Category Archives: Rachel S.

September 28, 2012   Rachel   fun, hypothetical, music, picture books, Rachel S.  
7

Literary playlists

Books and music always seem to go together—they’re sold in the same stores, have similar cult followings (and the traditionalists have similar aversions to new technologies), and require a certain amount of alone time to enjoy properly, while still benefiting greatly from being shared with others. Why, then, are they not more frequently paired up in the same entity?

The other day, I came across this post from Picador USA. Picador has made up Spotify playlists for some favorite books, putting together soundtracks that seem appropriate for each. This particular one is for Jeffrey Eugenides’ The Marriage Plot, which I haven’t read, but desperately want to (Brenna, you did say you’d let me borrow yours…). I can’t confirm, then, if these are the perfect tunes for this book or not, but the idea is still one that I adore.

Immediately, I started thinking of all of the books I’ve read, which was a bit of a problem, because that’s a lot of thinking to do. Unable to pick the perfect book to come up with a soundtrack for, I considered the venture hopeless. I realized, though, that the book doesn’t have to be perfect, nor does it have to be venerable or complex. So, I settled on the first book I ever remember loving, which I’m told is the first book I read all on my own. I give you, Cookie Monster and the Cookie Tree, by David Korr and published by Golden Books in 1977.

In case you are unfamiliar with the plot of this seminal work of literature, let me break it down for you. It’s about a very selfish, not very bright witch, who is also the proud owner of a cookie tree—yes, a tree that bears cookies. Of course, Cookie Monster himself is also pretty selfish—when it comes to cookies, that is. When the little witch sees him trundling down the path towards her, she knows that if she doesn’t do something fast, he’ll eat all of her precious cookies. So, she casts a spell on the tree so that it will refuse to give a cookie to anyone who will not share it with someone else. Cookie Monster pleads and pleads with all of his friends on Sesame Street, but no one believes that he would ever actually share a cookie. Back at the tree, the witch is having similar problems—it seems her spell has backfired and the tree won’t give her any cookies either! Disastrous! Cookie and Witch agree to share the cookies with each other, which is the sensible solution—though nothing can stop Cookie Monster’s voracious frenzy when it comes to cookie eating!

Looking back over the pages of these book, it wasn’t hard at all to come up with some choice songs to accompany (some are based solely on title, others are the sentiment of the song, but they are all songs that I love):

Another Sunny Day – Belle & Sebastian

I Put A Spell On You – Nina Simone

All the Wine – The National

Fist City – Loretta Lynn

Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac

Monster Ballads – Josh Ritter

Troubbble – Stephen Malkmus

No One Will Ever Love You – The Magnetic Fields

Rebellion (Lies) – Arcade Fire

1, 2, 3, 4 – Feist

I’m Gonna Make It Better – She & Him

Tables & Chairs – Andrew Bird

Folding Chair – Regina Spektor

Still Rock & Roll to Me – Billy Joel

I promise, it works! What are some of your favorite or first books? Could you come up with a playlist or a band to do the soundtrack for any of them?

September 14, 2012   Rachel   fun, Rachel S., writing  
1

You can’t give up.

Down to the wire this Friday, and I’m nearly all burnt out, but I’ve got to write about something. Obviously, I enjoy writing on the blog, but it’s hard to come up with interesting things sometimes and the thought of giving up is so easy. However, we all know that’s never the answer. It’s so tempting to give in to frustration—especially creatively—when you hit a wall. I know from the half-finished (who am I kidding, half-started) stories that I have scribbled in random notebooks and in folders on my home computer titled things like “These are Stupid” that it’s not getting an idea that’s difficult. It’s not even the actual act of writing or coming up with nice sentences and words that’s the challenge. It’s sticking to it, gunning forward and coming up with nuances and conclusions and places your initial idea can actually go, plausibly and satisfyingly.

I have so much respect for those of you who have more than the ideas and the passing fancy. To sit down and complete a book—who cares if it’s any good or not—is something that I admire incredibly.

So. It’s the end of the week, and you might be hitting a wall. In response, I give you this perfect flowchart posted on Book Riot’s tumblr earlier this week. There is no reason not to persevere and you know it!

