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Message Board for Writers. You're a writer? Have a book coming out? Like to tell us? Conferences? Workshops? All writers news welcome.
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Subject: Contests for Free Books Author: Anonymous [Edit] Date Posted: 08:20:54 06/10/05 Fri Nancy Bush, writing as Nancy Kelly, wants you to have a drink with Ginny Blue! Check out the cool prize—four (count them four!) outrageously fun, plastic daiquiri glasses in blue tones. (To honor, Ginny Blue, of course!) A plastic shaker with jazzy, water-filled "ice cube" balls, so in case you prefer martinis, your incredibly cool drink doesn't get watered down. And a colorful place mat (again, blue!) to set on an outdoor table (or indoor, if the weather isn't cooperating with your party mood) for the most fantabulous cocktail event ever! And don't forget to pick up a copy of GINNY BLUE'S BOYFRIENDS when it comes out—a Kensington Strapless release, September 2005 by Nancy Kelly!. To enter the contest, just CLICK HERE and then fill out the entry form. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In anticipation of the October publication of Nancy Bush’s debut Jane Kelly Mystery, CANDY APPLE RED, the author wants you to have drinks with Binks! Enter Nancy Bush’s contest and earn a chance to: Win the game of CLUE — The Binkster's favorite board game, PLUS Two "fabu" plastic martini glasses, AND an autographed picture of, you guessed it, The Binkster herself! Is that a cool prize, or what? Pick up a copy of CANDY APPLE RED when it goes on sale October 2005. To enter the contest, just CLICK HERE and then fill out the entry form. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Best-selling, award-winning husband-and-wife dynamic duo Lori and Tony Karayianni, and their alter ego Tori Carrington, are celebrating the summer in a big way. Even as they travel the country in The Baklava Express, help them celebrate the release of their first hardcover, SOFIE METROPOLIS, by entering to win a great gift basket chock full of all kinds of Greek stuff! Then check out more info on the title and their tour by going to http://www.sofiemetro.com. Stop by http://www.toricarrington.com to enter the contest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Hot Summer Reads" To celebrate summer's arrival, Kristina Cook is offering one winner this "Hot Summer Reads" prize package. Tucked inside a 'Romance Unleashed' oversized canvas tote bag—perfect for the beach—is a pink UNLACED/UNVEILED t-shirt (ladies size large), an autographed copy of UNLACED, an UNVEILED excerpt booklet, an autographed sample chapter booklet of Zebra author Lori Devoti's LOVE IS ALL AROUND, bookmarks, and maybe a surprise or two! Good luck, and happy summer! To enter the contest, just CLICK HERE and then fill out the entry form. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Susan Crandall will be giving TWO lucky winners an autographed copy of PROMISES TO KEEP. She hopes you'll enjoy all four of the Glens Crossing Series novels. Visit Susan's website at http://www.susancrandall.net to enter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- With Father's Day just around the corner, men naturally come to mind. And three of Millie Criswell's favorite men, the Bodine brothers, are featured in her Lawmen Trilogy, DESPERATE, DANGEROUS and DEFIANT, which she is offering to one lucky winner this month. All three books will be personalized. Good luck! Visit http://www.milliecriswell.com to enter the contest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thea Devine is giving away a signed copy of SENSATION with the eternal circle necklace. Visit her site to enter the contest - http://www.theadevine.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heather Graham is giving one lucky reader a gift basket full of goodies! Visit http://www.theheathergraham.com to enter her contest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tired? Frazzled? Need a few minutes to yourself? Elizabeth Grayson is offering a mini-vacation: your choice of a title from her backlist and a select assortment of bonbons. Settle back in your favorite chair, pluck a delectable chocolate from the candy box, and lose yourself in one of Grayson's wonderful novels. Just sign up at http://www.elizabethgrayson.com for a chance to win! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For those long lazy summer days, Metsy Hingle is offering an autographed copy of her novel, DEADLINE, to one lucky winner. While you are entering her contest, make sure to read an excerpt. Just sign up at http://www.metsyhingle.com for a chance to win! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Madeline Hunter is offering THREE winners a signed copy of their choice of a book from her backlist. She invites you to drop by her site, http://www.madelinehunter.com to enter the contest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Candace Irvin is giving away an autographed book from her backlist. Visit her site at http://www.candaceirvin.com to enter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Ballantine~Ivy authors firmly believe a reader can NEVER have enough bags to carry books, and a special bag, autographed by some of the top romance authors — Gaelen Foley ~ Mariah Stewart ~~ Mary Jo Putney ~ Nicole Jordan ~ Patricia Rice ~ Tina St. John ~ Michele Jaffe ~ Patricia Lewin — well, what could be better? The Ballantine~Ivy Authors will give away to one lucky winner an autographed bookbag. Enter their contest at http://www.ivyauthors.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Much of the pleasure of a Wicked Fantasy is the tantalizing anticipation. To launch her readers on that delicious path to the August publication of WICKED FANTASY, the third book in her Regency Paradise series about dangerous rakes and bold adventurers, Nicole Jordan is giving away this sensuous, brocaded boudoir box and a dazzling faux ruby necklace and earring set to help set the scene for the winner's own wicked fantasy. The winner will also receive signed copies of the first two books of the Paradise series, MASTER OF TEMPTATION and LORD OF SEDUCTION Visit her site at http://www.nicolejordanauthor.com to enter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shirley Jump is giving away an autographed copy of THE DEVIL SERVED TORTELLINI, her latest recipes with romance novel. Just sign up at http://www.shirleyjump.com for a chance to win! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Susan Kearney is giving away to one lucky winner an autographed copy of THE CHALLENGE. Enter her contest at http://www.susankearney.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Julie Kenner is offering one lucky winner an early autographed copy of CARPE DEMON: ADVENTURES OF A DEMON-HUNTING SOCCER MOM and a vintage Givenchy scarf. Visit her site to enter! http://www.juliekenner.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Angela Knight is giving away an autographed copy of MASTER OF THE MOON. Visit her site to enter! http://www.angelasknights.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There's nothing better in the summer than sitting on a warm beach reading a steamy romance! Enter to win a gift set of Ann Lawrence's fantasy romances packed in a cute beach tote to take on your vacation (or to read in your own backyard). Enter the contest at her website: http://www.annlawrence.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heather Lowell is offering one lucky winner a $25 e-gift certificate to Amazon.com, sent to the winner via email. Enter the contest at her site - http://www.heatherlowell.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sarah McCarty, author of the award winning PROMISE series, is offering one winner a $15 on-line gift certificate to Amazon.com. Enter the contest at her site - http://www.sarahmccarty.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Karyn Monk is giving away an autographed copy of her latest release, EVERY WHISPERED WORD. Enter the contest at her site - http://www.karynmonk.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lucy Monroe is giving away a "Passion from the Heart" goody bag with a signed copy of READY, the first in Lucy's mercenary trilogy: Ready, Willing, And Able. Visit her website at http://lucymonroe.com to enter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Enter the June contest for TWO chances to win a selection from among the following May NAL/Signet/Onyx books: DANGEROUS DEPTHS by Kathy Brandt, WHERE THE RIVER RUNS by Patti Callahan Henry, BEFORE I WAKE by Anne Frasier, THE AMERICANS by John Jakes, FIRE ME UP by Katie MacAlister, SEDUCING MR. HAYWOOD by Jo Manning, LADY MIDNIGHT by Amanda McCabe, THE MARRIAGE LIST by Dorothy McFalls, DANGEROUS DIVERSIONS and TOAST OF THE TOWN by Margaret Evans Porter, SEEING RED by Jill Shalvis, JUST MURDERED by Elaine Viets, and JUST PEACHY by Jill Winters. Visit the NAL/Signet/Onyx Authors site to read excerpts from current releases, upcoming releases, and find out about your favorite NAL/Signet/Onyx authors. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joy Nash is offering one lucky reader with the correct answer to her June contest question a beautiful Sterling Silver Blue Topaz Drop CELTIC KNOT Necklace!. Visit her website at http://www.joynash.com to enter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want to win a $500 shopping spree to the store of your choice? It's easy! For now, simply join Brenda's mailing list. Then, at least three times a year (maybe four), she'll send you a lucky number in one of her newsletters. When this happens, simply return to her website at www.brendanovak.com , and follow the links and instructions. When prompted, type in your lucky number to see if you're a winner. You could win one of several different prizes—autographed books, Sees Candies, Barnes & Noble Gift Certificates, Dinner for two at Chilis. Besides all that, there will be one grand prize per BONANZA—a $500 shopping spree to the store of winner's choice! Visit her website at http://www.brendanovak.com for complete contest description, rules and to enter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diana Palmer is giving away a trade paperback copy of MOTHERHOOD, a trilogy of stories including Diana's reprinted CALAMITY MOM, plus stories by Candace Camp and Elizabeth Bevarly! (Along with a handmade bookmark). You can find her contest at http://www.dianapalmer.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patricia Potter is letting one lucky winner take their pick of her backlist! Enter the drawing and if we draw your name you'll receive an autographed copy of any book of your choice from Patricia's backlist. Find the contest at Patricia's website, http://www.patriciapotter.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here's your chance to win a copy of the romantic erotica anthology, SECRETS, Volume 3, which includes The Spy Who Loved Me by Jeanie Cesarini; Love Undercover by B.J. McCall; Blood and Kisses by Angela Knight; and The Barbarian by Ann Jacobs. Just visit http://www.redsagepub.com to enter the contest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Karen Robards is giving one lucky winner an autographed paperback edition of GHOST MOON. Just visit http://www.writerspace.com/contests/karenrobards.html to enter the contest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eden Robins is giving away a signed paperback copy of YESTERDAY'S PROMISE. Just visit http://www.edenrobins.com to enter the contest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Karen Rose is offering one lucky winner an autographed copy of USA TODAY Bestselling I'M WATCHING YOU and another lucky winner will receive an autographed Advanced Reading Copy of her August release, NOTHING TO FEAR. Just visit http://www.karenrosebooks.com to enter the contest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the traditional month of weddings, Suzanne Simmons is giving away to TWO winners a signed copy of her award-winning Silhouette Desire, NOT HIS WEDDING! (written as Suzanne Simms.) Enter the drawing at her site - http://www.suzannesimmons.