You might need a boat given the flooding but pull on your rain coveralls and your galoshes and join Nelson Literary Agency down at the Denver Tattered Cover Colfax tonight (Sept. 12, 2013) at 7:30 p.m.
It’s the launch party for Jamie Ford’s SONGS OF WILLOW FROST!
Laid back reception with pints and Pakistani food to follow at the 3 Lions Pub (three blocks from the book store).
All are welcome. I’ll see you there!
With over half a million ebooks sold, Slate.com and The Wall Street journal dub this originally self-published post-apocalyptic thriller “the next Hunger Games” mega hit.
And Nelson Literary Agency invites you to a Book Launch Party for Hugh Howey’s WOOL!
FRIDAY, March 15, 2013
7:30 PM
The Tattered Cover
2526 E. Colfax, Denver, CO 80206
After the signing, hang out with Hugh and the gals of NLA for beer and conversations at
2239 E. Colfax, Denver, CO 80206–a short walk away
Appetizers will be provided. Cash bar.
Please RSVP! rsvp@nelsonagency.com
STATUS: I was at work for a full day yesterday. Today I’m working from home. Guess I pushed that envelope too far.
What’s playing on the XM or iPod right now? SUPERSTAR by The Carpenters
Agents are fans too! On Sunday, some friends and I headed down to the Tattered Cover in Lodo to get our copies of A DANCE WITH DRAGONS signed by the grand master himself.
Given the huge crowd of fans, no one was allowed to pose and take a picture with Mr. Martin. (Smart move on his part!) My friend happened to snap an incredibly dorky shot of me after he signed my book and I was walking away. Shows how comfortable with myself I am to share this lovely photo with the world.
But before the signing, Mr. Martin shared a tidbit of wisdom that all writers could benefit from. He mentioned that aspiring writers would often come up to him and declare that they were working on a 7-book series–just like him.
To paraphrase Martin, he said that being a beginner, unpublished writer declaring that he is writing a 7-book series is kind of like being a guy who has just started rock climbing and announcing to the world that the first climb he’s going to do is a little hill called Mount Everest.
That’s absolutely not what you want to do. It’s too hard. Too big in scoop. If you are a beginning rock climber, you want to start with the climbing wall at your local REI or a small hill that won’t kill you first.
As an agent, I’ve given this advice any number of times but in the end, writers don’t believe me. Okay don’t believe me. Believe George instead! Forty years in this biz, he knows what he’s talking about.
Martin’s recommendation? Start with short stories where you are forced to have a beginning, middle, and end. You are also forced to nail plot and character in a short amount of space. Then graduate to something bigger–like a novella or one stand-alone novel. Master that. Then tackle the big series.
STATUS: Enjoyed a quiet day because of the Passover holiday. I caught up on a lot of emails.
What’s playing on the XM or iPod right now? CUTS LIKE A KNIFE by Bryan Adams
If you have read HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET, you’ll know that in the front matter of the book, there is a picture of a Japanese girl circa 1942. She’s wearing a tag on her jacket and it’s implied that she is leaving for the internment camps.
It’s a powerful picture.
The week before last, Jamie was doing a reading/signing at Woodland Reads. He discovered that the young girl in the photo is still alive and lived nearby. So he invited Mae Yanagi to come and be his special secret guest.
And she did! Okay, I got a shiver just looking at the pics so here they are.
She stuck around and signed books with Jamie for the whole evening. How cool is that?
STATUS: Going on vaca for about 10 days. Blogging could be a little sporadic.
What’s playing on the XM or iPod right now? PRAIRIE RAIN by Michael Stribling
Just a note to let any Colorado folks know that Jamie is going to be in town next Saturday. HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET is a One Book pick for the city of Broomfield.
He will be at the Broomfield Auditorium on November 6, 2010. The event starts at 7 p.m.
Jamie is also hosting a writer’s workshop earlier that day. I’m not sure if that seminar is already full but you can call 720.887.2350 to find out or email library@broomfield.org.
There is also a corresponding Bitter and Sweet Art Exhibition.
How cool is that? CU even did a Jazz evening featuring the music of Oscar Holden (who plays such a key role in the novel)
I cannot thank Mayor Pat Quinn enough for this terrific opportunity. If you live in town, we’d love to see you there!
STATUS: I spent 3 hours on one conference call this morning. Means the rest of my day should have gone uphill, right?
What’s playing on the iPod right now? CRAZY by Gnarls Barkley
This may be a sign that we have officially turned some kind of corner in publishing.
I just literally got an email from my author Kristina Riggle who is out doing bookstore appearances for her second novel THE LIFE YOU’VE IMAGINED.
So she’s at her signing when a twenty-year-old gal approaches her to say that her mother is a huge fan of Kristina’s novels and would Kris sign her mom’s Nook.
How could any author resist? Now I’m sure Kris is not the first author to ever sign an electronic device but I do think it’s a first for an NLA author!
STATUS: Spotty blogging this week (as if you couldn’t already tell) but I will try and pop on when I can to send on any inside scoop.
What’s playing on the iPod right now? Nothing at the moment.
Monday was crazy as I tried to wrap up anything that could be finished before leaving for Orlando. Yesterday was a travel day so spent the time on the plane getting lots of reading done! I sat next to a lady also heading to RWA who had both a Kindle and the Apple iPad with her. She let me play with that new iPad.
