few magazine articles and short stories published but my best and most extensive showcase was writing and illustrating with my original drawings a newspaper column for a year titled ‘THE MEDICINE PATH.’
“AUTHORLINK has been wonderful. My agent and I have always been grateful for the professional format available on the site for presenting my work. We came very close to making a sale through the site with China, and may yet sell the foreign rights with help through AUTHORLINK.
Kat Goldring works full time as a high school foreign language department head and Spanish teacher. She spends an hour to hour and a half per day in editing and rewriting the novels and outlines for the first three in the WILLI GALLAGHER MYSTERY SERIES. During holidays and summer time (8 weeks) that time increases to 3-4 hours a day. This doesn’t include the hours for research, marketing, the time to work with other writers on shared projects, and commitments to two writing groups.
“Not only do I work the 40-hour drill and the writing tight-wire,” Kat explains, “but I also sing and play the guitar in two groups: SISTERS OF THE WIND includes a fellow writer, Shirley McKee. We two do mostly classic/golden country western and cowboy/girl programs for local clubs, groups, schools, city gatherings and such. The HIGH MILEAGE country western band, some seven members strong, includes three law officers, performs for trail drives and city functions.
How does it feel to have a published contract?
“I go back and forth between elation of having a fantastic adventure and panic attacks,” says Kat. “I am so thankful for all the wonderful folks, including AUTHORLINK, who have crossed my path at the right time, and have helped me make a lifelong dream come true. WAKAN TANKA (Great Spirit), of course, I thank for all lessons learned and all paths. This is one of those paths strewn with bluebonnets, soft moss and warm cuddly critters. The panic part has to do with getting to those book signings. I’m directional dyslexic and panic when traveling to new places. So . . . maybe that’s the next adventure and lesson!”
Kat Goldring currently is working on the next two novels in the WILLI GALLAGHER SERIES: SNOW SNAKE and SWEET CHARIOT. She also have a second series, the DELTA PAIGE SERIES, and has finished the first book in that series, COOPER STREET GIRLS.
Authorlink asked the author: How helpful was DFW Writers’ Workshop?
“I would not have cleared out the flaws in my manuscript. The members helped me to develop a selling novel. I would not have met my agent, Carol McCleary, if DFW Writers’ Workshop had not had her as a guest. I would not have had the opportunity to meet my editor, KIM WALTEMYER with BERKLEY PUBLISHING. I interviewed with her during her visit with DFWWW. Although I’ve served as an officer and hosted many dinners as well as parties at my own country home for the members, editors and agents, I still owe DFWWW a great deal.”
Former LA Times Reporter
to Contribute Kids’ Book
Column to Authorlink
Laguna Beach, CA/12/15/00—Barbara J. Odanaka, former LA Times sports reporter and columnist, will join Authorlink on January 1 2001 as a regular columnist. Her articles will provide writers with in-depth insights on writing and publishing children’s books, and will include interviews with children’s editors at major publishing houses.
Among upcoming topics for her column will be:
January 1: Rejection 101 February 1: A Crime to Rhyme? March 1: Every Story Tells A Picture April 1: Successful School Visits May 1: Beautiful Noise—Why “Quiet” Picture Books No Longer Make the Grade June 1: Five to Watch: A look at Upcoming Children’s Authors
From time to time, she will provide special reports on major children’s book conferences.
Ms. Odanaka left her career at the Times to write books for children. She is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators.
Barb earned a BA in English from the University of Southern California. She lives with her husband and son in a California beach town, and is a founding member of the Skateboarding Moms Society. She can be reached at bodanaka@aol.com
Authorlink Writer
Lands First Book
Deal With Scribner
NEW YORK,NY/10/1/00—Jimmy Gleacher, who has been listed as an Authorlink writer since October, 1999, has sold his first novel to prestigious Scribner, an imprint of Rawson Associates and part of Simon & Schuster.
Meredith Phelan of Linda Chester and Associates in New York found Jimmy’s novel, “Roll Again,” on one of her frequent searches of Authorlink, signed him on, and subsequently sold the work for five figures. The mainstream fictional work, to be released in 2002, is the 64th title to be sold either as a direct or indirect result of Authorlink.
Agent Wray
Signs Fifteen
Authorlink Writers
9/00—Pamela Wray, owner of the new and growing Pamela Wray Literary Agency, has agreed to represent 15 writers found over the last several months as a direct result of Authorlink.
Among the works now represented by Wray are several thrillers and young adult works. Ms Wray, an aggressive agent, already has sent works by the newest Authorlink ensigns out to key publishers.
In another case, Ms. Wray signed a children’s author who, while not officially listed on Authorlink, connected with Wray through the service. The work is a moral folk tale, similar to Uncle Remus.
“I was so excited about this book that he expressed it to me over night, and I have already spoken with numerous publishers, special merchandising and TV producers, ” said Wray. “I am going to put this book up for auction because there is so much interest.”
“The Authorlink website is the ultimate place for any editor, literary agent or publisher, and I am so thankful the staff’s hard work and diligence,” Ms. Wray said in a note to Authorlink.
Ms. Wray is among a number of agents who regularly surf the Authorlink site in search of good manuscripts.
Clemente Becomes
61st Authorlink Writer
to Sell To Manuscript
New York House Pays Handsome Advance
New York, NY/5/26/00 —Authorlink writer Gary Clemente became the 61 st author to sell his work to a key New York publisher.
Lebhar-Friedman, New York has slated a 2002 publication date for ” Confessions of a G-Man: Inside the FBI, originally listed on Authorlink as The Marking of a Hoover. Clemente will be paid a $5,000 advance plus royalties for the work, half up front and half on delivery of the finished manuscript. Sale of the book is the direct result of Clemente’s listing on Authorlink.
“Confessions” will be an inside look at the FBI through the eyes of Clemente’s father, who was a career agent for 26 years. The book will deal with anecdotal stories and inside information about the Bureau, the war on Communism in the Fifties, the mob, and J. Edgar Hoover among other things.
How did he find Authorlink? A writer friend told him about it and spoke highly of the service.
Authorlink seemed to be up front about everything and didn’t present itself as a scheme to make money off of writers,” Gary said. “Doris Booth answered all of my questions promptly and professionally while the book was made available for review. I was pleased with how some of the particulars of the book was presented and listed on-line.”
How long were you listed on Authorlink before the sale Gary’s book was listed on Authorlink for about five months before Lebhar-Friedman Editor Frank Scatoni (formerly with Simon & Schuster) spotted the title and requested a proposal. This was all done through e-mail.
Gary, 48, has been writing full time and semi-professionally since he got out of college. He’s written in a number of different mediums along the way. He has several other projects in the working stage, including a collection of short stories; a humor book based on the newspaper column he writes weekly; and a suspense book in the same vein as Michael Creiton.