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bertrice Small will be giving SIX lucky winners a copy of the mass market edition of PRIVATE PLEASURES, her first contemporary, autographed to each winner. Enter the drawing at her site - http://www.bertricesmall.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Annie Solomon is giving one lucky winner an autographed copy of her new romantic suspense, BLIND CURVE. Enter the drawing at her site - http://www.anniesolomon.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Erica Spindler is giving away an autographed copy of FORTUNE to one lucky reader. Enter the drawing at her site - http://www.ericaspindler.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Harry Squires is offering one lucky winner a special prize. Enter the drawing at his site - http://www.harrysquires.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Susan Squires is offering TWO winners an autographed copy of her May release, THE COMPANION, plus a 1/2 pound box of Godiva chocolates. Enter the drawing at her site - http://www.susansquires.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Celebrate Summer by winning Roxanne St. Claire's latest release, KILLER CURVES, and a one of a kind jeweled book thong, complete with a race car charm! Whether you love racing or romance, this is a book mark to treasure...along with an autographed copy of a book guaranteed to get all cylinders going! Enter the drawing at her site - http://roxannestclaire.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hope Tarr is giving away a signed copy of TEMPTING. To enter the contest, go to http://www.hopetarr.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diane Whiteside is offering one lucky winner an autographed copy of THE IRISH DEVIL and an autographed Advanced Reading Copy of the sequel, THE RIVER DEVIL. Enter the contest at http://www.dianewhiteside.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Susan Wiggs will give away an autographed book to one lucky winner this month. Check out Susan's list of books and get ready to pick your favorite one. Enter the contest at http://www.susanwiggs.com

Subject: Book Promotion Countdown Checklist Author: Anonymous [Edit] Date Posted: 11:36:41 06/06/05 Mon Your Free Book Promotion Countdown Checklist (a terrific way to develop your book's promotion plan!) (excerpted from Lorna Tedder's Book Promotion Savvy) 9-12 Months prior to publication: At 9 to 12 months prior to publication, you probably have just sold your manuscript or had it accepted for publication. Granted, many books wait 2-3 years for publication. Others hit the shelves in no time. I've personally seen two of my books published in just under 5 months and just under 9 months after the initial offer from the publisher. I have another that was accepted over a year ago and still no pub date, but that's not quite as bad as several friends who have waited 4 years to see publication. If you wait so terribly long for publication, your enthusiasm fizzles. If your book comes out very quickly, you may not have enough time to plan and implement a decent promotion campaign. Assuming you're not publishing the book yourself (in which case a separate checklist of self-publishing to-do's applies), here's my list of things to do at the 9-12 month time frame, or as soon as possible if your book is coming out even sooner. 1. Take care of getting your business set up. Like it or not, you are a small business now. a. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce to see what kinds of licenses are necessary for you to do business in your area. Also, file a fictious name or "doing business as" notice in your local newspaper if you're using a pseudonym or a business name. Administrivia, yes, but you need to make sure you appear to be a business when the IRS comes knocking. b. Get a post office box. It might not seem like a big deal, but the first time a prisoner sends you a detailed love letter, the first time a stranger shows up on your front doorstep unannounced, or the first time someone with differing political views takes exception to your book by bashing in your mail box, you'll wish you hadn't told the world your street address. Trust me, folks: there are some really scary people out there. Do the safe thing and get a P O box for fan mail and other business correspondence. Yes, all writing-related correspondence! Just because it's a bookstore doesn't mean they can't have a threatening sort of person working there who might see your real address on promo correspondence--or dig it out of the trash. I hate to scare you, but stalkings happen more than you think and go unreported or unaided because the victims are brushed aside as being paranoid unless they're a major name author (only then, I suppose, are rabid fans justified????). I can name dozens of authors who aren't bestsellers or celebrities, but they've endured frightening, anonymous emails, letters, phone calls, and visitors. Get the PO box and if you don't want to spend that much money, share with a buddy or two. c. Order your office supplies, including letterhead, business cards, etc. Make sure you use your PO box on your correspondence. You also might consider leaving off your phone number unless you want strange calls after midnight. You can always jot it down for certain correspondence or include it in the body of certain letters. Consider using an email address or home page address, too. d. Open a checking account. If you open an account under your business name (ie Spilled Candy Books) or you stick words like "Lorna Tedder, writing account" or "Lorna Tedder, business account" on your checks, you may end up paying a monthly fee for the business account. That means you'll pay the same bank fees as the restaurant down the street or the big discount store on the corner, both of which send hundreds of checks through the bank every month. You, of course, would be happy with a couple of checks a year...advance and royalties! In my area, we have dozens of banks, and the best deal I