Oh, I like shiny things and was much enthralled. Did it make me want to run out and buy one? Yes and no. Mostly to me, it’s just an oversized iPhone without the capacity to call someone. So I liked it (of course I did) but I think I’m going to wait for the next generation before contemplating a buy. I’d like it to be smaller (something easier to fit in a purse) and to be honest, I still want an unbacklit screen for big chunks of my reading. It’s just easier on the eyes for long stints that we agents end up doing. Nice if iPad could create toggle switch so we could have it both ways. The iPad itself is nice eye candy though.
And I would judge that my seat row companion was in her fifties (if I had to make a guess). So interesting.
Since I just got to Orlando late last night (and just had dinner with one of my clients), I haven’t got any good juicy gossip from RWA to start the blogging week.
Instead, you get lame picture of the Swan & Dolphin hotel on the Disney compound.
As added bonus, Ally Carter had a great turn-out in Boulder. 75 people. The next day she went to St. Louis where 170 fans showed up for her reading. Wow. Go St. Louis.
So here is Ally with a NLA Colorado local author Kim Reid who came out to show support. How fun is that?
STATUS: Sorry! You know it’s a tough week when I can’t find 15 minutes to squeeze in a blog. RWA is next week in Orlando. Probably don’t need to say more.
What’s playing on the XM or iPod right now? LOVE MY WAY by Psychedelic Furs
I’m going to start today’s entry with a totally non-publishing related rant. All I want to say is that just once, I want to walk to work in the morning without seeing some male stranger’s underwear. Seriously people, pull your pants up or use a belt. This isn’t complicated because if you don’t look like a ripped athlete or Calvin Klein underwear model, then it’s not sexy. It’s just underwear (and not all that attractive at that!).
I don’t think I’m asking too much here…
But in fun news for ONLY THE GOOD SPY YOUNG, Ally Carter in the flesh is coming to Colorado (Boulder to be exact) this Sunday, July 25. I’d love to see you there and come say hello.
Barnes & Noble
Crossroads Commons
2999 Pearl StreetBoulder, CO 80301303-444-0349
Here’s the link to check out the event and to get more info!
STATUS: TGIF and an author book event. Hooray!
What’s playing on the iPod right now? Nothing At the Moment
Dashing out the door to head south to the Tattered Cover Highlands Ranch, Colorado. From downtown, I want to give myself plenty of time.
Even if you haven’t RSVP’d , you can still join in the fun tonight.
We are at the Landsdowne Arms, Library Room from 5-7:15 p.m. Then the signing will be at the Tattered Cover (right next door) at 7:30 p.m.
See you there!
STATUS: I’ve got so many great notes to share with you folks. Just not enough time in the day to blog about it all. Thank goodness we have the rest of the week.
What’s playing on the iPod right now? LYIN’ EYES by The Eagles
I have to say that I’m very glad that I attended Book Expo this year. A lot of things are changing in the industry and it only makes sense that BEA is going to evolve, transform, change, or even disappear (although doubtful) in the years to follow.
I had heard that publishers were cutting back this year and now having seen it, I can tell you for certain that that is true.
Random House had a booth the size of a postage stamp.
Macmillan wasn’t even on the floor. They simply had meeting rooms in the basement—I mean the lower floor that held the conference rooms.
At past BEAs, aisles were so stuff with people, you had to do an interesting shuffle with a lot of “pardon me” to get through. This year, the open space was like walking down an uncrowded boulevard. I think the only time I felt packed in was when the new Balzer & Bray imprint had their champagne toast launch party in the HarperCollins booth. However, once all glasses were distributed, the bar magically disappeared. It was up for maybe 15 minutes total. The champagne bottles were not abundent.
At past BEAs, ARCs (otherwise known as Advanced Reading Copies) abounded. In fact, you couldn’t walk through a booth without tripping over one. This year? Scant would be the word I would use to sum it up. Unless there was an actual signing going on, very few galleys could be had. [Although I should have assigned my client Megan Crewe to be my stealth ARC gatherer as she totally scored with a copy of CATCHING FIRE (hot sequel to The Hunger Games) and a copy of BEAUTIFUL CREATURES (which is getting some solid pre-buzz).] She managed to snag about 60 ARCs.
However, in general, I can’t complain about this year’s Book Expo. The show was very good to my authors as the pictures below will attest.
Photo 1: Hank Ryan draws crowds in the Harlequin booth for the release of her third book in the Charlie McNally series–AIR TIME.
Photo 2: Now this is good editor support. Notice how Devi Pillai dressed to match the poster colors. That’s going above and beyond the call of duty! (Actually, Devi hadn’t realized that she had done so until I pointed it out to her.)
Photo 3: Gail Carriger signs her copies of her debut fantasy SOULLESS. One of the few ARCs that were out and about every day for the taking, Gail had some really nice lines–especially considering she’s so new to the scene. In fact, in a funny related story, three separate people at random times came up to me during the weekend to tell me about this really cool ARC they had snagged. Imagine my surprise that at three different times, the book they pulled out to show me was of SOULLESS. I had to then ‘fess up that it was my book.
Photo 4: Nice signage for the third book in the Gallagher Girl series that is releasing next week!
Photo 5: Ally signs in the Brilliance Booth
Photo 6: Electronic Poster of THE SHIFTER in HarperCollins Booth for the Balzer & Bray Champagne toast for the launch list.