August 31, 2012   Rachel   goals, hypothetical, Rachel S.  
3

Magical things are afoot.

In case you weren’t aware (and I wasn’t until just yesterday), we’re going to have a blue moon tonight. There are actually a couple of definitions about what a blue moon really is, but the most commonly accepted refers to the rare occurrence when there are two full moons in on month. So rare that the next one won’t happen until 2018!

Full moons are, of course, already overloaded with folklore and superstition—crime rates going up, babies being born, accidents and, obviously, werewolves. But what about a blue moon? Being a vaguely superstitious kind of person, I had to do some poking around and supposedly any plans you make under a blue moon are fated to come true. Sowing the seeds of long-term goals during a blue moon are meant to be particularly fruitful, though erratic.

Regardless, there’s a reason people use the phrase “once in a blue moon,” and I think that tonight is the perfect time to set some goals for yourself, creativity and writing-wise. Even if it is all just superstition, sitting down and actually coming up with a comprehensive, achievable scenario for your book’s progress towards completion, can only help,  right? Real or imagined, use the rarity of tonight’s occurrence to make some concrete plans and maybe, just maybe, you’ll be rewarded tenfold.

August 17, 2012   Rachel   fiction, Rachel S., reading, recommendations  
2

Really flashy flash fiction

I’ve always relished a Sunday morning with the New York Times Magazine, but I’ll admit that while I flip through and read an article if I see one that interests me, it had always been about the big ole’ crossword in the back. Until recently (enough) when the Magazine underwent a massive redesign and up popped the “One-Page Magazine” feature in the very front. A fun little page, there’s trivia, humorous lists and comparisons, mini, mini articles, a riddle, and my favorite, Curtis Sittenfeld’s Summer Fiction Series.

I look forward to Sittenfeld’s stories every week. They’re poignant, funny, quirky and thought-provoking. And I’m finished reading them in under 30 seconds. Shorter than even normal flash fiction, the stories printed in the Summer Fiction Series are no more than one hundred words, oftentimes significantly less than that, yet they manage to evoke characters, feelings, mystery and resolution each and every time.

Some of them are wildly fantastical and others are completely mundane. Though flash fiction hardly requires the character development and careful plotting of a full-length novel, or even a short story, the effect can be equally powerful, and actually more difficult to evoke. All the elements of a good book need to be there, just radically condensed.

Here’s an example of one of Sittenfeld’s called THE FEMUR, which ran on July 1st of this year:

This one is an entirely self-contained situation, and it takes more than one reading (at least on my part) to really get the entire feel for the story.

Here’s another called THE MORTGAGE, which ran on May 20th in the Magazine:

Again, an story in and of itself, but like many of the really short flash fiction that I’ve seen, this could also be used as a writing exercise—a jumping off point. Whether you find yourself able to write effective flash fiction or not, there’s always a way to use it to your advantage beyond simple enjoyment.

Have you ever tried your hand at super short fiction? Care to try…now? Do you find it a helpful tool to write an extremely brief situation to use as the kernel for what might later become a novel?

August 03, 2012   Rachel   editing, fun, Rachel S., writing  
6

Writing Work-Out

It’s important, in writing (and I suppose in life in general) to know what your weaknesses are. Deep down, we all know what those might be, whether or not we ever own up to them, in public at least. Right off the bat, I know that my biggest weakness in writing—and I mean all writing, whether it be text messages, this blog, notebooks, let alone anything creative I might ever try my hand at—is writing too. darn. much.

Sometimes flowery, elegant, heavily detailed prose is perfectly acceptable, even necessary. That’s true for sure, and that’s certainly the type of writing that comes to mind first when I hear the critique that I have overwritten anything. But stereotypical, stodgy overdone prose isn’t the only kind of writing that needs to be pared back. Extraneous explanation, overuse of adjectives, adverbs, nouns and even verbs can take power and coherency away from a paragraph, essay or book.

The other day, I happened upon this handy little internet application: The Writer’s Diet.

