The A Cappela Newsletter for Writers September 2000

NEWS & VIEWS YOU CAN USE

Your monthly newsletter from Patrika, your Author's Advocate

Visit her, send an email, at www.acappela.com

IN THIS ISSUE:

*Pat's Picks Sell your stuff all over the world, watch your style

*News You Can Use e-book news; newspaper goes electronic ink; writers win in cyberspace

*Markets nonfiction, fiction and poetry, e-markets

*Trivia strange words, definitions; Bert & Ernie; Rowling is richest

*Feedback "wonderful website ...helped me in so many ways."

*Book gossip King fans pay; other authors follow, Chinese ban Clinton book, Harry Potter found

*Writing Q&A How much can I earn if my book is published?

*Wordplay three nouns I'll bet you don't know

*Quote of the Month Grisham shoots 'em!

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PAT'S PICKS

Dutch Uncle advise:

A foolish consistency," Emerson insisted, "is the hobgoblin of little minds." That may well be, but editors have enough reasons to reject your work; don't let sloppy inconsistencies be one of them. . Get yourself a good style manual.

New Seminar: Selling to International Markets Cyberspace has made your market global. Find out how to sell your stuff to this expanded market. (Begins the first week of October.)

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NEWS YOU CAN USE:

~ SUCCESSOR TO ROCKET EBOOK

With all these new e-books on the market, there are only a few clunky machines out there to read them with...until now. The next generation of Gemstar's portable e-book devices will be officially introduced at the New York Is Book Country book fair in Manhattan set for September 24.

~MICROSOFT/AMAZON.COM EBOOK ALLIANCE

Microsoft Corp. has announced that online retailer Amazon.com has selected Microsoft Reader as the preferred format for Amazon.com's future eBook store.

~NEWSPAPER GOES TO ELECTRONIC INK

The Arizona Republic will be the first newspaper to use electronic ink displays to transmit news to locations around Phoenix.

~WRITERS WIN IN CYBERSPACE

The National Writers Union (NWU) and Contentville.com, a website founded by publisher Steven Brill, have announced an agreement to compensate writers for works purchased by visitors to the website. The new agreement, approved by the NWU National Executive Board, will utilize the NWU's Publications Rights Clearinghouse (PRC) to assign and pay royalties to writers whose work is sold on Contentville. Additional information available at: http://www.nwu.org.

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MARKETS

Nonfiction

~Writers/Editors

GTS Publishing Services, a division of industry leader The GTS Companies, is seeking freelance writers and editors for grades K-12 textbooks and ancillaries in the Social Sciences, Reading, Science and Math. Background in textbook adoption requirements, curriculum development and teaching desirable. Send cover letter, resume, relevant samples to Karen Judd, The GTS Companies, 5650 Jillson St., Los Angeles, Calif. 90040.

~Update Manuscript

Writer needed for manuscript updating of "Silent Spring" and "Our Stolen Future." Send resume to World Center for Environmental Health, 15 Ellery St., Suite 3, Cambridge, Mass. 02138.

~ Write About The City

Crab Orchard Review (http://www.siu.edu/~crborchd) is seeking submissions for the Spring/Summer 2001 issue focusing on writing inspired or informed by the histories, experiences, observations, and/or cultural lives of "The City-Past, Present, and Future." There are no limits on the subjects, communities or locations we hope writers will explore in their poetry, fiction and literary nonfiction for this issue.

Fiction and Poetry

~Erotica

Noirotica 4 -- Series editor Thomas Roche (http://www.thomasroche.com) is currently reading stories for the fourth volume of the NOIROTICA series. Stories should have a strong erotic and crime-noir elements integrated into the plot. Explicit sex is preferred but not absolutely necessary, but the sexual element must be critical to the plot. The sexuality can be of any orientation. "I'm looking for visceral, thrilling, terrifying, intriguing, arousing,dangerous writing that kicks ass and takes names." 1,000-5,000 words, $50 flat rate per story on publication, plus a percentage of any future additional royalties earned. Deadline: December 15, 2000. Submit in hard copy with SASE to: Thomas S. Roche, Editor, NOIROTICA, P.O. Box 410686, San Francisco Calif. 94141-0686

~Fantasy

"Legends of the Pendragon," an anthology of original Arthurian short fiction set for release in August 2001, is a prequel, to "The Doom of Camelot" (Review Doom before submitting to the new book.)All submissions should be set in the Arthurian milieu, any time before Arthur's marriage to Guenevere. Most wanted: stories that explore how events make Britain or specific characters ready for the coming of Arthur and Camelot.

Will consider longer poetry in addition to prose. 3,000-7,000 words. Deadline: Dec. 15, 2000.

Payment: $.03 to $.05/word. Paid within 30 days of acceptance. Send hardcopy submissions to:

James Lowder, Legends of the Pendragon, 15120 West Mayflower Court, New Berlin, Wis. 53151 No e-mail submissions, please. Queries by e-mail to James Lowder(gawain@execpc.com).

E-Markets:

~Freelance Writers

Homestore.com is seeking experienced Freelance Writers to write about home improvement, decorating and holiday decorating. We also need writers for promotions/trailers for a leading kids network. Send writing samples to Summer Harrelson (summer@ffww.com).

