Locus, January 2013
Page 5
The Data File continues after ad.
MAGAZINE NEWS
Editors Sheila Williams and Trevor Quachri have announced that the pay rate for short fiction at Asimov’s and Analog has been raised from 6-8 cents per word to 7-9 cents per word, effective for all stories purchased from November 29, 2012 onward.
BOOKSTORE NEWS
Barnes & Noble is closing two stores in Irving TX, one store each in Campbell CA, Plainfield IL, and Westlake TX, and the Sixth Ave. store in the West Village in New York on December 31, 2012. Their Reston VA store will close in February 2013.
WORLD CONVENTION NEWS
LoneStarCon 3, the 71st World Science Fiction Convention, August 29 - September 2, 2013 in San Antonio TX, has published Press Release #2, announcing an increase in membership rates effective January 1, 2013. Adult attending memberships have increased from $180 to $200; the cost to convert adult supporting to adult attending will rise from $130 to $140; and the special family rate for two adults plus two or more children will rise from $480 to $520. The children’s rate for those age 0-16 will remain $75, and the young-adult rate for those 17-21 will remain $110. Those rates will remain in effect until April 30, 2013. There is also a military discount rate of $110, which will not increase. For more:
The 2013 World Fantasy Convention, to be held October 31 - November 3, 2013 in Brighton, England, has issued Progress Report 9, announcing that hotel reservations can now be booked at the special group rate; offering information about how to register for the Art Show; announcing the online ballot for the World Fantasy Awards; and giving tips to ‘‘newbies’’ at the convention on how to become a member of the WFC ‘‘family.’’ For more:
AWARDS NEWS
Amazon has changed the terms of its annual Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award for the upcoming sixth competition. Previously, the grand prize winners were given $15,000 advances and publication by Penguin. Now Amazon will offer a $50,000 advance and publication by Amazon Publishing to a single grand prize winner, and the remaining four finalists will each receive a $15,000 advance and publication by Amazon. The award is open to submissions in five categories: general fiction, mystery/thriller, romance, science fiction/fantasy/horror, and young-adult fiction. All entries must be sent between January 14 and January 27, 2013. For more details, and contest rules:
PUBLISHING NEWS
HarperCollins has announced a new digital imprint, HarperTeen Impulse (not to be confused with Avon Impulse, another all-digital HarperCollins imprint launched last year). HarperTeen Impulse will publish YA short fiction, beginning on December 4, 2012 with SF novella Stupid Perfect World by Scott Westerfeld and novella Breathless by Sophie Jordan. The imprint will publish as many as four e-books each month, with prices ranging from $0.99 to $2.99. Susan Katz, president of HarperChildren’s, says, ‘‘We’re seeing short-form content becoming more popular in the digital marketplace, and HarperTeen Impulse allows us to experiment with new concepts and deliver content quickly.’’
Random House has announced three new digital-only imprints: ‘‘Alibi’’, to publish mysteries/thrillers/suspense; ‘‘Hydra’’, to publish SF/fantasy; and ‘‘Flirt’’, to publish ‘‘New Adult’’ fiction ‘‘targeting women in their twenties and thirties.’’ The imprints publish original novelettes/novellas (10,000-30,000 words) and ‘‘short books’’ (40,000-60,000 words), plus occasional reprints. These imprints join Loveswept, a similar romance-centric digital imprint Random founded in 2011. For more information, or to submit work:
Simon & Schuster have partnered with Author Solutions – owned by Penguin – to create a self-publishing service, Archway Publishing. Self-published authors can purchase packages starting at $1,999 (or as low as $1,599 for children’s authors) and going as high as $25,000, with special services tailored by Simon & Schuster. As with other Author Solutions partners (including Harlequin), all the actual self-publishing services will be provided by Author Solutions, not S&S itself, though the publisher ‘‘has provided guidance and helped develop the publishing packages and programs available.’’ S&S CEO Carolyn Reidy says her company is ‘‘pleased to be part of the rapidly expanding self-publishing segment of our industry.’’
According to The Wall Street Journal, HarperCollins parent company News Corp ‘‘has expressed interest to CBS about acquiring its Simon & Schuster book business.’’ The WSJ noted that the sources they spoke to ‘‘described the talks as preliminary and cautioned that a deal isn’t imminent.’’ Shortly after the first rumors of a merger between Penguin and Random House emerged, News Corp expressed interest in acquiring Penguin too, which suggests that News Corp head Rupert Murdoch is in an acquisitive mood.