How does it feel to be a published author?
“My first and only published book was a children’s piece that came out in 1995, called ‘Cosmo Gets An Ear,’ about a little boy who gets his first hearing aid. Being published in book form is a wonderful feeling. It’s an achievement I’m the most proud of in my writing career.
And does he have any advice for new writers?
“Take it from somebody who has written all of his adult life and even some before as a kid — it’s got to be in your blood, because getting published is not the easiest thing to do. You write because you have to — it’s who you are and nobody’s going to make you stop. One thing that can be valuable is to learn how to distill and recognize exactly what it is on a gut level that attracts people to certain stories and why. There are usually one or two elements working that can make a successful story or book. Examine a well-made movie or book and practice how to recognize the “concept” that made it work. Other than that, as Winston Churchill said, ‘Never, never, never give up.'”
Pamela Wray
Literary Agency Signs
Four Authorlink Writers
5/00—Pamela Wray Literary Agency based in Alabama, has signed four Authorlink writers for representation.
They are Steven Rudd, Midnight Run; Jan Letoha, Bury the Past; J.E. Deegan, In Dark Covenant; Norman Davis, Stonecypher’s Gold.
Authorlink Author
Carolee Joy Takes
Rising Star Award
6/15/00—Carolee Joy, author of Wild Angel (Authorlink Press) won second place in the prestigious short contemporary category of the Rising Star 2000 Awards, a division of the Romance Writers of America.
The winners, including the Grand Prize winner, were offered free registration at the RWA national conference or equivalent cash. Winners were presented at the Sooner Area Romance Authors in Tulsa, Oklahoma May 20.
Fifth Authorlink
Contest Winner Earns
Publishing Contract
Los Angeles, CA/ 5/15/00 —Ekaterine Nikas (Katy) Terlinden, the 1998 Best of Show and mystery winner of the Authorlink New Author Awards Competition, has landed a publishing contract with Avid Press
( www.avidpress.com Her winning novel, Divided Child, will be released by Avid in Winter 2000 under her pen name, Ekaterine Nikas. It is the fifth time in two years an Authorlink contest winner has won a substantial publishing contract.
“Authorlink.com offered a wonderful contest that gave me an important boost to my career, got me access to editors and agents, and provided a very impressive reference for query letters,” said Terlinden.
Katy had been writing for about ten years before she heard about Authorlink on one of her writer lists. She advises new writers to “be persistent, be part of a network, enter contests (they are a great way to get agents and editors to look at your work), and keep your mind open to the possibilities offered by small presses and e-book publishers, especially if your book does not fit easily into the New York mold.”
Katy also says, “utilize the Internet to the fullest. I probably would not have made my sale without it. I think Authorlink is a great resource for writers and an excellent example of how new writers can use the Internet to break through the barriers to publication.
Authorlink Writer’s
New Book Released
by Marlowe, New York
NEW YORK, NY/5/1/00—Beyond Anger: A Guide for Men, by Thomas J. Harbin, Ph.D, has just been released by New York Publisher Marlowe & Company’s Avalon imprint. Author Tom Harbin directly attributes the sale of his book to his listing on Authorlink.
Forensic Psychologist Harbin sold his nonfiction manuscript, originally titled STANCE OF ANGER, to established publisher, John Muir Publications as the result of a direct inquiry by the publisher in May, 1998. Muir was bought by Marlowe Books, a division of Avalon last year.
In his new book, Dr. Harbin helps men understand their anger by explaining what the specific symptoms of chronic anger are and by showing angry men how their actions negatively affect family, friends and co-workers.
Tom is one of nearly 60 Authorlink writers to sign a contract with a publisher since sales tracking began in early 1997.
Tom had been listed on the site for eight or nine months before receiving the request. Generously sharing the sales figures with other Authorlink writers, Tom said he was paid a $1,000 advance upon signing a contract, another $1500 upon delivery of the revised manuscript, and the final $1000 was paid when the book was released.
Tom began writing the manuscript about seven years ago, for use with angry men in his clinical practice. “The book sort of grew over the next couple of years and I guess I have been actively trying to sell it for about three years,” he said.
“At first, I naively sent it to editors who had done similar work. Then, I engaged a New York agent who had promoted books for a friend of mine. Honestly, I was about to put the manuscript away and forget about it or start the self-publishing journey. Then I became aware of Authorlink while absently surfing the net for agents.”
While not officially working on any new titles, he has started writing some short stories about the goings on in his rural North Carolina county, and he’s been keeping copious notes for a possible book about his role as a forensic psychologist.
When asked what he would advise first-time writers, he said I would not presume to offer anyone advice. I think that lucked out so far.
And how important was Authorlink to his begin published? My book would still be sitting on a dusty disk somewhere, without Authorlink, he concluded.
In little more than three years, nearly 300 writers have reported signing with agents as a direct result of Authorlink, and more than 1500 requests from editors and agents have been processed.
The author lives and practices in North Carolina.
Authorlink
Correspondent
Joins LA Times
Authorlink writer, Michelle Lovato, has been hired by the Los Angeles Times to cover special sections issues.
Regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious news organizations, the Los Angeles Times has a full circulation of 1.4 million copies per Sunday issue.
Lovato’s work will premier March 13.
With more than two years experience as an Authorlink California publishing correspondent, Lovato has covered several events, and can be found by searching archives.
Lovato is the owner/publisher of The Silver Lakes Gazzette, a weekly newspaper, and a columnist and reporter for The Inland Empire Business Journal, a Southern California regional business magazine.
Accompanying Lovato in her new post will be her husband, Vince, a 20- year veteran of journalism. Among Vince’s credits are previous LA Times bylines,
the sales of two short stories to Stephen Speilberg, two nominations for California Newspaper Publisher’s Association awards and was the recipient of a fellowship to Rice University in Houston Texas.
Lovato has 10 years experience as a political and business reporter
and specializes in feature stories. She writes a newspaper column entitled, Thank You, Lord and has won several awards for her short fiction.
Both Lovatos are pursuing careers in the publishing industry. Ms.Lovato will continue contributing articles to Authorlink.
Authorlink Author
Carolee Joy Ranks
as RWA Finalist
DALLAS/FORT WORTH, TX/ 3/13/000—WILD ANGEL (Authorlink Press, April 2000) by Carolee Joy has been named a finalist in the Golden Quill contest sponsored by the Desert Rose Chapter of Romance Writers of America. Other finalists include multi-published authors such as Vicki Lewis Thompson, one of Harlequin TemptationsTemptation’s biggest sellers.