While not completely infallible, it’s a great tool for getting a sense of just how many unnecessary words are muddling up your message. As a test, I ran some query letters through and wouldn’t you know, the letters that I had originally found most effective, enticing and intriguing were the ones that passed the test of leanness. The letters that I had less interest in were the more “heart attack” prone of my queries. Obviously, this isn’t going to be true across the board, but for me, it’s helped. I restrain myself a lot on this blog, you know, and I still tend to go on and on at odd times. It’s a habit I’m trying to break, and I think my writing is improving because of it.

Is this something that’s helpful to you? Test it out! See where you fall. What sort of bandaids have you discovered for your own writing weaknesses?

 

P.S. I ran this blog entry through the Writer’s Diet Test, and it definitely came up a little flabby…I’m working on it, guys!

July 20, 2012   Rachel   classics, covers, fun, Rachel S.  
7

Cover talk

“It’s about baseball. A person who likes to play baseball but also takes care of a plane. ”

Obviously, we are talking about the classic novel Catch-22 here. Or, at least, that’s what could be inferred from the iconic cover. Through the eyes of a six-year-old who hasn’t yet gone through an English class or lit course, and so has no frame of reference for well-known works of fiction, the possible subjects and plotlines of various novels were discussed on this post from strollerderby the other day. The inferences the little girl makes based solely on the book covers may seem ridiculous at first, but after taking a step back and forgetting everything you know about the books already, could actually be feasible…for most of them. I’m not entirely sure about the “very hairy eagle who hangs out with fancy ladies” in Steppenwolf, but many of the others could certainly be argued for.

Once you’ve clicked through them all, and after the laughter has subsided (meaning, I’ll see you in a couple of hours), there’s really a lot to be said here for the importance of a book’s cover. While, of course, the actual text is what makes a book what it is, the cover is what draws the reader in. So much depends even upon the typeface, color, whether there’s a picture or not. Even if a cover is agreed upon as a “good cover,” in that it’s aesthetically pleasing, gives an idea of what the book might be about, etc., assumptions about the contents as well as the audience for the book will always be made. Genre-specific books tend to have a similar look about them, in order to get people who love romances, sci-fi, Westerns or thrillers to pick them up off the shelf, despite what the flap copy says. If a YA book and an adult book have basically the same storyline, just with the characters at different ages, it’s still almost immediately obvious which book is which, simply by looking at the cover.

Almost universally, unless the book is by an author I’m already familiar with, a book’s cover determines whether or not I even pick it up off the table or shelf. That’s not to say I haven’t read books with unappealing covers, but they always tend to color the way I approach an unfamiliar novel. For example, one of my favorite books, Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, has, in my opinion, an absolutely terrible cover. I bought that book along with several others, and it remained at the bottom of the pile until I had no choice but to start in on it. I approached it reluctantly, not even sure why I had purchased it in the first place, and was only half-invested in the words on the page for the first couple chapters—until, of course, I realized how much I was actually enjoying the story and went back to read parts that I know I hadn’t given much attention to.

As much as we’re told not to judge a book by them, covers are important. There’s a reason publishers are constantly putting out their own, updated versions of the classics to appeal to the younger, contemporary market. The text inside is still the same—it’s still Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett, Jane and Mr. Rochester, Dr. Frankenstein and his monster—but each time, it looks like an entirely different book geared towards an entirely different market.

How much are you affected (honestly!) by book covers? Have you ever been tricked into thinking you’d like a book because the cover made it look just so darn good? How about the reverse?

July 06, 2012   Rachel   fun, Rachel S., reading, recommendations  
8

Friday Reads

I’ll begin by stating two obvious things:

  1. It’s Friday
  2. I like to read (and my guess is that most of you out there do, too).

Why, then, have we never, ever discussed Friday Reads before? Oversight of the grandest scale!*

As any avid reader does, I’m always very interested in what others are reading, too, and am always seeking out new things and recommendations. I don’t, however, spend my days inquiring of everyone I meet, whether or not we have ever seen each other before, about their daily reading choices. But it would be so nice to know! Quickly! And easily!

This is where Friday Reads comes in. Fridays, the loveliest and most leisurely weekdays are bastions of possibility. The whole weekend is wide open ahead of you and you have nothing to do but things that you actually want to do and choose to do. (I’m getting really operatic here, but bear with me). Books are better on Fridays!

