Helping to Change the World…Word by Word
The Steve Laube Agency
Helping to Change the World Word by Word
Happy April Fools Day!
Today’s video is a vivid picture of an author trying to break into traditional publishing.
A great line at the 2:12 mark.
(If you cannot see the embedded video in your newsletter email, please click the headline and go directly to our site to view it.)
by Steve Laube
What was the favorite book you read, cover to cover, in the last year or so? Why is it your favorite? (It can be fiction or non-fiction. Faith-based or not.) Feel free to tell us in the comments about yours.
Read it Again
Now that you’ve identified the book. Read it again. As Vladimir Nabakov wrote:
“Curiously enough, one cannot read a book: one can only reread it. A …
Watch the miracle of growth in today’s video: a one-year time lapse of the growth of a mango tree. Starting with a seed. Extraordinary to watch. But even more intriguing is that it will take another 3-5 years before it will bear fruit. Think of the metaphor of the writing life. From the seed of an idea. Then writing 300 words a day for a year will create the foundation of a 100,000-word …
Everyone starts somewhere. Sixty years ago a seven-year-old played his cello for President John F. Kennedy (and former President Eisenhower who was also in attendance). The performance was at the National Cultural Center, which was later renamed The Kennedy Center. The young boy is introduced by Leonard Bernstein. The cellist? Yo-Yo Ma. To put more historical context to this event: Thirty days …
by Steve Laube
I thought it might be fun to write a series that addresses some of the basic terms that define our industry. The perfect place to start, of course, is the letter "A." And even better to start with the word "Agent."
If you are a writer, you've got it easy. When you say you are a writer your audience lights up because they know what that means. (Their perception is that you …
Your publishing life in pictures. Los Angeles, California. Created by @dailyoverview, source imagery: @nearmap. New Orleans, Louisiana. Created by @benjaminrgrant, source imagery: @nearmap. Houston, Texas. Created by @dailyoverview, source imagery: @nearmap. Los Angeles, California. Created by @benjaminrgrant, source imagery: @nearmap. Sagamihara, Japan. Drone photo by Rob Antill (@digitalanthill) …
In case you missed the news last Wednesday, Amazon announced that they are closing their 24 physical bookstores in the US. In addition, they are closing 44 other popup stores and 4-Star locations, which are not bookstores. (Thus the number 68 that you may have heard cited.) They first opened a physical bookstore over six years ago in Seattle. Their list of locations in 12 states and D.C. can be …
If it were the month of May I could write, “May the fourth be with you.” But it is only March, so you’ll have to use your imagination. Today’s video is an illustration of all the roles an indie author must take to write, edit, produce, and market their own book. HAH! Actually, it’s a really creative vocalist. Watch and enjoy! (If you cannot see the embedded video in …
by Steve Laube
Many authors are also speakers and as such usually have a book table in the back of the room where the audience can purchase a copy of their book during an event. This can be a very valuable source of income for the author if they have negotiated a “buy back” price (also known as the author’s discount) at the time of signing their book contract.
Check Your Contract …
23 Reasons Why You Should Not Be Wasting Time on Fun Fridays: What do you call a joke that isn’t funny? A sentence. Back in 1980, I fell off my bike, twisted my foot, and hurt my knee. I’m telling you this now because there was no social media in the ’80s. What do sprinters eat before a race? Nothing; they fast. I was shocked when I found out my toaster wasn’t waterproof. Who shaves at least 20 …