In addition to WILD ANGEL, SECRET LEGACY, another novel by Ms. Joy, is also a finalist in the Golden Quill competition for Best Romantic Suspense and Best First Book.
New Author
Ranks #12
on Amazon
ATLANTA,GA/3/10/00—A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO DAY TRADING ONLINE (Adams Media) by first-time author, has risen to #12 on Amazon.com’s top 100.
The book, agented by Deidre Knight of the Knight Agency (listed on Authorlink), was released only a week ago, and began its quick rise after the author appeared on CNBC Today.
American Self
Publishers’ Group
Honors Mitchell
SAN FRANCISCO, CA/ 3/1/00—Ed Mitchell, whose manuscript had been listed with Authorlink before he decided to self publish, has been awarded the National Publishers Freedom Award for Best new Fiction. The honor will be bestowed by the year-old American Self Publishers Association (ASPA) for Mitchell’s novel, GOLD RUSH 2000. Resource Library. The ASPA award will be given in a formal ceremony May 13 in San Francisco. In addition, the work was accepted by the National Steinbeck Center Resource Library.
Mitchell attributes part of his success to Authorlink for having seen “the quality in my book, and having had the courage to publicly declare that assessment.” Authorlink, while not a self publisher, helps writers market their work through promotion to editors and agents, and through listings of their work on its award-winning site, authorlink.com
Third Authorlink Contest
Winner Signs Contract
With Major Publisher
Dallas, TX/1/1/00—Three winners of the Authorlink New Author Awards competition have landed major publishing contracts within the past 18 months. The latest Authorlink contestant to become published is Cynthia G. Alwyn (pen name), who placed among the top three in the 1999 Authorlink awards competition.
Carol Berg of Ft. Collins, CO, the 1999 Authorlink first-place, science fiction/fantasy winner for Song of the Beast, won a three-book contract with Roc (an imprint of Penguin Putnam). And June London, 1998 Authorlink mainstream winner signed a six-figure contract with Harper Collins for her novel, Bingo Queens and a second work-in-progress, tentatively titled Stray Bullets.
Ms. Alwyn won the 1999 competition for a book titled, Tail of the Serpent, but it was her newest work, Best Served Cold, that convinced New York Agent Anne Hawkins of John Hawkins & Associates, to become her agent. Hawkins subsequently sold the work to St. Martins Press for an undisclosed amount. The title will be released in the Winter of 2001.
“I have been surprised how fast things can happen,” said Cynthia. “I met Anne Hawkins, who is now my agent, at a conference in 1998. We kept in contact, and when I visited with her at the 1999 Authorlink Awards presentation in Georgia, we finalized our business partnership with my new book BEST SERVED COLD. A short time later, St. Martin’s bought the project. I’m thrilled and stunned at the same time. It didn’t feel real to me until I started getting mail from them.”
BEST SERVED COLD features protagonist Brenna Scott and her search dog, Feather, a black Bouvier Des Flandres. Together, they search for lost or missing people. In this book, Brenna and Feather race the clock to locate a child before the kidnapper makes good his threat to take the little girl’s life.
“I wasn’t sure the book would sell, but Anne believed in it and in me. Since I’d worked with a canine search and rescue team for nine years, I do have first-hand knowledge of how dogs and handlers work. Although the story is fiction, I believe my experience in this area helped sell the book,” said Cynthia.
Due to the commitment of her day job, Cynthia’s writing time is limited. “I usually write Thursday through Sunday and a solid eight hours a day while on vacation. I frequently work out plot points and tidbits about characters driving to and from work. Most days, I’ll sit in my car during lunch break (it’s the only quiet place at work) and make notes. Although I’ve started writing the next Brenna Scott book, it doesn’t yet have a title.”
The 2000 Authorlink New Author Awards Competition is now accepting entries for this year’s contest through March, 2000. Awards again will be presented at the annual Harriette Austin Writers Conference, University of Georgia, in July, 2000. Top prize is $500.
For details see: http://www.authorlink.com/contest_00.html
Three More
Authorlink Writers
Sign Publishing Deals
8/15/99—Three more writers have won publishing contracts as a direct result of their listings with Authorlink. All three are clients of Elisabet McHugh, McHugh Literary Agency, who discovered them on Authorlink several months ago. This brings to a total of 49 the number of books that have been sold through Authorlink during the past 2 1/2 years.
Chris Spicer has accepted an offer form McFarland & Co. for Frankly, My Dear. . .:The Life of Clark Gable.
Publication will be in 1001, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Gable’s birth.
Neva Hacker, author of Missing Candy, and Charles Crone, author of The Palestinian Solution, have sold their work as e-books to Fictionworks, through Ms. McHugh.
E.A. Blair Becomes
43 rd Author to Find
Publisher Via Authorlink
7/1/99—Scrivenery Press will publish Authorlink writer E. A. Blair’s A Journey to the Interior, in November, 1999, making Blair the 43 rd author to find a publisher via Authorlink since sales tracking began in 1997. Thirty-one writers have been published as a result of Authorlink, with houses such as Berkley, Tor, John Wiley & Sons, Carol Publishing Group and others. Twelve more titles will be released in August, 1999 by Authorlink’s own imprint—Authorlink Press, bringing the total of successfully published authors to forty-three.
“I had tried sending material to about 50 agents, and though many were favorably impressed, all rejected the work, probably because their slice of an author’s first book might not have seemed profitable enough,” said E.A.
Blair, who holds a Masters Degree in Fine Arts has been writing since 1951. His day job for the past 30 years has been in publications for the aerospace industry. Some time back, he wrote and published a professional book, but turned to serious fiction only about ten years ago.
E.A. had been trying to sell his work through agents for five years, when he discovered Authorlink in May, 1998. He had been listed on the site for ten months when Scrivenery Press Publisher Ed Williams spotted his work on the web site. Scrdivenery, whose titles are distributed by Ingram Book Group, is actively building both its fiction and non-fiction lines.
Asked how it feels to be a published author, Blair said, “Vindicated. The related adjectives will come later.”
Blair’s contract did not include an advance, but does pay standard royalties.
“My impression of Scrivenery is that they are professional, intelligent and use advanced publishing technologies—as witnessed by the use of Authorlink and Ingram Book.
“Finding Authorlink was like a door to opportunity suddenly opening,” said Blair.
He advises the unpublished writer to “Write patiently, critically.”
He has a second title underway.
Authorlink Writer’s
Novel Released
by Berkley Publishing
NEW YORK,NY/6/10/99— LOST RIVER, a novel by Authorlink writer, Pax Riddle, is now on bookstore shelves. Pax made the deal with Berkley Publishing Group (division of Penguin/Putnam) as part of the connections he made through Authorlink. The book is available via: http://www.lostriver.org/, barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com
Authorlink Named
Among Best Education
Resources on the Web
6/10/99—Authorlink has been selected as a featured site in StudyWeb
( http://www.studyweb.com/) as one of the best educational resources on the web.
