tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81083304192856709882024-03-07T12:09:20.983+03:30The Flux BlogMy blog now. Mine.Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00014115463708135151noreply@blogger.comBlogger320125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-59854890169345929602009-10-30T20:35:00.013+03:302009-10-30T20:44:54.957+03:30Happy Halloween from Flux<div><div>Halloween's a rather exciting time around Flux. As I slave away on the next series of podcasts (they're coming soon--promise), I thought I'd share a few costumes from our soiree this year--based on our own book covers!</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SusePyEDAjI/AAAAAAAABQQ/4wgQY1_p9gA/s1600-h/ruin.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398441834819289650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 308px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SusePyEDAjI/AAAAAAAABQQ/4wgQY1_p9gA/s320/ruin.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SuseL61lKyI/AAAAAAAABQI/ROng58IN5PM/s1600-h/howtoruin.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398441768455056162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SuseL61lKyI/AAAAAAAABQI/ROng58IN5PM/s320/howtoruin.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SuseHo9JomI/AAAAAAAABQA/bZGumnCzcss/s1600-h/death.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398441694935491170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 308px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SuseHo9JomI/AAAAAAAABQA/bZGumnCzcss/s320/death.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SuseE-TJkhI/AAAAAAAABP4/xxsqNQ97cAY/s1600-h/mysocalleddeath.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398441649125298706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SuseE-TJkhI/AAAAAAAABP4/xxsqNQ97cAY/s320/mysocalleddeath.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SuseAP9TpsI/AAAAAAAABPw/PU9LEbNZw9A/s1600-h/choppy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398441567966176962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 309px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SuseAP9TpsI/AAAAAAAABPw/PU9LEbNZw9A/s320/choppy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/Susd81QScgI/AAAAAAAABPo/H_vhdZIQ2Uc/s1600-h/choppysockyblues.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398441509258424834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/Susd81QScgI/AAAAAAAABPo/H_vhdZIQ2Uc/s320/choppysockyblues.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/Susdz76FCiI/AAAAAAAABPg/-F8Tr-wiUmM/s1600-h/face.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398441356425497122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 308px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/Susdz76FCiI/AAAAAAAABPg/-F8Tr-wiUmM/s320/face.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/Susdou2nFQI/AAAAAAAABPY/L4xKjidIZWo/s1600-h/atfacevalue.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398441163942728962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/Susdou2nFQI/AAAAAAAABPY/L4xKjidIZWo/s320/atfacevalue.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Acquisitions Department's theme this year was....<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398442273557482210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SusepUfYiuI/AAAAAAAABQg/JpSu7HOZ6OY/s320/addamsfamily.jpg" border="0" /><br />That would be yours truly as Uncle Fester (and Thing).</div><div> </div><div>Stay tuned. More podcasts coming in November. Honest.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-42059327309629796482009-09-29T20:07:00.002+03:302009-09-29T20:18:54.555+03:30Brian doesn't Tweet here anymore.Hi all,<br /><br />Believe it or not, more podcasts are coming. In fact, I'm putting the finishing touches on THREE new editions. But I wanted to post this quick word about the Flux twitter account.<br /><br />The FluxBooks account was started by my Esteemed Predecessor and, initially, he was the only one using it. Lately, I've been sharing tweeting duties with the good folks in our marketing and publicity departments. Unfortunately, with mulitple tweeters (tweeties?), it becomes difficult to tell who is saying what.<br /><br />So, in the interest of making sure you know when you're getting info from me and when you're getting info from others, I will no longer be tweeting @fluxbooks. I've started my own account <a href="http://twitter.com/eyeonflux">@EyeOnFlux</a>. I'll be the only person using this new account so you'll know that (unless hackers steal my password and begin sending you news that you've won the British lottery) anything said there comes from me directly.<br /><br />Kapische?<br /><br />To recap: Brian, Flux's editor, is no longer tweeting @fluxbooks (but PLEASE continue to follow that account because they will tweet more frequently than I and will have TONS of interesting stuff to say) and will now be tweeting <a href="http://twitter.com/eyeonflux">@EyeOnFlux</a>. Both accounts (I imagine) will post updates as to when new podcasts are posted.<br /><br />And, seriously, they're almost done. I mean it.Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-11183109752144787852009-08-14T18:08:00.002+04:302009-08-14T18:15:34.983+04:30Something to fill the timeProduction on the new podcast is a liiiiitle bit behind. New one is coming soon. Until then, you might enjoy this.<br /><br />Today on Twitter, <a href="http://twitter.com/ChrisRichman">agent Chris Richman</a> tweeted about a funny Onion story having to do with writing. This sent me tripping down memory lane, thinking about all the great Onion stories they've done concerning writers, litearture, and the sometimes painful collision of the two. So here's a small round-up of some of my faves. (Um, for those unfamiliar with the Onion, I'll just offer a small warning that they're not always PC, they often use blue language, but it's always done for humor. Still, those with tender dispositions might want to turn away now.)