Amazon Publishing has announced plans to expand their overseas operations, with Vicky Griffith, publisher of the Amazon West Coast group relocating from Seattle to the European Union headquarters in Luxembourg. The EU operation will hire new editors and marketing personnel to push their English-language offerings to bookstores in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. East Coast group head Larry Kirshbaum will add editorial responsibility for the Seattle operation to his oversight of the New York adult imprint, plus Amazon Children’s. Daphne Durham will be editor-in-chief for all Amazon’s adult imprints, reporting to Kirshbaum; Amy Bates will run operations for the entire publishing organization; Mikyla Bruder will expand a position as head of marketing for the West Coast group to head of marketing worldwide; Philip Patrick will run the business development, rights, and sales groups; and Brooke Gilbert will remain head of author services.
Hachette and Simon & Schuster have joined HarperCollins in altering their e-book sales terms to conform with the settlement they agreed to with the US Department of Justice, allowing retailers to discount prices on the publishers’ e-books.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Odyssey Writing Workshop has announced its 2013 summer session, to be held June 10 - July 19, 2013 at Saint Anselm College in Manchester NH. Jeanne Cavelos is director and primary instructor, with Nancy Holder as writer-in-residence, and guest lecturers including Holly Black, Patricia Bray, Adam-Troy Castro, Jack Ketchum, and Sheila Williams. For details and applications information:
The First World Conference on Science Fiction Studies in India will be held February 1 - 2, 2013 at Yashwantrao Mohite College in Pune, India. The conference is organized by the Department of English at Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Yashwantrao Mohite College; the Indian Associatio for Science Fiction Studies; and Vigyan Prasar. For details, e-mail
LEGAL NEWS
US publisher Overlook is suing the heirs of Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov for the right to publish an e-book version of The Master and Margarita. Overlook acquired the US copyright in 2001 when it purchased Ardis Press, publisher of a 1995 English translation. Bulgakov’s heirs argue that the contract does not cover digital publication, only print rights. The publisher declares in its suit that ‘‘Overlook has the sole and exclusive right to publish the translation and contends that this right extends to publishing the translation as an e-book, as it now intends to do.’’ Overlook is asking the court for a ‘‘declaration of non-infringement’’ and, oddly, also asks for ‘‘a judicial determination of the appropriate compensation for publication of the e-book,’’ since it was unable to make an agreement on royalty rates with the heirs.
FINANCIAL NEWS
The AAP Monthly Statshot for August shows year-to-date sales mixed in adult categories. E-books saw the biggest increase, with sales of $857.7 YTD, a 36.9% increase compared to the same period 2011; downloaded audiobooks were up 28.6%, but trailed in total sales at $72.0 million. Trade paperbacks were up 10.5%, leading in total sales at $1.024 billion YTD. On the down side were Hardovers, down 1.6% at $711.2 million; mass market paperbacks continue their decline, down 16.3% at $276.9 million. Children’s/YA sa
les were up all around, with the biggest increase in e-books, up 196.4% to a cumulative $177.4 million. Hardcovers led in sales at $494.8 million YTD, up 27.5%; trade papberbacks came in with $347.6 million, up 5.1%; board books trailed with $33.0 million, up 9.8%.
US Census Bureau preliminary figures for October show bookstore sales of $914 million, up 4.6% compared to October 2011. Year-to-date sales were down 1.3% at $12.5 billion. For all retail, October sales were up 5.4% compared to the year before.
Amazon’s Kindle dominates among e-reading devices used by e-book buyers, according to Bowker Market Research. Kindle devices were used by 55% of buyers in the second quarter of 2012, up from 48% in the same period 2011, and 45% in 2010. The KindleFire was credited with much of the increase. Between the iPad and iPhone, Apple came in second with 15% of readers, while Barnes & Noble’s Nook had 14%. Only 6% of readers said they only used personal computers or laptops.
Simon & Schuster’s sales for the third quarter were down 5% at $210 million, but operating income was up 2.6% at $39 million. The increase was credited to a 20% increase in digital sales, offsetting a decline in print sales.