StudyWeb is one of the Internet’s premier sites for educational resources for students and teachers. Since 1996 professional reviewers have scoured the Internet to select only the finest sites to be included in StudyWeb’s reviews. Each site in StudyWeb includes a detailed review describing it’s merits.
Authorlink Teams
With Lightning to Offer
On-Demand Book Imprint
DALLAS, TX /5/1/99—Authorlink, the award-winning news/information and marketing site for the publishing industry, will launch its own book imprint, Authorlink Press, this summer. The move results in part from a new publishing partnership between Authorlink and Lightning Print, Inc, the print on demand subsidiary of Ingram Book, worlds largest book distributor.
Authorlink Press will carry the fine tradition of New York-style publishing into the digital age, said Authorlink President Doris Booth. We will serve as a market proving ground for the titles that truly deserve to be published and read—titles that eventually may find their way to larger houses, after we establish a solid track for them, said Ms. Booth.
Lower-cost digital and on-demand printing now enable Authorlink Press to publish books once considered economically too risky. The company will aggressively market the titles, establish sales records and then seek to turn them over to larger publishers.
The imprint will use the latest technology to publish digitally-downloadable books and trade paperbacks, printed on demand. Titles will be distributed through multiple on and off-line sales channels, including Ingram, which serves major booksellers such as Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.com.
Authorlink has also established an alliance with Peanut Press, to help supply electronic books for 2 million Palm Pilot and IBM WorkPad owners. Authorlink marketing ties also include alliances with the book review site, Bookbrowse.com (280, 000 page views annually), larger publishing houses, and other distribution and marketing resources.
Authorlink Press emphasizes aggressive, targeted marketing and distribution for every title it buys-a vital element often missing from tight production and promotional budgets at traditional publishers. The company’s own loyal audience of 170,000 book lovers provides one the ready audiences of book buyers.
Not only do our readers support fellow writers by buying and reading their work. They provide vital marketing feedback. At Authorlink the end consumer will tell us which books they like and why—not marketing reps, nor retail booksellers with special agendas, but the readers themselves, said Ms. Booth.
Admittedly, digital publishing furrows new ground for Authorlink Our imprint is a test of its own-measuring whether consumers will buy truly good titles through Internet sites, hand-held devices and on-demand, with books printed at the time of their order (one- off). Ms. Booth explained.
In 1999 Authorlink Press initially will release 12 fiction and non-fiction titles, both in digital and trade paperback (on demand), with 12 to 24 titles to follow next year. They will be promoted to targeted, vertical markets, and to horizontal mass audiences via the Internet and traditional channels.
The imprints digital books will be available on the Authorlink.com site and through Peanut Press
( http://www.peanutepress.com/) late this summer. Most titles-and all of the initial 12—will also be available in the Ingram title base and may be ordered through all Ingram ordering systems, accessible to Barnes & Noble, Barnesandnoble.com, Amazon.com and, other major booksellers and libraries.
Both first-time and seasoned authors will be included in the list. Categories include suspense/thrillers, mainstream commercial fiction, science fiction/fantasy, romance, and narrative and commercial nonfiction. No anthologies or short stores are considered, and length ranges from 70,000-80,000 words. The new house is not a subsidy or vanity publisher, and will pay standard publishing industry royalties.
Unsolicited manuscripts are NOT accepted at this time and will be automatically recycled. Prospective authors should, instead, consider submitting their work for possible listing in the site’s Author Showcase section.
Authorlink will continue to showcase listings of ready-to-publish manuscripts, and to market them worldwide to editors and agents, as it successfully has done for thee years. Authorlink has been rated among the top 25% of most useful sites on the web by Microsoft’s One Click Away E- zine.
Web site: http://www.authorlink.com/arch4_files/authorlink.htm
Authorlink Named
Among Writer’s Digest
Top 101 Sites For Writers
Writers Digest magazine has selected Authorlink as one of The 101 Best Web Sites for Writers. The 101 were culled from the Digest staffs lists of favorites, as well as from nominations made by about 1,500 visitors to writersdigest.com.
The 101 Best is the cover story of the May 1999 issue of Writers Digest. The list is also published in its entirety on the Writer’s Digest website, at http://www.writersdigest.com/101sites.
The list of recommended websites is just one of several recent additions to writersdigest.com.
Authorlink holds other distinguished industry awards, and including its ranking by Microsoft’s One Click Away E- zine among the top 25% of most useful sites on the web.
Four Authorlink Writers
Sign With WriterBeck
Agency in Two Weeks
5/1/99—Four Authorlink writers will have signed with a single literary agent within the past two-weeks. Beck Roberts, owner of the Writerbeck Agency, has contracted Mackey Murdock and Andrea Giacomuzzi—both listed with Authorlink and found through the site. Two more writers were polishing their manuscripts, but were expected to sign with Ms.Roberts within days.
Beck Roberts represents 70% fiction and 30% nonfiction, and handles most categories except for erotica and cartoons. She has 30 years of experience as a published writer in both fiction and nonfiction and 20 years in related marketing fields. Ms. Roberts has been an agent for a little more than a year, and has already signed seven writers, including the new Authorlink people.
Her agency is based in South Carolina, where she moved with her husband and two children to have a simpler lifestyle than in Atlanta.
“Being a relatively new agent, I am more eager than some to work with the authors and their manuscripts, sending them out with strong cover letters to publishers. I am tireless in my efforts and truly get excited about seeing good works in print,” she said.
The agency has no sales at present but, as Ms. Roberts said, “Good things take time and I am confident in the authors’ work and my ability to promote it successfully.”
Editor’s Note, 5/11/99: This agent has retired due to a severe illness and will not be accepting other clients.
Update: Authorlink Writer
Sells WOLF’S TALE
To TOR Books
Agent Describes Publishing Recipe
By Sam Hughes
The Dickens Group Literary Agency
3/99—David Holland and his upcoming first novel MURCHESTON: THE WOLFS TALE (TOR Books) is a lesson to all who serve as functionaries in today’s literary marketplace. Success may well depend on an old recipe: a good writer, a persistent agent who is willing to nurture true talent, and an editor who takes his or her job to heart and who will fight for a book. In the case of David Holland, whose work has appeared on Authorlink the factors that traditionally made the publishing industry great came together after seven years of productive author/agent interaction.
The heroes of this story are Hollland, one of the finest writers our agency has seen, agent Bob Solinger, who recognized brilliant writing and spent seven years pounding on doors to sell Hollands work, and Karla Zounek, the TOR editor who fell under the spell of Hollands writing and worked one-on-one with him to produce a fine literary horror story with a distinctive Victorian setting and tone.
For agents and editors struggling against adverse forces in the current marketplace, it is important to recognize the Holland phenomenon. Services such as Authorlink — a sterling example of what Internet marketing can and should be are invaluable to everyone, especially to new writers. And the ultimate lesson for writers, agents and editors alike: eventually, good writing sells.
Writer’s Seven Year
Effort Pays Off,
Authorlink Plays Part
Louisville, KY/1/1/99—David Holland, a writer featured on the Authorlink site, since August, 1997, has sold his novel, THE WOLF’S TALE, with The Dickens Group as his agency. David has tried for seven years to become published, and at last found an agency that believed in his work and found the right publisher. More details of his success will be published here soon.
Psychologist Tom Harbin
Becomes 25th Authorlink
Writer to Sell Work
2/15/99—Forensic Psychologist Tom Harbin has sold his nonfiction manuscript, STANCE OF ANGER: RECOGNIZING AND CHANGING THE PATTERNS OF MENS ANGER, to established publisher, John Muir Publications. Tom is the 25th Authorlink writer to sign a contract with a publisher Since sales tracking began in early 1997.
The title will be released in the spring of 2000, according to acquisitions editor Cassandra Conyers, who requested the manuscript directly from Authorlink in May, 1998. Tom had been listed on the site for eight or nine months before receiving the request.
Generously sharing the sales figures with other Authorlink writers, Tom said he was paid a $1,000 advance upon signing a contract, another $1500 upon delivery of the revised manuscript, and the final $1000 will be paid when the book is released. Authorlink assumes a royalty arrangement is also included in the contract.
Tom began writing STANCE about seven years ago, for use with angry men in his clinical practice. The book sort of grew over the next couple of years and I guess I have been actively trying to sell it for about three years.
At first, I naively sent it to editors who had done similar work. Then, I engaged a New York agent who had promoted books for a friend of mine. Honestly, I was about to put the manuscript away and forget about it or start the self-publishing journey. Then I became aware of Authorlink while absently surfing the net for agents.
Tom said having his first work published feels daunting. Muir wants him to increase the book length by about 67% during revision, and he’s not a full-time author. He hopes he can get it done on time, especially since there are substantial penalties for being late.
While not officially working on any new titles, he has started writing some short stories about the goings on in his rural North Carolina county, and he’s been keeping copious notes for a possible book about his role as a forensic psychologist.
When asked what he would advise first-time writers, he said I would not presume to offer anyone advice. I think that lucked out so far.
And how important was Authorlink to his begin published? My book would still be sitting on a dusty disk somewhere, without Authorlink, he concluded.
John Muir Publications, established in 1969, will release 68 titles in 1999, and 75 in 2000. Main interests are in travel and alternative health.
In little more than two years, 215- plus writers have reported signing with agents as a direct result of Authorlink, and more than 960 requests from editors and agents have been processed.
Writer Cindy Appel
Lands Columnist Job
as Result of Authorlink
2/15/99—Cindy Appel, recently named Cyber Columnist of the Quarter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, attributes her job as a Star Telegram Online Columnist directly to Authorlink and the 1998 Authorlink Electrify Your Writing seminar.
I found out how to become a cyber-columnist from the talk given at the Authorlink workshop last May by Star Telegram Online Marketing Director Bonnie Bradshaw. I became a weekly columnist by July of last year, said Cindy.
Her column, titled, Every Day IS Mothers Day can be found at www.star-telegram.com/homes/cappel/columns/momsday.htm. Cindy takes a semi-humorous look at the world through the eyes of being a full-time mom and struggling writer. She has even developed a loyal following of sorts, too, and takes suggestions from readers on future column topics.
I just thought that others who read Authorlink might like to know how helpful it can be to their writing careers, said Cindy.
Agent McHugh Signs
12 Authorlink Writers,
Sells to Key Publishers
12/1/98—Twelve Authorlink writers have signed contracts within the past couple of years with Literary Agent Elisabet Mchugh, all as a direct result of the Authorlink service. And McHugh has sold many of their works to major publishers.
One of these clients, Roland Jansen, whose first book Profits From Natural Resources was just published by John Wiley, is now working on a second investment book. Linda Swink, Eric Winkler, David Whale and Sam Sackett also sold their books through Ms. McHugh.
In recent months, this agent has added a number of other Authorlink writers, including: Steven Levi, David Dial, S.Alan Hepps, Terry Milton, Jim Norton, Rebecca Spalten, and Lewis Tracy. A thirteenth writer is about to be signed with her.
“Authorlink is providing a great service for agents and editors,” says Ms. McHugh, who works exclusively through the Internet and has clients in eight countries. “I’m impressed not only by the quality of the manuscripts that you have listed, but also the prompt service rendered by your staff when I request a manuscript. And I check out the new listings on your website on a regular basis.”
Authorlink Writer
Sells Nonfiction Title
to Lone Wolf Enterprises
12/1/98—Dale C. Maley, author of Road Map to Retirement: How to Quickly and Easily Develop a Financial Plan for Retirement, has sold his work to Roger Wolf’s Lone Wolf Enterprises, Ltd. ( http://www.lonewolfent.net/) as a direct result of Authorlink
The book will be released both in hardcover and online in the first quarter of 1999. Lone Wolf has more than 60 titles in print.
Maley will receive 15% of gross for printed book and 15% of gross for electronic book sales.
Maley discovered Authorlink when he picked up a paper flier at the Harriet Austin Writer’s Conference in Athens, Georgia last July, then followed up by visiting the site at http://www.authorlink.com/arch4_files/authorlink.htm. (Note: The second annual Authorlink New Author Awards Banquet will be held as part of the 1999 Harriet Austin Writer’s Conference in Athens, July 23-25, 1999).
Dale, who has been writing for about two years, said it took him only 15 months to find a publisher through Authorlink He first found an agent through Authorlink who tried, but failed to sell the title to a large publisher.
How does it feel to have his first work published? “Very exciting, it has been a long, arduous, and perilous journey from writing those first few words of the manuscript until getting it published, “ said Dale.
He advises new writers to “Make sure your book is either the best among all the competition or among the first few books published in a new subject area. Be diligent, patient, and believe in your yourself and your work.
Authorlink Helps
Writer Secure
International Agent
12/1/98—J.D. Wetterling, author of SON OF THUNDER, has sold his first work to domestic publisher, Rivilo Books, Felix C. Lowe, publisher. The title was schedule for release in November, 1998. While J.D. located a publisher on his own, it was Authorlink that helped him find his agent. The Stefanidis Agency based in Geneva, Switzerland, discovered J.D.s listing on the Authorlink site and requested a review of the manuscript. The writer agreed to let Stefanidis handle the foreign rights.