could find (by far) was $10 per month service charges if you let your monthly balance fall below $1000 at any time during the month. Keep $1000 in there every day of the month, and you don't have to pay a service charge and you get interest. Like I said, that's the absolute best deal I could find locally. Others started at $20 per month and had minimum balances of $5000 or more. So I'm a tightwad. If I had $5000 lying around, I wouldn't leave it sitting in a checking account either. But given that I wanted checks coming to "Spilled Candy" and not to me personally, I decided a business account was the best way for me to go. Now here's the secret to opening a checking account CHEAPLY. Shop around for the best possible deal, meaning the checking accounts that cater to low balance, free checks, and no monthly fees--if you can find them. (I know of one in my hometown that caters to college kids--$150 minimum, free checks under 25 transactions per month, and no monthly fees. Perfect if you need a checking account but don't plan to park a lot of money there.) When you open the account, do it under your name. Don't put "writing account" or "business account" or anything that might trigger the customer service rep to drag out her commercial packages, often the same for small and large businesses alike. (You--and the IRS--will know it's your writing account because it's separate from your household account and you can prove it.) You're just another average customer opening an ordinary account. Banks see this done all the time and occasionally try to force you into a commercial account--if they see 200 checks a month made out to "Jane Doe, Avon Lady"! If you're seeing THAT many checks per month, maybe you need a commercial account. 2. Start collecting ideas for your promo campaign. Go to your library and check out copies of books on marketing and self-promotion. Read what you can find on-line. Read old issues of Spilled Candy and other publicity newsletters. Watch what other authors are doing. 3. Talk to your publisher--now. A lot of publishers plan their marketing budgets in this time frame. If you want advance review copies sent to all Christian bookstores in Tennessee, ask for it now. If you want postcards sent to your University's alumni, ask now. You might not get what you ask for, but they can't tell you sorry, they've already written your marketing budget in stone. 4. Join groups and associations related to your book's subject, to writing, or to your community. When your book comes out, they'll all be happy to claim you as their own and they'll help you sell your book. These are also good networking connections. 5. Get your publication date. To be more specific, get the actual shelf date. Granted, some publishers change these as quickly as you change shoes, but you want to plan signings and other events around your book's availability. Otherwise, if you're doing tv talk shows promoting your July book that won't hit the shelves until August or vice versa, potential readers might not be able to find your book after your interview. c1999 Lorna Tedder http://www.geocities.com/~lorna_tedder/virgins.html

Subject: Congratulations to our Rita Finalists Author: Anonymous [Edit] Date Posted: 11:31:23 06/06/05 Mon Congratulations to our Rita Finalists: Nicole Burnham - The Bowen Bride for Best Traditional Romance and Jessica Andersen - Body Search for Best Long Contemporary. And congratulations to Golden Heart Finalist Barbara Tanner Wallace - This Groom for Hire for Best Traditional Romance Manuscript Sheila Connolly's manuscript, Rundale, has finaled in the RWA Mystery/Suspense Chapter Daphne contest, in the Single Title Romantic Mystery/Suspense category. Beth de Guzman has chosen the winners of the First Kiss Contest. They are, First Place: Shadow of the Butcher Boy by Tanya Taliese Holmes, Waldorf, MD, Second Place: Moonlight Serenade by Molly Herwood, Syracuse, NY and Third Place: Evil Intentions by Victoria Wasserman, Pittsford, NY In related news, finalist Kelley Zeringue received a two book contract from Warner Books! Writing as Kelley St. John, her book My Alibi will be the first release and Unmasked Fantasy (her finalist entry) is being considered as the second release. The New England Chapter is thrilled to be a part of yet another success story. Congratulations to all our winners and entrants. http://www.booksite.net/necrwa/

Subject: SMACKBERRY BLOG--Info from Book Publisher Author: Anonymous [Edit] Date Posted: 16:12:32 06/05/05 Sun Smackberry is Content Manager for a major book publisher. This blog may cover technical aspects of the job, including Onix and other aspects of data-collection and data-sharing in the industry. Or it may digress into useless musings on the world of publishing and the world in general. http://smackberry.blogspot.com/

Subject: Interview with Author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Author: Anonymous [Edit] Date Posted: 16:11:07 06/05/05 Sun Sisterhood is as comfortable as a pair of perfectly broken-in jeans. With the big-screen version opening today, Ann Brashares talks with the Houston Chronicle about books, girls and, of course, pants. Q: Why pants? A: I loved the idea of clothing having subtle magic. An article of clothing can pull your memory — it can be transforming. The idea for pants started from a conversation with a co-worker who told me about a pair she had shared with friends. I thought jeans would be an ideal piece of clothing to serve as a concrete center in a fictional world. Q: Do you have a favorite pair of jeans? A: I have two pairs in my drawer. One is from high school, and they don't fit. The other is a great pair of Levis that I got second-hand. It would be obscene to wear them at this point. The knees are gone and the butt is threadbare, but they're so great. I have funny odd bits of clothing that I've kept over the years. I have a lucky wedding dress that I've shared with three friends. Q: Did the success of the series surprise you? A: Very much so. The success was gradual and incremental. One small and surprising thing builds