LinkedIn?

Hey, folks.

My position at the healthcare system where I was a director of marketing was eliminated last week in a corporate-wide management layoff. I've been advised by an executive recruiter that the social network site, LinkedIn.com, is a must these days for making connections that may lead to new opportunities. Are any of you currently on LinkedIn. If so, let me know and I'll send an invite your way.

Thanks,

doug

Help. Again.

Because I seem to have taken up more than my share of the main blog recently, I've posted my latest request on my own blog. Please visit and advise if you have a moment.

The Little Things

I had some fun recently updating my website front page with a list of things that people might expect to find in my writing. I'm not talking about major themes, but the small touches that I find I keep repeating. This can also apply to the writing itself - for instance, a friend of mine commented on the fact that people kept stepping out of things in my books. Stepping out of houses, doors, flower beds etc etc. Needless to say, from then on nobody stepped out of anything.

So what would be on your list? Does everyone eat cottage pie, or sniff when they get angry? Are all your literary curtains pink or are you far too fond of exclamation marks?!!! (ugh)

Loud Yay

I just wanted to say an officially enormous hoorah to Ryan, with his very exciting news about a two-book deal with Pan Macmillan. Congratulations!

Will Atkins on MNW

Do check out Will on MNW at How Publishing Really Works. It made my day!

Ten Little Herrings

Though no longer strictly speaking an MNW event, I thought I’d just mention the publication of Ten Little Herrings on 7 August. There’s an interview with me on the Macmillan website – see http://www.panmacmillan.com/interviews/displayPage.asp?PageID=7521

For those who couldn’t make the launch, there are some photos and a review of the book (and indeed of James McCreet’s book) on http://itsacrime.typepad.com/its_a_crime_or_a_mystery/

And here are two distinguished guests at Goldsboro Books.

Ryan David Jahn's new look

Those of you who, like me, follow Ryan David Jahn's blog, may have noticed that it has been missing in action for a while. Indeed, clicking on his sidebar link under MNW Writers has been transporting one to a site called wix.com, which offers a wide array of web-design services. I wondered if perhaps RDJ had abandoned his scribbling for a new and exciting career in the fast-growing field of information technology (an understandable move given the fact that writing is a pain in the ass/arse).

Mystery solved. Ryan has simply moved to a new web address (http://gunsandverbs.wordpress.com/ ) and is now set up in a spiffy new three-column format. To continue with the analogy of moving house, he has brought along some, but not all, of the posts from his previous address and stashed them in the new archives.

Drop through and give a glance. And I'm going to add a direct link to one of his posts that will be of interest to all Macmillanites: a note on actual print runs as opposed to what publishers announce. Interesting, yes?

Agent or solo (again)?

I'm back! And thanks again for all the reading suggestions (see comments following my last post).

I have good news. I think. An agent has emailed to say she "would love" to represent me. This is what I wanted, especially since the WIP is barely out of nappies, and so I didn't have much to show her. But now I have cold feet. All that stuff about contracts and VAT (VAT?), plus the risks entailed in someone else being involved in my work. Of course, I wanted someone else, otherwise why bother to approach an agent in the first place? I wanted someone with publishing experience, someone to go over ideas with, and someone with whom I could discuss all the little niggles which are too trivial to bother Will with. But now the prospect seems oddly daunting.


How have other MNWs fared? I'd love to hear the experiences of people who have continued to go it alone, as well as those who have an agent and do/do not recommend having one. I don't have to decide yet - in my present crippled state I can't even get up to London to meet her - but I would be most grateful for any advice. I know I've posted on the subject of agents before, but it's a big step (big steps aren't what I'm good at right now, although I'm down to walking with one stick - yay!), for which apologies. But I want to get it right.

curious

Is MNW still publishing a new title each month? I notice on the Web site that there's nothing new in August. Then there's Faye's book in September, but nothing after that until January. Has there been a change of strategy or business model?

drw