Wetterling , who has been writing for nine years, had tried to locate an editor and agent for the last eight years. He found Authorlink while surfing the net. He found the publisher networking through friends.
How does it feel to have his first work published? “Wonderful!” he exclaimed. Wetterling, whose day job is as a Stockbroker with Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, has two more novels in progress. He hopes to write all day, every day, for the rest of his days. Books and the Internet helped him more than anything else to improve his craft.
He advised new writers to “never give up.”
Authorlink Writers
Now Able to Track
Their Own Page Hits
12/1/98— Authorlink writers are now able to track the number of hits to their individual pages each month. We’re now adding individual counters to every page, so writers can determine the level of interest in their listed manuscripts. The counter, which resets at the first of each month, does not show who visited the page, but it gives the writer an idea of how interested editors, agents and general readers are in his or her topic and title.
The counter is now being added to every new writer’s page. Writers with existing listings can request an ID and password for the service by emailing: dbooth@authorlink.com
JLA Agency Signs
Four Authorlink Writers
In 60 Days, Praises Site
11/15/98—Jay Lace, owner of JLA Literary, reports that he has signed contracts to represent four Authorlink writers during the past 60 days.
They include: Michael Sedge, Author of the novel, The Oracle, and a nonfiction work, Fettuccini or the Frustrated Soul; Margaret Brennecke, author of the novel, Seeking Refuge; Miles Twaddell, author of the novel, Victory Day, and Charles Carron, author of the non-fiction work, The Suing Game.
JLA, a new agency actively looking to build a small roster of clients, found all four writers listed on Authorlink
“We are looking for original works with commercial appeal,” said Mr. Lace. “We have discovered that using Authorlink helps us separate the chaff from the wheat, and saves us hundreds of hours that would otherwise be wasted on unsuitable manuscripts.”
The agency adheres to the AAR’s guidelines, although it is not yet a registered member.
Wiley Releases
Authorlink Writer’s
First Book in November
11/1/98—Roland Jansen, who found an agent and publisher through Authorlink, has received the first copy of his new book, Profits in Natural Resources, from publisher John Wiley & Sons. The new release shipped to major bookstore chains in early November.
“It all started with Authorlink, ” Jansen said in a message to Authorlink this week. “The Internet works.”
Agent Signs
Three Authorlink
Writers Within Months
AUSTIN, TX/10/98—Brian G. Clark, Esq., owner of BGC Literary Management, has signed contracts to represent three Authorlink writers within less than two months.
BGC is an aggressive and highly professional new agency headquartered in Austin, TX.
Clark said he has signed Eric Scherer, author of THE OLYMPUS PROJECT; Ekaterine (Katy) Terlinden, who wrote THE DIVIDED CHILD, and Pete Murphy, author of SALAMANDERS. Ms. Terlinden was Best of Show (suspense/mystery/thriller) winner in the first annual Authorlink New Author Awards competition. (See the second annual Authorlink competition guidelines at http://www.authorlink.com/contest_99.html).
“The advent of literary agents came as publishing houses cut editorial staff, allowing agents to step in as the front line arbiters of taste and commercial viability,” said Clark. “Authorlink has become the new additional front line for the busy agent, a source for trusted pre-screened material to pursue at their convenience.”
Authorlink Finalists
Sign Publishing Contract
With Neighborhood Press
8/29/98—Marian Gibbons and Karin Welss, finalists in both the Romance and SF/Fantasy/Horror categories in the 1998 Authorlink New Author Awards Competition, have signed a publishing contract with Neighborhood Press for their historical romance novel, SWEETER THAN WINE. SWEETER THAN WINE is scheduled to be released in May, 1999, under the pseudonym of Michaela August.
In this novel WWI widow Alice Roye must fight to save her Sonoma winery from the threat of Prohibition. She falls in love with her new vintner, a European refugee, not knowing that he served as an enemy soldier during the war.
“We believe that entering our work in contests such as the one sponsored by Authorlink really opened some doors for us, ” said Karin Welss. “SWEETER THAN WINE is definitely a local history novel, highlighting a little-known aspect of Prohibition,” explains Welss when asked about how she and Gibbons chose the subject for their novel . “A lot of hard-working American winemakers and grape-growers lost their livelihoods when beer and wine were outlawed along with hard liquor, and California’s wine industry languished for the next fifty years.”
Gibbons adds, “It was a very emotional time, so soon after World War I and the deadly influenza epidemic. Although the concept of Prohibition was well-intentioned, its effect was devastating even before gangsters and bathtub gin became the popular symbols of its failure. Grape-growers didn’t know, right up to harvest in 1919, whether or not they could legally pick the best crop they’d ever seen. I found the research fascinating.”
How did they make the sale? After finishing the manuscript, Gibbons and Welss spent a year sending out query letters and partials. They also entered several writing contests, including the Authorlink contest. “The romance writing community is incredibly supportive of new writers,” Welss says, and Gibbons agrees: “We got a lot of help and encouragement from the published authors who judged two of the contests.” A major obstacle to overcome in selling SWEETER THAN WINE was its WWI-era setting. “It’s always difficult for new authors to break in,” remarks Gibbons, “and even more difficult when editors are convinced that no one wants to read historicals set in the early 20th century.” Their finalist status helped generate leads for possible publishers, as did their membership on several writing-related Internet listservs.
Welss remembers: “Someone on RWALINK (the Romance Writers of America members-only listserv) mentioned that Neighborhood Press was a fairly new publishing house open to romance submissions, and they spoke very highly of the Senior Editor, Rhea Griffiths. We queried Rhea via email, got a favorable response, and the rest is history.” Marian Gibbons and Karin Welss are working on separate solo projects at the moment, although they have several more co-authored novels in the planning stages, including a sequel to SWEETER THAN WINE.
Gibbons is currently writing a sequel to In a Mirror, Darkly, set amid the turmoil of Berkeley in the 60’s. Welss has another historical romance in progress, a tale of love and blackmail set in Restoration England.
About Neighborhood Press: Rhea Griffiths founded Neighborhood Press in 1995 with nothing but a desktop computer, an America Online account and the belief that “if she built it, they would come…” Now a rapidly growing small press, Neighborhood Press plans to publish twelve novels in 1999 as well as six issues of The Lovers Knot, a new magazine aimed at readers and writers of romance. Additional information about Marian Gibbons and Karin Welss, writing together as Michaela August, is available at the HREF=”http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Square/3524/”Michaela August Web Page.
