Computer: Friend or Foe of Books?
A few days ago, I mentioned the fantastic Bookmark Now: Writing in Undreaderly Times, a collection of essays edited by Kevin Smokler. The essay A Computer Ate My Book by Douglas Rushkoff raises some interesting questions and some pointed criticisms of publishing. Rushkoff begins by brushing aside all the-sky-is-falling complaints of how the Internet is…
continue readingThe Steinbrenner of Horse Racing
This has nothing to do with books, but longtime readers of Slushpile know that I grew up in Kentucky on a horse farm and this news item is just mind-boggling to me. The Keeneland September Yearling Sale recently closed and most of the attention focused on Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. Determined to win…
continue readingBoD: Snowblind
As if my bank account didn’t already suffer enough from my guitar obsession and my work with The Wrist Watch Review, a hip book expert just had to tell me about a book that is destined to damage my credit rating. First of all, let’s talk about the basic text. Robert Sabbag’s 1976 book Snowblind:…
continue readingBulldog Agents
Agent 007 has an interesting post on her blog about how an agent can work to protect the author’s interests. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an antagonistic relationship between the agent and the editor, but ultimately, the agent’s allegiance is to the writer. Agent 007 writes, “In the publishing business, it???s crucial that an…
continue readingServes ‘Em Right
Although the Hurricane Katrina/New Orleans books mentioned below seem to be legitimate, serious, and sincere efforts, we are often plagued by books by “authors” who just want to cash in on some tragedy and horror. You might remember our article about Michael Jackson jurors who signed book deals after acquitting the pop singer. Now, one…
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