Lagaredere Publishing reported sales up for the third quarter, with a 4% increase to E626 million. The increase was credited partly to currency fluctuations, but also to strong performances in literature fueled by J.K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy. Hachette Book Group in the US saw general literature sales up 7.3%; in the UK they were up 17%, and in France up 12.4%.
INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS
Russian rights to Heretics of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, and Chapterhouse Dune by Frank Herbert sold to AST via Ludmilla Sushkova of Andrew Nurnberg Associates Moscow in association with Meredith Miller of Trident Media Group on behalf of John Silbersack.
Spanish rights to Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold sold to RBA Libros via Montse Yanez of Julio F-Yanez Agency on behalf of Eleanor Wood at Spectrum Literary Agency.
German rights to a new Ted Chiang collection sold to Golkonda Verlag via Fritz + Fritz agency.
Arabic rights to Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas sold to Arab Scientific via Philip Sane of Lennart Sane Agency.
German rights to Among Others by Jo Walton sold to Golkonda Verlag via the Schlueck Agency.
French rights to The Dark Artifices trilogy by Cassandra Clare and The Shadowhunters’ Codex by Clare and Joshua Lewis sold to Pocket Jeunesse via Heather Baror-Shapiro of Baror International in association with Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency. Brazilian rights to The Shadowhunters’ Codex went to Record via Heather Baror-Shapiro.
Italian rights to Seize the Night, Sins of the Night, Unleash the Night, and Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon sold to Cristina Di Clemente of Fanucci via Sylvie Rosokoff of Trident Media Group on behalf of Robert Gottlieb.
Hungarian rights to I Robot: To Protect by Mickey Zucker Reichert sold to Szukits Kiado via Blanka Daroczi of Andrew Nurnberg Associates Budapest in association with Meredith Miller of Trident Media Group on behalf of Robert Gottlieb and John Silbersack.
French rights to The Ritual and Last Days by Adam Neville sold to Bragelonne via John Jarrold.
Dutch rights to Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman went to Orlando via Philip Sane of Lennart Sane Agency on behalf of Julia Kenny of Markson Thoma Literary Agency.
Bulgarian rights to Holes by Louis Sachar sold to Millenium via Mira Droumeva of Andrew Nurnberg Associates Sofia in association with Meredith Miller of Trident Media Group on behalf of Ellen Levine.
Norwegian rights to Rachel Caine’s Glass Houses, Dead Girls’ Dance, and Midnight Alley sold to Schibsted via Philip Sane of Lennart Sane Agency on behalf of Lucienne Diver at the Knight Agency. German rights to Bite Club went to Arena Verlag via Thomas Schlueck GmbH on behalf of Diver.
OTHER RIGHTS
Audio rights to Cassandra Clare’s Clockwork Princess and Clockwork Prince sold to Recorded Books via Danny Baror of Baror International in association with Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency. Shadowhunters and Downworlders sold to Brilliance Audio via Susan Schulman Literary Agency on behalf of BenBella Books.
Audio rights to The Planet Thieves by Dan Krokos sold to Hercalon.
PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED
Instant Message, #884 (Nov. 28, 2012), twice monthly newsletter of the New England Science Fiction Association, with news, meeting minutes, convention information, etc. Information: NESFA Clubhouse, 504 Medford Street, Somerville MA 02145; e-mail:
Mythprint Vol. 49, No. 11 (November 2012), monthly bulletin of the Mythopoeic Society, with news, reviews, etc. Non-member subscription: $25.00 per year US, $32.00 Canada and Mexico, $41.00 elsewhere. Information: Mythopoeic Society Orders Department, Box 71, Napoleon MI 49261-0071; e-mail:
CATALOGS RECEIVED
DreamHaven Books; 2301 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406; phone: (612) 823-6161; e-mail:
Uncle Hugo’s Science Fiction Bookstore/Uncle Edgar’s Mystery Bookstore; 2864 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis MN 55407; phone: Uncle Hugo’s: (612) 824-6347; Uncle Edgar’s: (612) 824-9984; e-mail:
Return to In This Issue listing.