Another Writer Wins
Publishing Contract
Via Authorlink
EquiLibrium Press Signs Mitchell
NEW YORK, NY & CULVER CITY, CA/ 8/98—Joyce Slayton Mitchell, author of more than 32 nonfiction books published by major houses such as Bantam, Dell, Simon & Schuster, and others, has sold another nonfiction work as a direct result of Authorlink
Ms. Mitchell’s newest manuscript, Pregnant in New Zealand: Mother and Daughter Letters from Afar, will be published in May, 1999 by EquiLibrium Press, Inc. of Culver City, California.
EquiLibrium Press Publisher Susan Goland requested the manuscript several months ago after seeing Mitchell’s listing on Authorlink This will be EquiLibrium’s first title as a new publisher, specializing in all aspects of health and wellness for women.
Pregnant in New Zealand is the story of a courageous and adventuresome young woman who finds an exotic life in the Pacific. This collection of New Zealand-to-Vermont letters is written in the first hours of pregnancy, leads to a dramatic 45-hour labor, and reveals the tensions of midwifery, and differences in generations, race and hemisphere.
Ms. Mitchell, who lives in New York, has successfully listed several works with Authorlink since late 1997. The newest book had been listed on the site for about 45 days or less, when Publisher Goland spotted it. The entire process, from listing to sale, took place within about three months.
Authorlink Winner
Signs Six-Figure
Deal at Harper Collins
7/98—June London, mainstream winner of the 1998 Authorlink New Author Awards Competition, has signed a six-figure contract with Harper Collins for her novel, Bingo Queens and a second work-in-progress, tentatively titled Stray Bullets.
The first title will be released in April, 1999, and the second manuscript will be completed in August, 1999. Both will be released under Harper Collins’ Cliff Street imprint.
Ms. London, whose real name is June Park, lives with her husband in a small Oklahoma town, similar to the setting for Bingo Queens, her first novel.
She met her agent, Robert Tabian of Robert Tabian Literary Agency , four years ago at an Oklahoma writers’ conference. He showed considerable interest in her story at the time, though only a few chapters had been completed.
June sent an earlier novel out to 20 agents, all of whom rejected her. In 1988, early in her career, she took lessons from well-known writing coach, Jack Bickam at the University of Oklahoma in 1988. “He was my mentor, one on one,” June said. She began winning various contests and published a few shorts stories. She also began teaching creative writing at local colleges. “The more I taught, the more I learned,” June told Authorlink.
When she finished Bingo Queens in February last year, she suddenly remembered the meeting with Tabian. A few weeks earlier, she had entered the Authorlink contest. On April 13, 1998 Authorlink notified her that she had won first place in the mainstream nonfiction category. About two weeks later, Tabian notified her that Harper Collins wanted to buy the work.
“While we weren’t responsible for making the direct connection with HarperCollins, “said Authorlink Editor Doris Booth. “we sure know how to spot the winners.”
Tabian is a former editor at Putnam and was with International Creative Management before opening his own agency. Among Tabin’s clients is 1993 Pulitzer Prize Winner Robert Olan Butler.
How does it feel to have her first two novels sold? “I don’t know,” says June. I suppose reality has yet to sink in.”
Asked when she first became interested in writing, Ms. Park, a native of London, England, said that as a child during World War II, she read books while sequestered in bomb shelters to calm her fears and remove her from reality.
For the past ten years she has devoted herself exclusively to her writing career.
Authorlink Author
Tim McGuire Tops
Ingram’s Hot List
DALLAS/FT. WORTH, TX/ 6/30/98—Tim McGuire’s newly-released Western, Danger Ridge (DORCHESTER/LEISURE BOOKS) has been listed by Ingram Book Company among the top ten most requested western fiction titles in the mass market/paperback category for several consecutive weeks in June. The excellent showing was posted even before the title was scheduled to reach bookstores by the end of that month.
Tim McGuire is among writers whose ready-to-publish and newly-released works are listed on Authorlink Danger Ridge is his first novel. Another western, titled, “Nobility,” , is due for release by LEISURE next year. Ingram is the world’s largest trade book distributor.
Authorlink Writer
Pax Riddle Sells
Book to Berkley
6/20/98—Authorlink writer, Pax Riddle, has sold his first novel “Lost River” to Berkley Publishing Group for the mid four figures. Pax joined the Authorlink site in early 1997. Some months later he signed with a top New York agent, whom he found through the Authorlink private agency directory. Berkley Editor Kim Waltemeyer bought the manuscript in June, 1998.
Lost River is the story of a young Modoc woman married to a white man, who struggles to balance her Indian heritage and her family in the face of looming war between her people and the US Army. The book will be released in Summer, 1999.
Pax Riddle writes full time, and lives with his wife and teenage daughter in Connecticut. He is working on a second novel, The Education of Ruby Loonfoot, and recently sold a nonfiction article to Wild West magazine.
Pax advises new writers to join a good work-oriented critique group, and consider their comments closely, while maintaining your style and integrity. “If you wish to sell your work, versus merely write it for artistic, self satisfaction, find out about the marketplace. See where you can find a niche,” he says.
New Author Finds
Agent on Internet,
Sells Six-figure Deal
7/98—First-time novelist William Kowalski of Erie PA. has sold his manuscript, Eddie’s Bastard, to Harper Collins. After receiving offers from several houses, agent Anne Hawkins of John Hawkins & Associates Inc., New York accepted a two book deal totalling in the mid six figures. Marjorie Braman, Senior Vice President for Harper Collins Adult Trade Books made the successful offer. Irv Schwartz of The Renaissance Agency, Los Angeles, CA, will handle film and television rights.
Kowalski first contacted Hawkins with an unsolicited E-mail query. He found her E-mail address via a search of AOL user profiles for literary agents.
In the fictional autobiography, William Kowalski explores the importance of family and the place of the individual in the continuum of history and time.
Living alone in a decaying mansion, Grandpa Mann is the last surviving member of a once-great family. Or so he believes until the day he stumbles drunkenly out the back door and discovers a baby in a picnic basket. A note taped to the handle identifies the occupant as “EDDIE’S BASTARD,” the child of his only
son recently killed in Viet Nam. What follows is the bittersweet story of the old man raising his grandson as the last, proud scion of the Mann family and steeping him in all of its rich and bizarre heritage.
Kowalski braids the story of the boy’s journey to young manhood together with family anecdotes and homespun philosophical excerpts from great-great grandfather Mann’s Civil War diary. The result is a story mixing warm humor with nostalgia and the inevitable sadness common to most American family histories.
Michigan Writer
Sells First Book
Via Authorlink
7/98—David Whale has found an agent and sold his book, HOW SCHOOLS REALLY WORK: AN ACTION GUIDE FOR PARENTS, through Authorlink Before having his work accepted for a listing on Authorlink he had written an agent himself, only to be turned down.