~Inspirational

God Allows U-Turns: Stories of Healing and Hope. (http://www.godallowsuturns.com), a Christian inspirational book series --each will contain over 100 uplifting and encouraging true short stories written by contributors from all over the world.100% freelance. Pays $50 to $100/story upon publication (plus 1 copy of book). Byline and short bio.Send complete ms/cover letter. Responds in 16+ weeks. Accepts simultaneous submissions and reprints (tell when/where appeared). Prefers submission via Website. Accepts e-mail submission (copied into message, NO attachments). Guidelines and sample story appear on Website.

~TV Writing

FOX.com (http://www.FOX.com) is looking for features writers for the new Ally McBeal site. Writers should have journalism or essay-writing backgrounds and do not have to be familiar with the show. Features are not intended as promotions for the show, but should be inspired by the issues the show raises. 1,000 to 1,500 words. Send cover letter stating a few ideas with two clips to Leigh Bardugo (lbardugo@newsdigital.com), Website Producer, Ally McBeal. Please use ALLY WRITERS in the subject line of your e-mail.

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Trivia

~Words

> No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver or purple.

> "Dreamt" is the only word in the English language that ends in the letters "mt."

> There are only four words in the English language that end in "-dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

~Bert and Ernie

The characters Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street were named after Bert, the cop and Ernie, the taxi driver in Frank Capra's "It's A Wonderful Life."

>The Bard Invents

Shakespeare invented the words "assassination" and "bump."

~So Who wants to be Queen?

According to London's Mail, J.K. Rowling (author of the Harry Potter books) earned $30.6 million (about £20 million) in the past year, making her, according to the newspaper, the highest-paid woman in Britain.

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Feedback: "Thank you for this wonderful website, it has helped me out in so many ways." Misty Carbaugh

BOOK GOSSIP

~King's Fans Pay Extra

Stephen King's fan loyalty has so far exceeded the author's expectations. Just as the second installment of King's eNovel THE PLANT appeared on his Web site in late August, Amazon.com,

which is processing the sales for the author, revealed that many good-intentioned fans who paid for their first downloaded installment and who suspected others might not be as honorable

put down extra cash to make sure the story wouldn't vanish. King was surprised that his experiment worked as well as it did, with 76% of the downloaders choosing to pay by the honor system. If the current trend holds,the third installment of THE PLANT will be available in late September. Meanwhile, King is polling his readers once again, this time about increasing the length and price of the segments.

~ Rice and Turow Join King

Contentville.com has bought first serial rights to Anne Rice's next novel, Merrick (to be published by Knopf in October), and posted the first chapter on its site. Second chapter to be posted in the near future. Scott Turow is joining the ranks of authors treading into the e-book market. On August 8, he released his bestselling "Personal Injuries" (FSG) through Rocket ebook, GlassBook, Softbook and Microsoft Reader at $10.

~Chinese Seize Clinton Book

The Clinton Years--a photographic record of the Clinton presidency -- has been deemed objectionable by Chinese authorities, who have taken action to prevent its distribution. The book was singled out because it contains a picture of Clinton holding the hand of Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, whom the Chinese view as a dissident seeking to undermine Chinese authority.

~Daniel is Harry Potter

After months of speculation and rumor, it's official: the role of Harry Potter in Warner Bros. forthcoming feature film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone has been won by 11-year-old British actor Daniel Radcliffe.. "Having seen Dan Radcliffe's screen test, I don't think Chris Columbus could have found a better Harry," said Rowling.

Not everyone is keen on the project, however. A group of evangelical Christians are protesting the use of Gloucester Cathedral as the stand-in for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry claiming in a letter to Warner Bros. that "witchcraft is about rebellion against God."

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WEBSITES OF INTEREST

~John Hewitt's Writers Resource Center (http://www.poewar.com) has launched a Freelance Job Forum (http://www.poewar.com/freelance/), a board that allows publications to submit freelance opportunities for writers.

~ Bookface.com (http://www.Bookface.com) has launched a fantasy section devoted to publishing free fantasy titles in electronic format.

~Nightmareroom.com, the website for the new series from children's horror author, R.L. Stine, will be an interactive site where readers will be able to interact with each other and the author. Each week kids will be able to read a new weekly installment of, Dead of Night, written by Stine exclusively for the website. The program began with nightmareroom.com going live on August 1, 2000. The first two books follow this month.

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WRITER'S Q & A (Frequently asked questions. Send in yours to acappub@aol.com)

Q. I've wanted to become an author every since I was little. I've dreamed of writing books. I hope to make it a career. I would appreciate if you would tell me how much Money can I make if my book is published? How much money will I have to pay out altogether? Thank you!

Elizabeth

A. Ah, Elizabeth....

The questions you asked in two sentences take an entire book to answer, because of all the variables involved. You need to know about these variables. Once you do, you can not only answer your own questions, but find out how you can determine how much you earn!. The solution? Get Everything You Need to Know to WRITE PUBLISH & MARKET YOUR BOOK. It's available at www.acappela.com and it will be the best $20 you've ever invested in your writing career.

*WORDPLAY

* kakistocracy -- n. Government by the worst citizens.

* lucubration -- n. Laborious intellectual effort.

* pilgarlic -- n. A poor, wretched, bald-headed man who represents a sorry spectacle.

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QUOTE OF THE MONTH Notable quotes from those who've done it:

The good thing about writing fiction is that you can get back at people. I've gotten back at lawyers, prosecutors, judges, law professors and politicians. I just line 'em up and shoot 'em."

--John Grisham

That's it for this month. Don't forget to check out all the added help for writers on our new websites, www.acappela.com and eLitAgnet.com. We'll be waiting for your feedback.

Patrika