#1 New York Times Bestselling Author & TV Producer
Those imbeciles at Bookwhirl, who offer inept publicity services, sent me… a guy who has been trashing them for years….a promo for their Thanksgiving sale just to prove that they still can't promote themselves effectively, much less an author. The best proof of their staggering ineptitude as publicists is that they even have me on their … Read more
It appears that Jones Harvest Publishers, the vanity press run by huckster Brien Jones, has finally died in shame. His company website has disappeared and he's reportedly closed the pitiful little storefront that he operated to convince his gullible "authors," primarily senior citizens, that their poorly-printed books would be available in brick-and-mortar stores. Bonnie … Read more
I'm always trying to juggle my family and work committments to figure out the best, and most productive, use of my time. Unfortunately, writing a post for my blog always ends up at the bottom of the list. It's not like I don't have things to say about television, publishing, or the writing process…or pet … Read more
These are tough financial times…and writers, particularly those in the tie-in field, are hurting. We want to do our small part to help out. The International Association of Media Tie-in Writers is suspending annual dues for current and new members effective immediately and on through 2012…dues will be re-instated on January 1, 2013. That doesn’t … Read more
With the publishing industry undergoing cataclysmic changes, and with self-publishing now a viable option for authors, it's only natural that literary agents are scrambling to position themselves. How are they going to make money in this new publishing business? How are they going to be relevant? One way is to reinvent themselves. Instead of just … Read more
I just received a solicitation from Creative Nonfiction Magazine, which is looking for true-crime articles for an upcoming issue. The catch is that they require authors to pay a $20 reading fee or to buy a subscription for $25. In return, they will award the best submission $1000. So Creative Nonfiction Magazine is, essentially, not … Read more
The MWA membership committee, of which I am chair, has crafted a major overhaul of the criteria for Active Membership to embrace the new technologies that are changing our industry. These new guidelines, approved unanimously today by the MWA Board, opens the door to scores of authors whose books are published solely as ebooks or … Read more
I was asked – okay, more like begged — to chronicle the hilarious history of the Edgar for the Edgar Awards banquet program. Unfortunately, you’ll find more laughs reading the tax code. I hate to say it, but the history of the Edgar Awards is almost as boring as an Edgar banquet. Perhaps that’s why … Read more
Christa Faust will moderate Further Adventures: On Writing Novelizations and Media Tie-In, a special luncheon program sponsored by MWA/SoCal at the Sportsman's Lodge in Studio City on June 18, 11-2pm. Guests include Doug Lyle (Royal Pains), William Rabkin (Psych), Nathan Long (Warhammer), and yours truly. Lunch: $20 for MWA members, $25 for non-members. Visit the MWA website to … Read more
REMAINDERED screened today and received a very enthusiastic reaction from the audience. That was nice, but I have to say we're up against some stiff competition. I've seen a lot of great shorts this week…and every single one that I saw today was very well done, particularly THIEF, about a little boy who befriends a young … Read more