“It seemed like to me there should be a better way to reach potential editors and agents. Authorlink turned out to be the answer,” David said.
He found Authorlink through a search engine while surfing the web. “I liked the way it was laid out and the content,” he said. ” I figured it was worth a try, and the results and support were outstanding all the way.”
Whale said his agent has been great to work with. “We do all of our communicating via email. She is based in Idaho and I am in Michigan. We’ve never met face to face but I feel I know her and we have a very good relationship.”
David waited a number of months before his agent connected with him through Authrolink! But persistence paid off. About nine months after his listing on Authorlink Agent Elisabet McHugh had made a sale for David. That’s less than half the time it usually takes to sell a manuscript.
The hardcover book will be released in September, 1998 by Avisson. While David has published some scholarly papers and continues to do research and writing on the same topic as his book, this is his first full-length published work.
Sam Sackett’s
‘Career Karate’
Finds Publisher
6/98—Sam Sackett expected it would take a long time to find an agent, even with the help of Authorlink His listing first appeared on the site in April, 97, and about six or even months later he signed with agent, Elisabet McHugh, after receiving requests from three different representatives, and subsequently a publishing house.
“Placing the book with a publisher took longer than I thought, “said Sackett. “I think any author feels his work is so good that it will sell immediately, and I am no exception. Reality was, as it usually is, disillusioning.” That process took about four more months.
“Was I skeptical of Authorlink at first? Sure. Anybody who has lived long in this economy has run across enough scams to make him skeptical of anything that sounds like a good deal. It’s a by-product of the free enterprise system that crooks are free to function until they’re caught.
“I found Authorlink very professional and timely. I was particularly impressed with their efforts to make sure that the agents they list operate ethically, ” Sam said. ” I even passed along a couple of names of agents who approached me about whom I was leery, and Authorlink acted appropriately.”
How did Sam Sackett begin his writing career?
“Miss Grassle, my kindergarten teacher, assigned all of us to write a book in imitation of the little reader which was our text. I became hooked on writing and have been writing ever since.”
Right now Sam has obligations that prevent him from the kind of sustained writing effort that he would like to make, so he’s working along at translations of a couple of Flemish novels because he can do them a page at a time in between other chores. When he can free up his time more fully, he plans to finish a book on how to get a job, TWELVE STEPS TO FINDING THE PERFECT CAREER, which his present agent is also interested in representing.
Another agent whom he found through the Authorlink listings, has three of Sam’s novels: ADOLF HITLER IN OZ, AN AMERICAN PRODIGAL, and SWEET BETSY FROM PIKE.
Sam’s book, CAREER KARATE: WINNING STRATEGIES FOR MANAGERS, will be released by The Graduate Group sometime this spring.
“I think Authorlink is a great opportunity for writers. Before I discovered Authorlink, I had used the lists of agents in the Literary Market Place, only to be told by them — at least by those of them that answered at all — that they were not accepting work from new writers. The agents listed by Authorlink are all agents actively seeking new talent. For that reason Authorlink saves writers an enormous amount of time and effort in bringing them together with people who actually are interested in considering their work. So I am really very thankful to Authorlink and will be happy to sing its praises wherever and whenever I have the occasion.”
Eric Winkler Sells
First Work
Within Five Months
6/98—Eric Winkler signed with a literary agent and sold his first manuscript, Partnership Marketing, to Greenwood Publishing, all within only five months. How did he do that? Through Authorlink
“At first, I made the mistake that first-time authors make of trying to pitch my manuscript directly to publishing houses. While searching the Internet for publishers, I ran across Authorlink” Eric explained. “Rather than try and learn the book publishing industry overnight, I thought I’d “borrow some experience” from Authorlink and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results.”
Authorlink asked Eric if he were skeptical of the service at first, and why?
“I have to admit I was skeptical at first. There are so many mine fields on the Internet that I worry about paying for any service offered on the ‘net. I was impressed by the list of authors on the site and by the current publishing industry news. It seemed like a gamble worth taking and I’m very pleased with the connections Authorlink made for me.”
Eric had searched for several months and had a number of dead-end conversations with publishers. He made the mistake of thinking he didn’t need an agent. “Looking back, it was a little like thinking I could do my own dental work with a few lessons,” he commented.
Eric said he was surprised how fast Authorlink produced results for him. It took less than a month for him to sign with agent, Elisabet McHugh through Authorlink He agreed to partner with her in October. By December, 97 he had received his first serious offer from a publisher. Then, in February, 98, only five months after Authorlink connected him with an agent, he sold his first book.
Asked if he had any advice for other first-time authors, Eric advised: “Don’t be afraid to admit what you don’t know. Do you need Authorlink? Yes. You can’t possibly expect to learn the publishing industry overnight, so let Authorlink lend you their contacts and their expertise.
“I don’t know about other writers, but I asked myself over and over whether or not I needed an agent. I did. My agent helped me focus my work and helped crystallize the vision for my project. Unless you are fortunate enough to be a publisher writing about the publishing industry, you need an agent to help you navigate this complicated business.”
Eric Winkler said he had “nothing but praise” for Authorlink “This service sets realistic expectations and then exceeds them. I consider myself fortunate to have found Authorlink and even more fortunate that my agent found me through Authorlink This is a service I’d recommend to any first time author.”
Roland Jansen
Finds Publisher
In Six Months
5/98—Roland Jansen has just sold his first book to John Wiley & Sons as a direct result of having secured agent Elisabet McHugh through Authorlink
Unnatural Profits from Natural Resources: How to Make Big Profits, Globally, From Oil, Gas, Grains and Metals will be released by John Wiley & Sons in August, 1998.
Dutch-born Jansen, director of fund management for the oldest bank in Liechtenstein, wrote the book in German in September 1996 and originally titled it, The Coming Squeeze in Natural Resources. A friend who review it told him his German was “hopeless” and suggested he write it in English. He did. In January, 1997 he began surfing the Internet to find information on publishers and came across Authorlink
“I thought Authorlink was a great idea for an aspiring writer living in a remote area and with no contacts in the publishing world. My book was accepted for listing on the service and after only two months, in March, 1997, Authorlink Editor Doris Booth informed me that literary agent Elisabet McHugh was interested in reading the full manuscript. After receiving valuable background information from Doris about the agent, I signed with Ms. McHugh on April 3.”
In the following six months, Ms. McHugh encouraged Jansen to refocus the book and he completed the new version in August, 1997. Only a month later John Wiley & Sons made the offer to publish the book.
His advice to new writers: “Listen to the feedback you get from publishers who don’t want to buy. Your work must be unique and you must be able to tell a publisher why it is so special. Finally, don’t let anyone take away your dream of being published.”
