Linkage & Book Talk

But first, pimpage, over at LEC Book Reviews:

Call me a skeptic, but after the progress Mark Charan Newton had shown in City of Ruin, I was doubtful that we would see another leap forward such as that one in the next book. The Book of Transformations proved me wrong, exhibiting a writer at his best yet, and more importantly, thoroughly enjoying himself. More than that though, The Book of Transformation offered, much like its predecessor, a terrifically bizarre fantasy adventure, utterly unique in its construction. Fans of the first two books will be glad to find a book better than those this third time around. And for those that have yet to jump in to Newton’s rich, weird and thrilling world, there’s no better place than this one to start. This one is, you’ll understand, highly, highly recommended.

Daniel Abraham makes a brief statement on the current gender debate in SFF, which you should read:

There’s always a problem for men advocating for women’s equality that we come across as something less than manly while doing so.  A woman I used to date had the solution of advocating for women in derogatory terms, as in “Ah, I say give the bitches equal pay.”

Though I rarely work blue, it seems to me that this is the occasion for it.  If you are offended by rude language or are a woman, you may stop reading now.  I’ll get back to a more genteel, open, and civil conversation next time.

Still here?

Okay, then, fellas.

It seems as though the rise of self-publishing continues, as the Bookseller discusses a self-published author hitting the one-million sales mark:

Locke said: “Kindle Direct Publishing has provided an opportunity for independent authors to compete on a level playing field with the giants of the book selling industry. Not only did KDP give me a chance, they helped at every turn. Quite simply, KDP is the greatest friend an author can have.”

Other than an editor or an agent, that is. No doubt these one-off headlines will be enough to fuel the fires of struggling authors-to-be out there, but for every one success, there are probably a hundred thousand failures. Much like ordinary publishing in that respect, I guess. What is interesting is that in the few years I’ve been working in this industry, the stigma of self-publishing has all but vanished (allowing the publishers involved to make a mint by playing on the emotions of the struggling artist).

Meanwhile, the Guardian discusses the merits of actually having an editor:

But as an author who has a contract with a publisher, I like the fact that, on a very basic level, every time I deliver a manuscript, I am auditioning for them all over again.

Lastly, watch this, and then send it to all your e-reading friends: