Saturday, November 17, 2007

Publishing in the Time of Cholera

You know, some day I am going to have to read Gabriel García Márquez. If only to admire the major cajones it takes for an author to set a romance during a time when everyone is suffering from acute bacterial-induced diarrheal illness.

I promised you announcements and news, didn't I? First, the news: Omega Games, StarDoc book eight, has been accepted by my editor, so that's a done deal. I'm hoping to soon hear the same with Twilight Fall, as I've turned in the revisions for that one.

Speaking of Valentin:

Book seven cover art

My editor has requested some changes, and I'll probably suggest two minor tweaks, but this is basically what the cover will look like. I'm quite happy with it; they've altered some of the elements but it still carries on the originality of the series cover art theme.

Announcements: Over the next couple of weeks, PBW will be undergoing some blog renovation. Among the changes I'm making will be updated links and category indexes for the Friday 20 and the freeware and online tools for writers collection.

One of my policies here at PBW is that I've never allowed advertising, and that includes advertising from my own publishers. Due to the high cost of self-promotion, which most writers can't afford, and the ridiculous prices popular bloggers are charging for ad space, I'm going to amend that policy in 2008 and begin a new monthly feature.

PBW's Release Co-op will allow authors who blog to post on PBW weblog links, cover thumbnails, brief announcements and links to online bookseller sites where readers can purchase their new releases. This feature is not open to publishers, publicists, book buyers, editors or agents, but any author who blogs regardless of genre, content or publisher can make use of it with no strings and at no charge whatsoever. I'll post more on the particulars as I put it together.

On the current blog content, for the rest of 2007 I'll probably skip the usual feature schedule I've had over the last couple of years and just post whatever appeals to me on that day. I've never been much of a pantser blogger, but I think it will be good for me to break up the routine.

That's all for now. I hope you'll stop by again and see what other trouble I can stir up in the weeks ahead.

17 comments:

  1. Em, can I have that guy on the cover for Christmas, please?

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  2. Congrats on Omega Games! Lovely cover for Twilight Fall. I agree, it has excellent consistency with the rest of the series. There's something really appealing about the butterscotch tone.

    Interesting blog changes. Looking forward to seeing them.

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  3. Anonymous11:38 AM

    Cholera actually plays only a minor role--sort of like Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeare in Love--and only by proxy. I enjoyed the book.

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  4. Anonymous11:46 AM

    Lovely cover! And congrats on the good news!!!!!

    Hope you're having a great weekend. :)

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  5. Anonymous11:56 AM

    *giddy squeal of delight* more Stardoc... yay!

    I love the new cover. It's fantastic.

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  6. Hurrah for Omega Games, and wow, that cover is beautiful. So glad Valentin's story is coming!

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  7. Anonymous1:03 PM

    I read Gabriel Garcia Marquez in college (100 Years of Solitude) and loved it so much that I re-read it for fun, right in the middle of all my high-pressure schoolwork. Yes, it was that good.

    I've always enjoyed your blog, and I'm sure the new stuff will be equally fun to read.

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  8. Your generosity never ceases to amaze me. :)

    The guy on the new cover? Reminds me of the guy who played "Kenickie" in the movie version of GREASE. (I'm too lazy to google him.)

    This is a good thing, btw. I totally crushed out on Kenickie when I was 12 -- he seemed a lot cooler to me than that slimeball Danny Zuko. Also? Danny got the girl, but Kenickie got the WOMAN.

    Congrats and thank you. I'll definitely be taking advantage of your lovely offer.

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  9. Congrats on your good news about the Stardoc book! Very sexy cover for "Twilight fall".

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  10. It seems the universe sent some good fortune your way--nice!

    The spontaneous posts sound like fun.

    Yippee!

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  11. NExt time you want to escape the world, curl up with Marquez. Its so beautiful.

    And I love the cover. That is such a treat to see.

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  12. OMG, that cover. *wiping drool off the keyboard*

    I think your release co-op is a great idea. I love reading about book releases online...that's mostly how I pick new book purchases. Plus, you'll be getting lots of good karma flowing your way.

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  13. That cover is gorgeous.
    And looking forward to seeing the interesting changes. ;-)

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  14. Oh dear - so far I'm the only one having an extremely hard time reading Marquez. I'm not quite halfway through 100 Years of Solitude and I'm not enjoying it. It's taking me forever. I wanted to write Oprah and ask her why oh why she picked it. But I guess it's me since you other ladies seem to like him. My daughter bought the Cholera book so I will at least give it a try.

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  15. Congrats on the new book deal! Can't wait to see the new renovations.

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  16. Anonymous3:23 AM

    Cholera is an easier introduction to Garcia Marquez than Solitude, which I also thought was tough going. Cholera is a smaller story, so it's easier to keep track when things start to get surreal.

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  17. Congratulations on both books! :) Love the cool colors.

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