on the next. Each taken separately seems little. It hits No. 10 on a best-seller list, then No. 9, No. 6, No. 2, No. 1. It builds. So it was not as dazzling as when you zoom right to the top. But I never want to take for granted having success in writing, because it's very much about luck. Q: What did you read as a kid? A: I read all kinds of things. I liked naturalistic fiction more than science fiction or fantasy. I loved reading about families and friendships and adventures. I loved historical fiction. Then when I got older I loved reading about love. The Great Brain books. The Little House books. Louisa May Alcott. Francis Hodgson Burnett. Judy Blume. Beverly Cleary. There were a lot of great people writing in the '70s when I was in early adolescence. Q: How is this different from other young-adult books on the market? A: For young adults, there are so-called issue books, about serious things. Drug addition. Teenage pregnancy. These can be very moralistic. They tend to be driven not by characters but by the particular issue. And then there are books that are just frivolous. They are like eating fast food — fun while you're doing it, but you don't get that much from it. What Judy Blume has done successfully, and what I've tried to do, as well, is make a real book that's serious, but also fun. And that comes from the characters. Q: The foundation of Sisterhood is the friendship shared by the four girls, but the story is driven by their relationships with others. Was that intentional? A: I wanted the friendship to be the premise of the book and not the subject. They're separating and all on the cusp of growing up. I liked pushing them into lives and conflicts and obstacles. The friendship is the support system, represented by the pants, and now they're being sent into the world. The world will provide the challenges, and the friendship will protect you. There's no "I've been betrayed," no "You did this to me." That's not what I set out to do. Q: How do you think the movie compares to the book? A: It captures the big ideas of the book, and the spirit of the book and the movie are very much linked. I feel like in spite of how it does or doesn't follow the book exactly, as a movie, as its own thing, it really works. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, a movie is worth a million. But a book can better capture the inner thoughts of characters. Q: Will there be a fourth book in the Sisterhood series? A: There will be a fourth book, and it will likely be the finale. Maybe I'll go back to the girls eventually, but you don't want to overstay your welcome with the readers. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/ae/books/news/3205607

Subject: NEGOTIATING YOUR BOOK PUBLISHING CONTRACT Author: Anonymous [Edit] Date Posted: 08:50:50 06/04/05 Sat Articles Index WHAT NOT TO MISS WHEN DRAFTING & NEGOTIATING YOUR BOOK PUBLISHING CONTRACT By Attorney Lloyd J. Jassin Drafting and negotiating contracts is viewed by some publishers as wasteful and time consuming. “It gets in the way of the fun stuff.” “Attorneys cost money.” “Most books don’t earn back their advance.” These are three common (and potentially devastating) justifications that owners of publishing companies give for not paying attention to their boilerplate contacts. Similarly, many authors lack the courage that Oliver Twist exhibited when he rose from the table and said, “Please sir, I want some more.” Standardized contracts are powerful negotiation tools. Many authors will simply sign them. However, whether an author or publisher, a “one size fits all” book contract may have unexpected and unfair consequences. Problems often arise when publishers borrow entire agreements and fail to conform the “borrowed” agreement to their business model (or their author’s legitimate needs). Sometimes, lacking the necessary business acumen, a start-up publisher may delete important provisions that they do not fully understand. While it is difficult to see how your publishing agreement will play out in the long term, the decisions you make today could have profound, long term consequences. To illustrate, take the successful craft publisher who battled for recognition (and profitability) for twenty years. As he approaches his mid-50s, with no children to take over the business, he decides to sell his publishing company to outsiders. As he begins compiling all of his company’s business records for potential buyers, he discovers something shocking. The boilerplate contract used for two decades contains a “non-assignment” clause. Simply stated, the non-assignment clause prevents him from selling the assets of his company (e.g., publishing contracts) without the prior written approval of his authors. What was likely to be a quick, friendly business transaction between two former competitors, now requires the consent of the craft publisher’s authors. The moral? If you are thinking about selling a publishing company -- or spinning off a line of books -- take the time now to take care of any unresolved legal problems. A well drafted publishing agreement can add value to a publishing company. Taking the boilerplate provisions for granted can also have serious consequences for authors. For example, a publisher’s standard agreement may contain an onerous non-competition clause that prevents the author from using material from the book in her day-to-day business. While no publisher will strike its non-compete clause completely, if asked properly, most will offer the author a more palatable version. Similarly, if the book is tied to an existing brand or business, the boilerplate should be revised to address the author’s trademark concerns. Book contracts typically give the publisher (not the author) the right to determine the title of the work. If the book is an extension or outgrowth of the author’s existing business (e.g., Working Solo®, Taming the Paper Tiger®), approval and ownership of the title – which also functions as a service mark – becomes a critical issue. The key to a good contract is clarity. Ambiguity and inconsistency are the two key ingredients in litigation soup. Formal agreements are essential. Under copyright law, without a written agreement signed by the author, the publisher does not control exclusive rights. If a dispute arises, a well-drafted contract will anticipate such a dispute and could save you thousands of dollars in legal fees later on. Keep in mind that you are negotiating a very long term relationship. If the book is successful, the publisher and author (or authors heirs) could be bound together for the life of the copyright. For works published after 1977, copyright lasts for life of the author plus another seventy years. (see my article on Copyright Termination). A publisher must shore up any weaknesses in a publishing contract. For example, tighten up the contract to ensure it contemplates new technologies. Terms such as “book form” and “electronic rights” are vague terms and should be carefully defined. Just a few years ago, everyone understood what the word “publish” meant and could agree on what the term “book form” meant. Not so, today. (see my article on Electronic Rights). For authors, it is helpful to keep in mind that most contracts are not take-it-or-leave-it propositions. Be courteous. Be tactful. Knowing what to ask for is critical. Use an agent or attorney who understands the parameters of the typical publishing deal to negotiate your contract. Working through an agent or attorney allows the author to preserve his creative relationship with the editor or publishing house. Below are issues to consider when you draft or negotiate your next publishing agreement. Each key point deserves greater attention than given here (and, will be the subject of future articles). While not all clauses are equally important (or negotiable), a well-drafted contract will cover all, or most of the points outlined below. Book Contract Checklist I. General Provisions 1. Name/address of parties 2. Description of work (synopsis) -Tentative title, no. of words, illos, intended audience, fiction, non-fiction, etc. II. Grant of Rights and Territory 1. Is it an assignment of "all rights" or a license agreement? 2. Term or time period (i.e., usually the life of the copyright) 3. Geographic scope a) The world? b) Limited (e.g., U.S., its possessions and Canada) 4. Exclusive rights granted a) Primary rights -Hardcover -Trade paperback -Mass market -Direct mail b) Secondary (subsidiary rights) -Periodical rights 1) First serial (i.e., pre-publication excerpts) 2) Second serial -Book club -Dramatic rights -Film/TV rights -Videocassette/audiocassette -Radio rights -Merchandising (commercial tie-in) rights -New technologies -Foreign translations rights -British Commonwealth rights II. Manuscript Delivery 1. Delivery requirements a) When due? Is the date realistic? Time is of the essence? b) What format? Specify size of paper, spacing, margins, etc. c) What to deliver? -Number of manuscript copies, disks (what WP format?) -Index (who pays?) -Number of illustrations, charts, photos (who pays?) d) Copyright permissions and releases -Scope of rights (does it parallel grant of rights?) -Who pays? 2. Manuscript Acceptance a) Criteria: Satisfactory in "form and content" or at "sole discretion" of the publisher? ( note: acceptability is a often "flashpoint" for litigation) b) Termination for unsatisfactory manuscript c) Termination for changed market conditions d) How is notice of acceptance or dissatisfaction given e) Good faith duty to edit f) Return of the author advance -First proceeds clause -False first proceeds clause III. Copyright Ownership 1. In whose name will work be registered? 2. When will work be registered? (Should be done within statutory period) 3. Joint authors and collaboration agreements 4. Work for hire 5. Reserved rights IV. Author’s Representations & Warranties 1. Author sole creator 2. Not previously published; not in public domain 3. Does not infringe any copyrights 4. Does not invade right of privacy or publicity 5. Not libelous or obscene 6. No errors or omissions in any recipe, formula or instructions 7. Limited only to material delivered by Author V. Indemnity & Insurance Provisions 1. Author indemnifies publisher 2. Does indemnity apply to claims and breaches? 3. Can publisher withhold legal expenses?. Is it held in interest bearing account? 4. Is author added as additional insured on publisher's insurance? 5. Does publisher have ability to settle claims without prior approval of author? If so, are there a dollar amount limitation? VI. Publication 1. Duty to Publish within [insert number] months a) Force majeure (acts of god) - Any cap on delays? 2. Advertising and promotion 3. Right to use author's approved name and likeness 4. Bound galleys/review copies 5. Style or manner of publication a) Title consultation or approval? b) Book jacket - Right of consultation? Approval? c) Changes in manuscript 6. Initial publication by specific imprint or publisher may sublicense rights? V. Money Issues 1. Advance against future royalties 2. When payable? (in halves, thirds, etc.) 3. Royalties and subsidiary rights: a) Primary rights -Hardcover royalties -Trade paperback royalties -Mass market royalties -Ebook royalties -Royalty escalation(s) -Bestseller bonus -Royalty reductions 1) deep discount and special sales 2) mail order sales 3) premium sales 4) small printing 5) slow moving inventory b) Secondary (subsidiary) rights royalty splits -Book club (sales from publisher’s inventory v. licensing rights) -Serialization (first serial, second serial) -Anthologies, selection rights -Large print editions -Hardcover -Trade paperback -Mass market -Foreign translation -British Commonwealth -Future (i.e., new) technology rights . Is the right to intermingle with third party content included? -Audio rights -Motion picture/TV -Merchandising 4. Reasonable reserve for returns a) What percentage withheld? b) When liquidated? 5. What is royalty based on? (retail price? wholesale price? net price?) a) At average discount of 50%, 20% of net is same as 10% of list b) At average discount of 40%, 16-2/3% of net is same as 10% of list c) At average discount of 20%, 12-1/2% of net is the same as 10% of list 6. Recoupment of advances VI. Accounting Statements 1. Annual, semiannual, or quarterly statements 2. Payment dates 3. Cross-collateralization 4. Audit rights 5. Limit on time to object to statements 6. Limit on time to bring legal action 7. Examination on contingency basis 8. Pass through clause for subsidiary rights income 9. Reversion of rights for failure to account (important clause with smaller houses) VII. Revised Editions 1. Frequency 2. By whom? 3. Royalty reductions if done by third party 4. Sale of revised edition treated as sale of new book? 5. Reviser/Author credit VIII. Option 1. Definition of next work 2. When does option period start? 3. Definiteness of terms (i.e., is option legally enforceable?) 4. What type of option? (e.g., first look, matching, topping) IX. Competing Works 1. How is competing work defined? 2. How long does non-compete run? 3. Any reasonable accommodations? X. Out-of-Print 1. How defined? 2. Notice requirements 3. Author's right to purchase plates, film, inventory XI. Termination 1. What triggers reversion of rights? a) Failure to publisher within [insert number] months of manuscript acceptance b) Failure to account to author after due notice c) Failure to keep book in print (see Section X) 2. Survival of Author's representations and warranties 3. Licenses granted prior to termination survive XII. Miscellaneous 1. Choice of governing law 2. Mediation / Arbitration clauses 3. Bankruptcy 4. Modification 5. Literary agency clause © 2004. Lloyd J. Jassin. All Rights Reserved. ### Lloyd J. Jassin is a book publishing and entertainment attorney. His practice includes drafting and negotiating publishing and entertainment industry contracts, copyright counseling, manuscript (libel) vetting, trademark registration, prosecution and litigation. Before law school, Lloyd was Director of Publicity of Prentice Hall Press. He is the coauthor of The Copyright Permission and Libel Handbook (John Wiley & Sons), counsel to the Publishers Marketing Association (PMA), and Vice Chair of the Small Press Center. Contact: 212-354-4442 (t); Jassin@copylaw.com (E-mail); or visit www.copylaw.com. For more: http://copylaw.com/new_articles/final.three.html

Subject: INDUSTRY NEWS Author: Anonymous [Edit] Date Posted: 11:41:02 06/03/05 Fri INDUSTRY NEWS By OCC/RWA Member Mary Castillo New “sweet” romance line to be launched As of September 2006, Harlequin Romance and Silhouette Romance will be replaced by an as-yet-unnamed “sweet” romance line overseen by Editor Bryony Green and her editorial team in England. They will release six books a month. What they’re looking for: High on romance, low on explicit details, this short, contemporary series delivers feel-good reads which capture the intense emotions and excitement of falling in love within a variety of international settings... The heroine is vital. She must be warm, easy to like and engage with. Hero point of view is welcomed to give his character depth and credibility. He’s always strong and charismatic, successful in his own way and inspirational; a man you’d want to be with! Every story in this series must deliver on emotional depth, driven by strong, character-driven emotional conflicts. This conflicts stem from the real-life challenges and emotional issues that are relevant to women all over the world today. High sensual tension between the protagonists is vital, but our readers are primarily interested in the romance, not in explicit sexual detail, so in this series, we close the bedroom door. Length is 50,000 - 55,000 words. Submissions should go to Bryony Green, Associate Senior Editor, Harlequin Enterprises, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surry, TW9 1SR, United Kingdom. New editor at Dorchester As of May 20th, Editor Kate Seaver left Dorchester to take a job as Senior Editor at Berkley. Leah Hultenschmidt has taken over Kate's position at Dorchester, including overseeing the Smooch YA line. What Avon editors want In her Market News column, Cynthia Sterling reported a run down on that the ladies at Avon editors are specifically looking for in submissions. Executive Editor Lucia Macro is interested in mainstream, contemporary and historical romance featuring dark heroes, but no vampires. Senior Editor Lyssa Keusch wants high-concept romantic suspense and chick lit for Avon's trade program. Senior Editor Erika Tsang likes vampires, werewolves and witches, and is interested in ethnic fiction. Associate Editor Kelly Harms has a soft spot for Regency and Victorian-set historicals and fun chick-lit. Associate Editor Selena McLemore would love to see more contemporary Latina and African-American romance and chick lit. Assistant Editor May Chen likes sexy Scottish and Medieval romances. To submit to Avon, first send a query to avonromance@ harpercollins.com. In the subject line you can address the query to a specific editor, but no attachments, please. Send a one-page description of your story and maybe a paragraph about yourself. Expect to wait three or four weeks for a reply. Only query if you've completed an approximately 100,000-word manuscript. Avon works with both agented and unagented authors; both brand-new and previously published. Writing for Berkley Cynthia Sterling also reported on Gina Bernal, an editorial assistant at Berkley/Jove who is interested in historical, contemporary and paranormal romance, as well as chick-lit, women's fiction and young adult fiction. Each month, Berkley publishes a Sensation Showcase novel, which features a debut or up-and-coming author. So they're definitely interested in new authors here. To make the grade at Berkley an author needs a unique writing voice, an intriguing story and solid writing. Berkley prefers agented submissions, however, they will consider the first three chapters and a synopsis from unagented authors. Expect to wait three to six months for a response. Completed manuscripts should be about 100,000 words. Send your submission to 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014.