Friday Reads offers a forum where readers can post their Friday reading choices for others to peruse, comment on, or take note of. More than just a list of titles and excited notes, Friday Reads aims to raise the visibility of readers. Reading is generally such a solitary pursuit, yet so many people engage in it every day (not just Fridays!). Friday Reads wants to showcase the fact that reading can be a communal pleasure pursuit and encourage everyone to proudly display their literary loves.

It’s also fun to see if others are reading the same book as you or to discover a new title you would never have found on your own. Friday Reads is also accessible on Twitter, with the hashtag, surprisingly, #FridayReads.

Try it! The more people involved, the more opportunities for inspiration, discussion and general warm fuzzy feelings of community there are. My Friday read this week is The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown. So far, so (so, so) good! What’s yours?

 

*Not actually the grandest oversight ever, I don’t think.

June 08, 2012   Rachel   author events, authors, BEA, Rachel S.  
4

One more about BEA (Kind of)

Since no one has written about BEA yet, I thought I would be the trailblazer on this one.

My favorite thing about BEA (Besides, obviously the free totebags and galleys, oh, and also chocolate. There’s so much chocolate.), are the author signings. Some are celebrities, yes, and others are big name authors who already have a huge fan base, but there are also a large percentage of first time authors on the schedule, sitting at their respective booths with a  big stack of galleys, a pen and a line of eager readers waiting for their copy.

Both the publishing industry and the readers it caters to are still excited about new talent—a good story and great writing can still beat out the name on the cover. What other chance will a reader have to chat, however briefly, with an author whose work they love, or whose story they identify with? Having that personal connection with the author of a book can enrich the reading experience, even if your conversation consisted solely of a discussion of your mutual love of glitter nail polish, which you both happened to be wearing. Yes, this was an actual conversation I had with an author at a book signing. And yes, it was great and yes, I enjoyed her book more for it.

Where in normal circumstances, you have to go out of your way to one bookstore to see one author and get one book signed, at BEA there are dozens of authors and dozens of books and everyone is equally as excited (if not more, in some cases—I’m looking at you, Chris Colfer fans) about the prospect of meeting multiple authors as you are.

What’s your greatest book signing/author meeting story? Did you find it changed your perception of the book at all? How great is glitter nail polish?

May 25, 2012   Rachel   fun, Rachel S., reading  
5

Common (under)ground

Most people would agree that public transportation, while convenient (ostensibly), is not always the most pleasant of experiences. Trains are late, buses break down, there’s traffic, people rushing and smushed together all at once. My favorite way to start the morning, hard as it is to believe, is not with my head practically cradled in a large sweaty man’s armpit while trying to remain upright with my hand on the ceiling because I’m not close enough to any poles to hold on to.

These are, of course, the worst case scenarios, and there are some nice things about commutes, too. As I was bragging about this morning, my commute actually isn’t very long and half of it is on bicycle, but for many, it’s a good chunk of time spent sitting on a bus or subway car. Could be endless boredom, or it could be the perfect time to get some reading in.

I came across this lovely little blog the other night, Underground New York Public Library, and promptly spent an hour or so combing through the photos and comments, because that’s what happens when the internet, people watching, and books get combined. Comprised almost entirely of photos of people reading on the subway or waiting for the train to arrive, the pictures are captioned only with the title and author of the book, perhaps a description of any interaction the photographer had with the reader.

The community of traveling readers is all-encompassing. People from all walks of life are riding together, reading books and it’s so fun to look through the photos and see the various types of people reading the same books I’ve read or want to read. Seeing the titles underneath each photo really shows how much diversity there can be in the audience for a particular book, highlighting my own preconceptions about both books and people.

Sometimes the reader and their book seem so incongruous to my first impressions, like the no-nonsense security guard engrossed in a recent Anna Quindlen,  and others are delightfully appropriate—like the quintessential businessman in a sharp suit, accent tie and stately umbrella absorbed in Timothy Ferriss’ The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich.

We’re reminded again and again, yet we all still seem to forget how books can and do bring us together. Everyone who has read the same book, or who has even read a book, is part of something. No one comes away with an identical mindset to another after reading a piece of text, but we can all share in the camaraderie that comes with the experience.

So read what you want to read—it doesn’t matter if it’s “good literature” or the books you’re “supposed” to be reading. Don’t stress about your commute, either. Just bring a book and join the thousands of people doing the same.

