STATUS: What am I still doing at the office at 7 p.m. at night on a Friday? Yep, it was that kind of day. Just need to kick out this blog and I’m outta here.
What’s playing on the iPod right now? I WANNA BE A COWBOY by Boys Don’t Cry
My sister-in-law gave me a great gift for the holidays. Now some folks would think it’s dangerous to give an agent a book but my sis-in-law Melissa is pretty darn savvy. She knew just how to tickle my reading fancy.
She gave me a novel that spoofs the publishing industry.
Folks, it’s hilarious. I guffawed loudly many times—much to the dismay of my husband. Thinly disguised real publishing players (but of course, the whole story is fiction—wink). But I don’t post this to my blog just to highlight how entertaining this read is. I’m posting it because I think it’s worth reading if you are serious about writing and publishing because a writer can’t successful spoof unless she nails that core element of truth and boy does Ms. Grimes hit it with a hammer.
It’s a nice bit of education—and you’ll have a helluva good time while doing it.
Hey — have you read “The Bestseller” by Olivia Goldsmith? I had much the same reaction.
I’ve been a Martha Grimes fan for a while, and ‘Foul Matter’ is my favorite of her books by far. Most of her stories are mysteries, and I didn’t realize that this one was a comedy until about halfway through, in spite of the fact that I was laughing all along.
This book looks very interesting. I think I just might have to snag it on my next book shopping trip.
My sister gave me Foul Matter a few years ago. Love it!
I wish I’d seen this before I went to Borders. I would’ve snagged it.
I read, and loved, Goldsmith’s “The Bestseller,” and I was reminded of it when I read this post.
Interesting trivia … The powers that be over at The New York Times had such serious objections on Goldsmith’s book, which is a fictionalized take on the current state of the publishing business, that Harper had to quickly redesign the jacket art to fend off a major lawsuit. The 50,000-copy first printing of the novel, however, featuring the original illustration of a bogus NYT bestseller list with Goldsmith’s book prominently in the number one slot, had already been shipped to bookstores all around the country. Subsequent printings of the book show the fake NYT list on the cover, but with the name of Goldsmith’s book hidden from view by a woman’s hand.