Publishing Pulse for March 23, 2012

 

New At QueryTracker:

We have one new agent this week in the QT database, Paula Munier of Talcott Notch Literary Services. Four agent profiles were updated, including two who have closed to queries, so please make sure you double-check every agent's website or Publisher's Marketplace page before querying. 

If you're a QueryTracker member (membership is free) then you can be notified whenever an agent or publisher is added or updates their profile.

Publishing News:

Based on a quick scan of Twitter, everyone in publishing is a little bleary-eyed from attending midnight showings of the Hunger Games movie last night. Be gentle with your agent or editor today, just in case.

Someone mailed eleven pounds of marijuana to St. Martin's Press, to a fictitious employee named Karen Wright. We at QueryTracker always encourage our readers not to engage in attempted bribery of editors or agents, but the story is pretty funny.

The New York Times discusses the neuroscience behind reading fiction, and why it's good for you. (I hate saying it that way, like reading is the equivalent of flossing.)

Around the Blogosphere:

Agent Rachelle Gardner discusses whether non-fiction writers should write the whole book.

Agent Janet Reid asks where we think the page number should go, and then tells us where she wants us to put it.

Agent Kristin Nelson speculates as to whether geeks are the next big thing in YA.


Oh, and if you're querying? Don't do this.


Take a look at twenty rare literary interviews.

Awesome News of Awesomeness:

Our very own Ash Krafton celebrated the release day of her novel Bleeding Hearts! Congratulations! 

Sophie Galen is an advice columnist who is saving the world—one damned person at a time. 

Over at Goodreads, you can enter to win one of five copies. Do it. Do it now.

Literary Quote of the Week:

"Nothing can be made of interest to the reader that was not first of vital concern to the writer." -John Gardner

That's all we have for now. Until next week, keep those queries flying!

---

Jane Lebak is the author of The Guardian (Thomas Nelson, 1994), Seven Archangels: Annihilation (Double-Edged Publishing, 2008) and The Boys Upstairs (MuseItUp, 2010). At Seven Angels, Four Kids, One Family, she blogs about what happens when a distracted daydreamer and a gamer geek attempt to raise four children. She is represented by the riveting Roseanne Wells of the Marianne Strong Literary Agency.