 

May 11, 2012   Rachel   about us, deals, Rachel S., What's New at DGLM  
6

DGLM Deal Round Up!

It’s been quite some time since we’ve done a deal roundup on the blog, so I’m thinking we’re certainly due for one. It’s been a busy, busy 2012 so far and hopefully will continue as such—so many good books out there!

Rounding out 2011, Jane sold Peggy Kotsopoulos’ SOMETHING I ATE, a holistic nutrition guide that offers recipes as well as insight into how food can affect our minds and bodies in all areas of life to Andrea Magyar of Penguin Group Canada.

Kicking off the new year, Jane sold revered and innovative baker Alice Medrich’s A NEW WAY TO BAKE, which introduces baking tips, tricks and methods for using alternate and varied types of flours to Judy Pray at Artisan.

Livia Blackburne’s MIDNIGHT THIEF, a debut YA fantasy novel about a talented thief who joins an assassin’s guild only to find that what she thought was the perfect job is much more sinister than originally imagined was sold to Abby Ranger at Hyperion by Jim.

Bestselling author and celebrated Food Network and Cooking Channel television host Ellie Krieger’s newest, currently untitled cookbook that offers simple and healthy solutions for weeknight dinners to busy families sold to Justin Schwartz at John Wiley & Sons by Jane.

Stacey then sold Robin Robertson’s ONE-DISH VEGAN, a cookbook that will showcase over 150 one-dish recipes from the master vegan cookbook author to Dan Rosenberg at Harvard Common Press.

Another debut novel, Stephanie Kuehn’s CHARM & STRANGE, about a boy dealing with a traumatic past that haunts his life in violent, disturbing ways, in a portrait of grief, madness, and ultimately resilience, went to Sara Goodman at St. Martin’s Press, sold by Michael.

Gaby Dalkin’s ABSOLUTELY AVOCADO, a cookbook of over 100 recipes that feature the beloved and healthy fruit, the avocado, went to Justin Schwartz at John Wiley & Sons, sold by Stacey.

Stacey then sold START AT THE END, by president and founder of Growthink, Dave Lavinksy, which a smart, savvy business book that teaches entrepreneurs and small business owners how to reverse engineer success and create an action plan to successfully get there to Adrianna Johnson at John Wiley & Sons.

Bestseller David Hewson’s atmospheric CARNIVAL FOR THE DEAD, a puzzle-piece, labyrinthine mystery set during Carnival in Venice and wrapped deep inside the art and culture of Venice itself, which was previously published in the UK, went to Andy Bartlett at Thomas & Mercer, sold by Stacey.

Debra Weyermann’s THE GRAVE ROBBERS, an exposé of the Native American antiquities trade and the 2010 raid that shredded the code of silence protecting it for centuries, was sold by Jane to Jerry Pohlen at Chicago Review Press.

ALA Best Fiction for YA pick & Cybil Award-winning STUPID FAST Geoff Herbach’s EVEN IF IT HURTS, in which a dork-turned-athlete must choose a path between responsibility to others and his own desires to find firm ground from which to leap to a future that is his own went to Leah Hultenschmidt at Sourcebooks, sold by Jim.

Jessica then sold John Adams’ THE MILLIONAIRE AND THE MUMMIES: HOW THEODORE DAVIES USED A STOLEN FORTUNE TO TRANSFORM ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE GILDED AGE, the true story of an American robber baron-turned-Egyptologist who turned tomb-robbing and treasure-hunting into a science, to Daniela Rapp at St. Martin’s Press.

Michael’s next sale was for Suzanne Selfors’s THE IMAGINARY VETERINARY, a chapter book series in which a string of unusual events — from finding a lost dragon hatchling to tracking an escaped sasquatch — leads ten-year-olds to become apprentices to a veterinarian for imaginary creatures, which went to Julie Scheina at Little, Brown Children’s.

Susan Beal’s next gorgeous craft title, SEWING BY THE SEASON, which takes a seasonal approach to beautiful sewn projects perfect for any occasion, in any season was sold to Laura Lee Mattingly at Chronicle by Stacey.

