Steve Laube

Fun Fridays – February 21, 2020

By Steve Laubeon February 21, 2020

In the 1960s, there were some unusual commercials that would have been widely enjoyed if aired during the current Super Bowl. Enjoy this one from Rice Krispies utilizing a famous opera. You’ll never hear the famous refrain the same way again!

See more comments below after you watch the video.

This review was written years later by LA Times writer Diane Haithman in 2005:

“at a Los Angeles Opera performance of “Pagliacci” … instead of focusing on tenor Roberto Alagna singing the celebrated tears-of-a-clown aria “Vesti la giubba,” I could only hear: “No more Rice Krispies! We are out of Rice Krispies … “

Credit to weirduniverse.net for this tidbit! (http://www.weirduniverse.net/blog/comments/no_more_rice_krispies)

Is Yours a Book or an Article?

By Steve Laubeon February 17, 2020

The title question, “Is yours a book or an article?” comes up on a regular basis with nonfiction authors. Someone has lived an interesting life, survived a horrible disease, lost a precious loved one, suffered terribly (emotionally or physically) and feels led to write their story. But is it a story that can be sustained for an entire book? Or is it one that can be told in a shorter form? Or is it …

Category: Agents, Book Proposals, Get Published, Rejection, The Writing Life

Astounding Amazon Statistics

By Steve Laubeon February 3, 2020

Last week Amazon released their quarterly and annual sales and profit report. If you want to read the entire press release, you can find it at this link: Amazon Press Release. If printed out it would be about 25 pages of financials. My notes here are to highlight a few things and make some observations. The sheer size of the company is staggering. Sales in 2019 increased 20% (!) over the prior …

Category: Book BusinessTag: Amazon

Fun Fridays – January 31, 2020

By Steve Laubeon January 31, 2020

Today’s video was created in 2011. It is a fascinating look at things that have all but disappeared due to technological advances. (What makes this video even more incredible is that it is actually a book trailer.) The question for today is: What other things have disappeared in the last nine years? I can think of one: the Amazon Fire Phone. If you cannot see the embedded video in your …

Category: Fun Fridays

The Stages of Editorial Grief

By Steve Laubeon January 20, 2020

Nearly every writer will tell you they have experienced the proverbial “red pen” treatment from their editor. The reactions to this experience can follow the well-known stages of grief popularized by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.

Skip Denial, I’m Angry!

There is no denying that the edits have arrived. And for the author who was not expecting a hard-nosed edit, they can transition from …

Category: Editing, Writing CraftTag: Agents, Editors, Grief, Writing Craft

Fun Fridays – January 17, 2020

By Steve Laubeon January 17, 2020

The famous “Toccata & Fugue in D minor” (Bach) originally composed for the organ but here performed by the Canadian Brass. Such virtuosity! If you enjoy brass brilliance, this 10-minute performance is for you!

Category: Fun Fridays

Public Domain in 2020

By Steve Laubeon January 13, 2020

According to the 1998 Copyright Term Extension Act, works published between 1923 and 1977 were given an extension to their copyright from 75 years to 95 years. Works published after 1978 are under copyright for the life of the author plus 70 years. This means that works published in 1924 are now in the public domain. They can be reproduced, revised, performed, etc., without having to pay any …

Category: Publishing History

Fun Fridays – January 10, 2019 – Why English Is So Hard

By Steve Laubeon January 10, 2020

Why English Is So Hard It is fun to compile some of the idiosyncrasies and inconsistencies of the English language. Most are found around the internet, so I claim no originality. Some are sentences with homonyms, one is a list of homophones, and others are simply fun! Do you have any to add? Comment below! Hamburger has no ham. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes. How can I intimate this …

Category: Fun Fridays

A Year in Review: A Look at 2019

By Steve Laubeon January 6, 2020

It’s that time of year to reflect on the past year, to learn from our experiences, and to count our blessings. Here are some thoughts on the last tumultuous twelve months. The Industry The publishing industry seems to survive the bad press that loves to find the negative in everything. Each publisher continues to pursue the best content possible. The market is ever-changing, and some really smart …

Category: Agency, Agents, Awards, Book Business, Book Sales, Christian Publishing Show, Christian Writers Institute, Contests, Conventions, Economics, Encouragement, Marketing, The Publishing Life, The Writing Life, Trends

How Do You Measure Success?

By Steve Laubeon December 9, 2019

by Steve Laube

A few years ago while talking to some editors they described an author who was never satisfied (not revealing the name of course). It this author's latest book had sold 50,000 copies the author wondered why the publisher didn't sell 60,000. And if it sold 60,000 why didn't it sell 75,000? The author was constantly pushing for "more" and was incapable of celebrating any measure of …

Category: Book Business, Career, TrendsTag: Book Business, Career, Money, Success