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New York, 6:35 PM
Fri Dec 11
71 posts in the last 24 hours
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11/26/09
11/26/09
But at least the snow isn't usually a huge problem here (except last year!)
11/25/09
However, for the normal author, if your book doesn't make the advance you're in trouble. Usually, it means you'll never publish again and your name is mud. However, some authors have been asked to pay back the advance. Sarah Palin? Not a chance.
A large advance that the sales don't meet just means that Palin cost her publishing company more money than any publishing company can afford to lose. Because of her, (depending on the company), a few thousand hopeful new authors, and a few thousand more established authors, won't see their books published this year, or ever. In publishing, it's never a bad thing to offer or take a smaller advance if your book is going to sell well. Unless you're JK Rowling, you don't take the large advance.
11/26/09
Like you, I find the fact these obscene advances go to celebrities or public figures who, ironically, don't write their own books anyway. The publishing industry is whining 'recession' and good writers with fabulous books can't make a living, yet they can still manage to drum up millions for ex-porn stars or beauty pagaent queens. Then they blame the midlist author for their financial ruin - really?
11/26/09
I heard stories from agents and editors who were guest speakers at my grad school. They couldn't name names. They said it was rare, but has happened when the publishers banked big on something like a memoir that turned out to be fake and the public actually cared (as opposed to the discredited memoirs people still buy).
Also, some prolific mystery author (bitterest man on the planet) who came to speak also told a story of a author with pathological narcissism issues who could tell a good summery and get a good advance up front before he wrote the book, but never delivered. He was sued after he promised too many unwritten books. But again, rare case.
Anyway, publishers are desperate for the next JK to save their business but it's the midlist that's their bread and butter. But they routinely screw them over on their third or fourth book if they don't continue to outsell themselves. No one can keep that up. It's like asking a pro athelete to get a better and better average every year - even the best have good years and bad years. But a lot of midlisters get dropped after a few books b/c they don't turn into runaway hits.
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
I'd be curious to know if they actually sampled all of Canada... because if they did, I'm fairly sure that the 14% that do slow down in snow are all over here.
11/26/09
But srsly, where is the Plow King when you need him?
11/25/09
11/25/09
PM-ed you, btw.
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/26/09
#tips
11/26/09
#tips
11/27/09
11/27/09
11/30/09
I'm guessing she lost the pregnancy? Will she be okay? What a rotten thing to happen.
11/30/09
11/25/09
I'm kind of impressed the woman pressed charges, I think a lot of women would have felt they couldn't because there was no non-consensual penetration.
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
02/26/09
02/26/09
02/26/09
02/26/09
I wish there was a way for MySpace and Facebook to enforce any sort of security measures for people, but it really comes down to your own settings, and so many younger people don't think they need to worry about stuff like that.
02/26/09
02/26/09
02/26/09
But yeah, wait till they're at their quarter life crisis!
02/26/09
I think we took one roll of film in these totally campy teddies we bought from Frederick's as a joke.We never showed the photos to anyone. I would have died if anyone had seen them.
02/26/09
02/26/09