Dr. James H. Fallon’s, THE SUCCESSFUL PSYCHOPATH, a memoir in which the neuroscientist discovers that the brain patterns of deadly psychopathic killers mirror his own, was sold by Jane to Brooke Carey at Current.

MARBURY LENS author Andrew Smith’s GRASSHOPPER JUNGLE, about a sexually confused kid, his girlfriend, his best friend, and how they accidentally bring about the end of the world, went to Julie Strauss-Gabel at Dutton Children’s, sold by Michael.

Michael then sold PLEASE SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER by journalist Sara Solovitch, an exploration of the deepest of human fears, whether you call it stage fright, performance anxiety, or social phobia, through the author’s own attempts to overcome it, as well as her research into its causes and cures, to Benjamin Adams at Bloomsbury.

A Tarzan for the digital-age, Jim sold Alex Mallory’s WILD,  in which a girl skips her senior trip to go into the wild instead, and finds a boy raised to believe that the world outside the forest has been decimated by a modern plague, to Anne Hoppe at Harper Teen.

Jane’s next sale was for Anne Cleeland’s THE TAINTED ANGEL, the Regency version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith about a beautiful young courtesan who is actually a spy whose allegiance is unknown, which went to Shana Drehs at Sourcebooks.

Bringing cakelet decorating to the masses, Amy Eilert’s CUPCAKE ENVY, a collection of 40 projects for beautiful, adorable, and fun “cakelets” (unique crosses between cupcakes and cakes), was sold to Bud Sperry at Tuttle by Stacey.

Michael Krondl, author of SWEET INVENTION, has a new book, DONUTS, a lighthearted cultural history of America’s favorite treat with selected accompanying recipes, which was sold by Jane to Cynthia Sherry at Chicago Review Press.

An hilarious and touching memoir about Nicole Caccavo Kear’s struggle to come to terms with the fickle hand of Fate, in the form of a disease that is slowly erasing her vision, all while raising three kids with the “help” of her loving Italian-American family, to Sara Goodman at St. Martin’s Press, sold by Michael.

In a collaboration with Cooking Light, Stacey sold Allison Fishman’s LIGHTEN UP, AMERICA!, a celebration of regional American cooking made light, including Buffalo wings, Maryland crab cakes, and apple pie, to Heather Averett at Oxmoor House.

Stacey then sold Amy Plum’s JUNEAU as part of a two-book deal, about a girl who escapes the mysterious forces that kidnapped her clan and discovers that everything about her past has been a lie, facing disillusionment while braving an unknown modern-day America to rescue her family, to Tara Weikum at HarperCollins Children’s.

Jane then sold Nancy Herkness’s novel, TAKE ME HOME, in which an emotionally wounded woman falls in love with an equally scarred veterinarian, and both find strength in themselves through caring for a battered racehorse to Kelli Martin at Montlake.

THE BIG LETDOWN by author, journalist, and breastfeeding advocate Kimberly Seals Allers opens up a candid conversation about the cultural, sociological and economic forces that shape the breastfeeding culture was sold by Stacey to Nichole Argyres at St. Martin’s Press.

John sold Stephen L. Duncan’s YA debut THE REVELATION SAGA, about a teen who discovers he is the angel Gabriel and must train to save the world from the evil demon Septis, pitched as FALLEN meets HARRY POTTER with a dose of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, to Emily Steele at Medallion Press.

Two more books in James Beard-honored mixologist, author, and beverage consultant Kim Haasarud’s popular 101 series, SHOTS and TROPICAL DRINKS, sold to Justin Schwartz at John Wiley & Sons by Michael.

Bestselling author and iconic feminist leader Phyllis Chesler’s AN AMERICAN BRIDE IN KABUL, about her time as a young bride in Afghanistan and the charged and complicated relationship between the Islamic East and West was sold by Jane to Karen Wolny at Palgrave.

Jane’s next sale was for William Gurstelle’s DEFENDING YOUR CASTLE, which offers wild yet historically accurate plans for the modern homeowner, from moats and drawbridges to hostile plant walls, including both scientific and anecdotal material, which went to Cynthia Sherry at Chicago Review Press.