Subject: Get a sneak preview of 'Unscrambled Eggs'! Author: Anonymous [Edit] Date Posted: 18:27:08 05/27/05 Fri Upcoming Book Release! The upcoming book release entitled Unscrambled Eggs, is an honest and thought-provoking book that deals with everyday life experiences and issues that we face daily. It is a compilation of poems about living your dream and finding purpose. Read poems from 'Unscrambled Eggs' and see advance reviews of the book, which is scheduled for release in the fall of 2005. To learn more, subscribe to the mailing list. www.nadiabrown.com

Subject: Screenplays: Setups and Payoffs that Really Pay off! Author: Anonymous [Edit] Date Posted: 16:02:07 05/27/05 Fri ================================================= Setups and Payoffs that Really Pay off! ================================================= If you don't spend much of your life thinking about setups and payoffs, you should. Why? Because they accomplish so many important outcomes in a script. Great setups and payoffs are the core of a great plot. They start us wondering, then solve the mysteries. They give us what seems to be unimportant info, then surprise us with a powerful conclusion. They send our emotions in one direction, then payoff in another. The real question is "How do you design powerful setups and payoffs?" In Part One of this article, let's look at a very valuable way to think about setups and payoffs that can assist you to improve the level of drama and emotion in your screenplay. Work on each related setup and payoff as a team. Consider this example: SETUP: John is rude to a man in a coffee shop. PAYOFF: The man turns out to be his probation officer. This setup occurs in the opening scene and the payoff happens at the end of Act 1. But they are part of the same process. The setup is what gives the power of the payoff. But without the payoff, the setup would just be an isolated event. Looking at that setup and payoff as a team, we can quickly try on other possible ways to raise the emotional experience of an audience. Consider some of these: SETUP: John is rude to a man in a coffee shop. PAYOFF: The man turns out to be the new Vice President that John has to report to...and the VP's first job is to publicly announce who he keeps and who gets fired. Here, I kept the setup, but changed the payoff. This one puts John in a bad position where he not only has to apologize, but must beg for his job. SETUP: John distracts a man at the coffee counter and steals the two dollar tip he left for the waitress. PAYOFF: The man turns out to be his probation officer. In this case, I didn't change the payoff at all, but the experience is going to be different. Instead of just thinking that John is rude, the probation officer is now going to distrust every move he makes. That came from the new setup. Do you see the difference? Now, let's change both setup and payoff. SETUP: John (an attorney) gets in a scuffle with a rude man at the coffee shop before his court appearance. PAYOFF: When he arrives in court, the judge has a black eye and John must plead his case in front of the man he punched at the coffee shop. In this example, I raised the stakes of both the setup and payoff. Now, I'd like you to notice one more thing. When an early setup/payoff combination is very strong, it creates a series of other payoffs in the future of the script. In this case, every step of the court case would be influenced by the incident at the coffee shop. Another payoff could occur when the judge has John arrested at the end of the day. Just looking at your setups and payoffs as a team gives you the power to change and elevate them. Often, you'll instantly discover ways to create more interesting events, deliver more emotion, and improve your story.

Subject: New Releases - and Contest on my web site Author: Anonymous [Edit] Date Posted: 07:23:36 05/27/05 Fri JUST A FEW DAYS LEFT FOR THE CONTEST - ENDS MAY 30 go to www.billiewilliams.com/may2005 to see the archived newsletter with contest details - enter one or all three for your chance to win one of the books listed here. June promises to be a big month – for Billie A Williams and cohort Logan W Blue Three releases from three different publishers – here are the books to watch for: LOG LINES: Common Themes: Things aren’t always what they seem Common Premises: Crime & evil; hope & love have no boundaries Skull Music:, Billie A Williams, Wings ePress, Inc. www.wings-press.com ISBN# 1-59088-417-5 electronic and 1-59088-618-6 print. When does love become obsession? Scientific experimentation, medical breakthroughs, insurance fraud, international espionage combine to drag Charlie Wolfe into a bizarre mystery and a fight for her life. Purple Haze:: Billie A Williams, Triskelion Publishing, www.triskelionpublishing.com. A woman with duel personalities seeks revenge for perceived affronts to women in general, herself in particular. Murder is her answer; an answer Heather Highmark sees in a purple haze surrounding Lavender Paige’s victims and a puzzle she must solve before Heather’s brother or her lover become the next victims. Blind Date: Logan W Blue: Venus Press www.venuspress.com Obsession, revenge, international espionage and misunderstanding nearly cause a blind date to be murder. Quincy Delaney’s in a race, not just the Daytona 500 Stock Car Race, but a race for her life.

Subject: Debut Novel Market Deal Author: Anonymous [Edit] Date Posted: 08:03:39 05/25/05 Wed Jennifer Gilmore's GOLDEN COUNTRY, following the intertwining lives of three Jewish immigrants through the 1920s to the 1950s, to Alexis Gargagliano at Scribner, in a very nice deal, by Harriet Wasserman at the Harriet Wasserman Literary Agency (world). get more at Publishers Lunch http://www.publishersmarketplace.com