Publishing Pulse for Friday May 25, 2012

Success Story

Congratulations to Tracy Holczer, whose success story can be read here.

Query Tracker Database Updates


The profiles of four agents—Drea Colhane, Denise Marcil, Farley Chase, and Halli Melnitsky—were updated this week. Please make sure you double-check every agent's website or Publisher's Marketplace page before querying.

Also, five new publishers have been added to the QT database. You can check out the publisher updates page to see who's new. 

If you're a QueryTracker member (membership is free) you can view the database of more than 1200 agent and publisher profiles. Premium Members can be notified whenever an agent or publisher is added or updates their profile, in addition to receiving access to several other enviable features.

Blogospherically Speaking…


Rachelle Gardner describes the editing process used by many publishing houses.

Nathan Bransford takes all of the fun out of a good knock-down drag-out Us versus Them fight in his article comparing traditional publishing to self publishing.

Want to know what he personally thinks is the right way? (Of course, you do. EVERYONE wants to know what Nathan thinks. He's Nathan.)

While Elsewhere On The Webs…


This recent survey of self-publishing authors suggests that a little bit of both types of publishing might be a good idea. Self-published writers who have an agent, or who go after a traditional deal on their own, earn much more than the average self-published writer.

Speaking of earnings, are you looking for a new job? Several big publishing houses are hiring. Brush up on your publishing know-how before you arrange an interview by studying this "convoluted and snarky, but not entirely untrue" infographic by Mariah Bear.   

Food For Thought

One article suggests that what you read can have a lasting impact on your personality—and that the actions of fictional characters may actually influence readers' behavior. A slight alteration to my favorite phrase may be in order—not only must we be the change we wish to see in the world…we should read more stories about said change, too.

Happy Memorial Day!

If anyone will be attending this weekend's Balticon 46—a huge sci-fi/fantasy convention near Baltimore, MD—I hope you'll drop the Pink Narcissus table, where I'll be hanging out with my editors and fellow Pink Narc authors. (My mom made cookies to hand out so, really, I don't see what choice you have. They are MY MOM'S COOKIES. Oh yeah, I'll also bring my book, Bleeding Hearts. :D )

And for those who are unable to attend the con, here's a recipe for a sweet treat, perfect for your holiday picnics. (See what happens when I blog on an empty stomach?)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Ash Krafton is a speculative fiction writer who resides in the heart of the Pennsylvania coal region, where she keeps the book jacket for "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" in a frame over her desk. Visit Ash's blog at www.ash-krafton.blogspot.com for news on her newly released urban fantasy "Bleeding Hearts: Book One of the Demimonde" (Pink Narcissus Press 2012).