Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Late-night stuff

New ways to do old things, no. 94: Simon Spanton, of Orion, sends out an email to people in the book trade, warning them about 'three bitter, angry, damaged, resentful and extremely violent people who have been making themselves very unwelcome around our offices. They should be in care, they'll probably end up in jail. Or dead, after a drunken brawl or from a drug overdose. And you might say good riddance.'

Turns out they're characters in a new book.

Hm? Oh, all right then. The Steel Remains, a 'new epic fantasy' from Richard Morgan. Published by you know who. Or part of them.

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Paul Brown of the UK's Tonto Press has an unusual book out: The Rocketbelt Caper. Described as 'a true tale of invention, obsession and murder'.

The Tonto blog has a discussion about small publishers somehow being regarded as inevitably publishing books of local interest. When you have a true crime/popular science book that is set in Texas filed under Local Interest in a Newcastle bookshop you know you have a problem.

Paul Brown also draws my attention to the article in the Observer which uses the Frankfurt book fair as the excuse for a survey of the modern book trade, and comes to some discouraging conclusions. You're surprised?

Old hand Patrick Jimjam-Smith: 'If you're not in a three-for-two or Richard & Judy, forget it. There's no point. If you ask me, publishing is in a mess.' No! Really? Who'd have thunk it?

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Lyn Lejeune continues to try to revive New Orleans. She is giving all royalties from The Beatitudes to support the city.

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Chris Keil complains that I made a comment about his book without having read it. Actually I was making a general point, rather than commenting on his book in particular. However, to make amends I will point out that Nicholas Clee has read Chris's book (Liminal), and reviewed it in the Guardian. And thanks, but it still sounds like the kind of book I don't want to read.

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Emmett James's Admit One can be previewed on Google books. Which is interesting for me, because it's the first time I've actually been to that site. But preview is the right word, because the book isn't actually published yet.

The title of this book refers to a ticket to the movies. And it is about, not surprisingly, a young man who is obsessed with film, and eventually makes his way to Hollywood.

Emmett himself spent his childhood in Croydon, South London, and after studying acting at Strasberg Actors Studio in London he eventually moved to Los Angeles in the early nineties to pursue a career in film. He comes from a family of authors which includes J.B. Priestley.

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Libel strikes again; this time in the classical music biz. But Yanks, it seems, will be able to read the material more or less as is.

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By contrast with other commentators on the book world (see above), Evan Schnittman returns from Frankfurt convinced that publishing has the edge over technology for three reasons: discoverability, print on demand and repositories. See the OUP blog.

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Mary Whitsell tells me that The Word Detective is a site somewhat like Michael Quinion's World Wide Words, but American. Looks promising.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can think of no greater compliment than to have a "new epic fantasy" appear with Gollancz's Manga comic books.

No one in fantasyland ever has names like George or Richard, which have held up many centuries. No, they're "Ringil, Archeth and Egar." Either way, "dark, unnatural forces are stirring," which should make for some original reading and, with hope, some copious bloodletting.

Gladys Hobson said...

Now would an email warning of what is about to sweep through a literary agent's or publisher's office work for submissions?
"Be aware, a ruthless, over-sexed, successful fashion entrepreneur, is about to enter the book trade and add publishing to his growing empire of varied businesses. Watch out for your women employees— Watson has techniques that mesmerise, thrill and overwhelm the strongest of resistance."

Nice thought but I rather think a standard reply would be forthcoming:
"Thank you for your submission.
Unfortunately, we could not make you an offer of representation."

Anonymous said...

re: Richard Morgan. I've read a few of his sci-fi recently, in chronological order, & I have to say that they became more formulaic & less interesting as they went on - I won't be rushing to the shops for his new fantasy.

June said...

I had to smile when I read the piece about Tonto Press - I had a similar experience recently with one branch of a certain chain store whose name I shall not mention. What they had to say though was Bordering on the insane ... They would not buy my book as it was listed as local interest. This was because my local branch had ordered some in for a book signing and placed them under that category - even though it is an MBS book. Solution, one phone call to one old geazer who has contacts in said buying department. Problem solved !

Anonymous said...

how are you?