SAIL TO SUCCESS 2012
The Sail to Success 2012 writer’s workshop, sponsored by Arc Manor/Phoenix Pick press and organized by Shahid Mahmud, was held onboard the Norwegian Sky cruise liner, sailing from Miami on December 3 and returning December 7 after a tour of the Bahamas, including Grand Bahama Island, Nassau, and Great Stirrup Cay. Onboard instructors were authors Kevin J. Anderson, Paul Cook, Nancy Kress, Rebecca Moesta, Mike Resnick, and Jack Skillingstead, publisher and editor Toni Weisskopf, and literary agent Eleanor Wood. Locus was invited to attend, and design editor Francesca Myman was on board to represent the magazine.
Over the four days, 17 panel-style classes and two critique sessions were scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., with a five-to six-hour break each day for cruise activities. Most students attended a majority of the classes, though there was no requirement to do so. Students had excellent social access to instructors, with three scheduled group meals and the opportunity to make individual appointments to discuss the industry or just share a drink.
Overall, the focus was on the seminars, with classes slanted towards providing an insider perspective on the business of science fiction and fantasy publishing, but also including the history of science fiction, a solid introduction to writing basics, and some advanced technique. Highlights included Kevin Anderson and Rebecca Moesta’s well-known ‘‘Professional Approach to Writing’’ seminars, Eleanor Wood’s insider look at the intricacies of contract negotiation, and manuscript critique sessions with Nancy Kress and Toni Weisskopf. Critique sessions were structured as a kind of ‘‘speed-dating’’ version of traditional workshopping, with the instructors offering comments on manuscripts submitted prior to the cruise and a brief opportunity for fellow students to comment. Additional optional follow-up critique sessions were available with Kress.
Arc Manor/Phoenix Pick provided plenty of swag, including T-shirts and bags printed with the Sail to Success logo and instructor names, and a 550-page perfect-bound book with glossy cover containing all the students’ manuscript submissions bound into a single volume.
Transportation to Nassau Island, where Thoraiya Dyer, Jeff Giese, and Francesca Myman explore the local hotspots
The Norwegian Sky itself was a handsome 848-foot-long ship with a friendly crew of 934 and a Hawaiian-luau atmosphere: hibiscus flowers painted on the hull, bright aqua carpets with tropical fish swimming down the hallways, etc. Onboard amenities included three plein-air po
ols on the top decks, five Jacuzzis, three ‘‘free’’ restaurants, three luxe ‘‘paid’’ restaurants, five bars, a fitness center and volleyball court, a spa offering massages and facials for purchase, a video arcade, and the requisite shops and casino. Despite these glitzy offerings, the overall atmosphere for workshop participants was quiet, with a preference for sharing time with instructors and classmates, enjoying the clean salt sea air on the many open decks, and even writing! (Kevin J. Anderson was spotted writing away with his signature giant headphones affixed, in the forward lounge. According to Anderson, he continued writing even when a dance class started up around him.) The cruise line offered classes in everything from dancing to cupcake decoration to circus skills like juggling, plate spinning, and devil sticks, which might have challenged even Anderson’s concentration.
Attendees (l to r): Therese Pieczynski, Lou Berger, Ron S. Friedman, Shahid Mahmud (sponsor), Ilana Harris, Eva Eldridge, Kelly Varner, Alvaro Zinos-Amaro, Gamaliel Martinez, Frank Morin; front: Jessica Carlson, Sandra Odell, Thoraiya Dyer
There was a bewildering (and exciting) array of shore excursions available, including visits to the recently opened billion-dollar Atlantis Aquaventure resort development, scuba diving, various flavors of snorkeling – including the usual variety and a variant with powered scooters, sailing, fishing, kayaking, parasailing, and dolphin and sea lion encounters. Various tours were available by glass-bottom boat, underwater motorbike, semi-submarine, Harley-Davidson (I’m not joking), Segway, bike, off-road jeep, horseback, and catamaran. Workshop participants tended towards milder away expeditions, including historical tours and self-made adventures, though many also opted for at least one good snorkel or swim. Participants and instructors all had positive things to say about the experience in the evaluations, and many instructors have chosen to return next year at Mahmud’s invitation. Confirmed faculty members include Kevin J. Anderson, Eric Flint, Nancy Kress, Rebecca Moesta, Mike Resnick, Jack Skillingstead, Toni Weisskopf, and Eleanor Wood.