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Fun Fridays – Nov. 30, 2012

By Steve Laubeon November 30, 2012

You may have seen some of the “Gangnam Style” song parodies that are all over the Internet. (By the way, the original Gangnam Style video is now the most watched YouTube video of all time with over 830 million views…since July.)

Recently the cast of Arizona Broadway Theatre’s “Oklahoma,” where my daughter Fiona is performing, just released their version called “Oklahoma Style.”

Be sure to watch through the end of the credits. (you’ll see Fiona’s name a few times as co-director and choreographer along with a fun ending with the cast singing.)

Enjoy, and spread the word.
–Due to copyright restrictions YouTube will not allow this to be viewed on a mobile device (smartphone or tablet).–

Reactions to Your Career

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 29, 2012

Often, strangers ask me what a literary agent does. Once I tell them, they'll want to share with me that they are writing a children's picture book. Or an aunt, cousin, or friend, is writing one. I think a lot of parents write read-aloud books because they are part of the bedtime ritual with their own children and perceive that the volume of books published means the market is vast. Unfortunately, …

Category: Agency, Book Business, Career, TamelaTag: Career

Agents and Proposals: What to Expect

By Karen Ballon November 28, 2012

Last week I left you with a question: How do editors/agents get through all the proposals they receive. For me, as an editor and now as an agent, the answer was to hire someone to be my first-pass reader. In my case, this person is someone I’ve worked with now for over fifteen years. She knows me and my tastes well, and, as an avid reader and a skilled writer herself, she knows quality writing. …

Category: Agency, Book Proposals, Get Published, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Agents, book proposals

News You Can Use – Nov. 27, 2012

By Steve Laubeon November 27, 2012

McGraw-Hill Agrees To Sell Its Education Publishing Business For $2.5 billion - Someone thinks publishing is still worth a lot of money!

Using Elements of Your Story to Market Your Book - Great article by Debby Mayne

Daily Routines of Famous Writers - Take a look at how Kurt Vonnegut, Maya Angelou, Ernest Hemingway, and others did their work.

Amazon Takes on Supermarkets with Groceries …

Category: News You Can Use, Steve

Fun Fridays – Nov. 23, 2012

By Steve Laubeon November 23, 2012

Enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend!

A fun video from Igniter Media for you.

Category: Fun Fridays

I’m Thankful for…

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

A tradition my (Steve) family has had during Thanksgiving is to play "The Thankful Game." Since we spend our day with extended family we have a bit of driving to do to get there. So during the trip we would rotate around the car with each member of the family having to to finish the sentence "I'm thank for..." The answers could be serious or silly. Everything from …

Category: Karen, Personal, Steve, TamelaTag: Thankful

Why Don’t Agents/Editors Give You More Guidance?

By Karen Ballon November 21, 2012

Proposals are hard work. C’mon, be honest. All the research and writing and preparation that goes into them? Admit it, that sometimes feels like you’re being punished for wanting to write a book. And then, when you’ve poured your heart and time and effort into making that dreaded proposal as perfect as you can, what happens? You send it to the agent or editor, and wait.

And wait. And wait. And …

Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Get Published, KarenTag: Agents, book proposals, Editors, Get Published

News You Can Use – Nov. 20, 2012

By Steve Laubeon November 20, 2012

Family Christian Stores in a Buyout - The largest Christian bookstore chain in the country will have new owners. They have 280 stores in 36 states. The chain's management in partnership with some investors has acquired the chain from its previous private equity owners.

Tyndale House Publishers Wins Their Courthouse Battle - Great news! I previously posted regarding the potential that an …

Category: New Book Releases, Steve

Fun Fridays – Nov. 16, 2012

By Steve Laubeon November 16, 2012

It is likely you have seen the various parodies of the infamous scene of Hitler in a bunker in a rage. Because the clip is in German many people have had fun putting in their own English subtitles.

Today's Fun Friday is the same scene, but this time Hitler is a frustrated author in a rage over the pending merger of Random House and Penguin.

The last subtitle is perfect.

Category: Fun Fridays, Steve

I Thought I Was Rich!

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 15, 2012

Recently I received a check in the mail. I opened the envelope, and discovered the amount that was larger than I anticipated. "This is great!" I thought. "Now I have a little extra to shore up my savings."

I reached for another envelope in the stack of mail. It was from the insurance company. Upon opening, I discovered that, after I deducted income taxes, the premium consumed the entire amount …

Category: Book Business, Money, TamelaTag: Money