Romance writer Anne Stuart’s next series, AFTER THE STORM: THE STORY OF THE RUSSELL SISTERS, a historical trilogy that focuses on three orphaned sisters, Arielle, Madeline, and Sophie, as they embark to investigate the mysterious maritime disaster that killed their parents, encountering rogues, gentlemen, and illicit affairs along the way, was sold to Kelli Martin at Montlake by Jane.

Rounding out March, Jane sold Michael Wolraich’s WHEN THE WAR BEGAN: TEDDY ROOSEVELT, REPUBLICAN PROGRESSIVES AND THE BIRTH OF MODERN POLITICS, the story of the beginning of the progressive political movement, following closely the lives of all the major political, economic and journalistic players as they careen through history and one another’s lives to Karen Wolny at Palgrave.

John also sold real estate magnate Herman J. Russell’s memoir BUILDING ATLANTA, which recounts his childhood growing up during segregation and how he overcame a severe speech disorder to build much of the Atlanta skyline and contribute to the Civil Rights movement, to Cynthia Sherry at Chicago Review Press.

Jim’s next sale was for Gae Polisner’s FRANKIE SKY, still reeling from her little brother’s drowning death, a girl finds her herself holding back – from summer trips to the ocean, friendship, budding romance – till she meets another young boy who may be her brother’s reincarnation, which awakens her to new possibilities, which went to Elise Howard at Algonquin.

Journalist and historian Scott Martelle’s JONES’S BONES, the story that brings together two important eras in history—the American Revolutionary War and the dawn of the 21st Century—through the search for the final resting place for war hero John Paul Jones was sold to Jerome Pohlen at Chicago Review Press by Jane.

Veteran journalist and Professor of Journalism at Indiana University Joseph Coleman’s THE OLD MAN AND THE HAMMER, a narrative-driven investigation of America’s aging workforce, charting a path forward through the coming demographic revolution, was sold to Terry Vaughn at Oxford University Press by Jessica.

Jane then sold nutrition experts Katherine Brooking and Julie Upton’s 101 FAT HABITS AND SLIM SOLUTIONS, a health-smart guide full of real life, practical steps for kicking bad habits and finding new dietary and lifestyle paths to Sara Carder at Tarcher.

Bestselling author of the wildly popular self-published WIFE BY WEDNESDAY, Catherine Bybee’s newest romance trilogy, the NOT QUITE… series brings the genre to a whole new level as she elegantly brings to life sexy, rich bachelors, desperate hotel heiresses, and Caribbean scandals, to name a few, was sold to Kelly Martin at Montlake by Jane.

Anne Cleeland’s MUDER IN THRALL, the sexy, disturbing and utterly engrossing novel in a series of romantic suspense, following Kathleen Doyle, a fiery first-year detective on her first twisted murder case, was sold by Jane to Audrey LaFehr at Kensington.

Jane’s next sale was for chef, restaurateur, and TV personality Gale Gand’s newest cookbook, GALE GAND’S LUNCH!, in which she shares fun and creative ideas, tips, and tricks for all kinds of lunches, which went to Justin Schwartz at John Wiley & Sons.

GREAT BALLS OF CHEESE, a quirky and fun collection of over 50 recipes for all kinds of cheese balls from FoodNetwork.com and CookingChannelTV.com editor Michelle Buffardi, went to Justin Schwartz at John Wiley & Sons, sold by Stacey.

Jessica sold HISTORY LESSONS: A FAMILY MEMOIR OF MADNESS, MEMORY, AND THE WONDERS OF THE BRAIN by Clifton Crais: Part memoir, part narrative science and part detective story, History Lessons is a provocative, beautifully crafted investigation into what it means to be human, to Dan Crissman at Overlook.

Helen Bryan’s THE SISTERHOOD, connecting an unlikely present-day heroine to the events of the Spanish Inquisition, handsome friars and courageous nuns, doomed love affairs, persecuted orphans, and cunning noblemen and women, was sold by Jane to Terry Goodman at Amazon.

And finally, DGLM’s most recent sale was VODKA: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY, written and curated by Victorino Matus, a senior editor at The Weekly Standard sold by Stacey to James Jayo at Lyons Press.

Okay! That’s a long list there, but it can only mean good things for DGLM and our authors.

 

 

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