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/news/sci_fi_writer_attributes" target="_blank">Sci-Fi Writer Attributes Everything Mysterious To 'Quantum Flux'</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/34060" target="_blank">My Novel Addresses Universal Themes Of Humanity And Has Fucking</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/34060" target="_blank">Someday, I Will Copyedit The Great American Novel</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/52915">Author Too Much Of A Pussy To Kill Off Characters</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/48461">Heroic Computer Dies To Save World From Master's Thesis</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/third_person_limited">Third-Person Limited Omniscient Narrator Blown Away By Surprise Ending</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/39169">Maya Angelou Honored For Courage, Blackness</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/47722">Scholars Discover 23 Blank Pages That May As Well Be Lost Samuel Beckett Play</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/author_to_use_water_as">Author To Use Water As Metaphor</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/29716" target="_blank">Books Don't Take You Anywhere</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28619" target="_blank">Nation's Teens Disappointed By Banned Books</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/34014" target="_blank">There Are So Many Experiences I Want To Write About Having Had</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/49612">Area Woman Fulfills Dream Of Becoming Writer By Getting Job At Bookstore</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/32792">Masters In Writing Fails To Create Master Of Writing</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/38746">Author Wishes She Hadn't Blown Personal Tragedy On First Book</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/39408">Self-Help Book Believes It Can Be A Bestseller Someday</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/27621">Nation Afraid To Admit 9-Year-Old Disabled Poet Really Bad</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/30996">Area Man Well-Versed In First Thirds Of Great Literature</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/33842" target="_blank">My Short Fiction Will Restore America's Romantic Spirit</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/32287">Monster At End Of Book Claims Life Of TV's Grover</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/46694" target="_blank">It's Funny How What You're Saying Relates To My Novel</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/48465">Novelist Thinks People Shrug 10 Times More Than They Actually Do</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/node/25504" target="_self">First-Time Novelist Constantly Asking Wife What It's Like To Be A Woman</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/news/novelists_strike_fails_to_affect" target="_blank">Novelists Strike Fails To Affect Nation Whatsoever</a>Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-72199733004800427542009-06-11T00:10:00.011+04:302009-06-15T23:36:28.373+04:30Eye on Flux: June 2009 Edition<strong>Overview:</strong> Two really great interviews this month (and a special sneak peek behind the scenes of the Printz awards) plus YOUR questions answered in the Flux Mailbag.<br /><div><br />* * * * *</div><br /><div><strong>See Flux in Action at ALA</strong>: Yours truly will be at ALA's 2009 Annual Confe<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SjAQjLGT7KI/AAAAAAAABPA/BRSgy2ZiTrs/s1600-h/ALA_Chicago_09_Logo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345790954149506210" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 154px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SjAQjLGT7KI/AAAAAAAABPA/BRSgy2ZiTrs/s200/ALA_Chicago_09_Logo.jpg" border="0" /></a>rence in Chicago from July 11-14 at Booth #2658. We'll have Flux authors on hand to sign copies of their books. Schedule is as follows:</div><br /><div><strong>Maggie Stiefvater</strong> (author of <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738713700">LAMENT </a>and the forthcoming <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738714844">BALLAD</a>)<br />Saturday, July 11, 1pm<br /></div><br /><div><strong>Susan Fine</strong> (author of <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738714660">INITIATION</a>)<br />Saturday, July 11, 2pm<br /><br /></div><div><strong>Simone Elkeles</strong> (author of <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738709611">HOW TO RUIN A SUMMER VACATION</a>, <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738710181">LEAVING PARADISE</a>, <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738710198">HOW TO RUIN A TEENAGE LIFE</a>, and the forthcoming <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738718798">HOW TO RUIN YOUR BOYFRIEND'S REPUTATION</a>)</div><div>Sunday, July 12, 1pm</div><br /><div>* * * * *</div><br /><div><strong>Interview:</strong> Micol and David Ostow, authors of <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738714714">SO PUNK ROCK (AND OTHER WAYS TO <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345791377414531330" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SjAQ7z4jqQI/AAAAAAAABPI/CEwjPgRC_2Q/s200/So+Punk+Rock.jpg" border="0" />DISAPPOINT YOUR MOTHER</a>)</div><br /><div>The sister-brother writing team of this hybrid graphic novel (which recently got a starred review in Booklist) discuss where the idea for the book came from, how their collaborative process works, and whether or not they'd ever collaborate again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Check out SPR's Official Site here:</div><br /><div><a href="http://www.kosherpunkrock.com/">http://www.kosherpunkrock.com/</a><br /><br />See the awesome book trailer!</div><div></div><br /><br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/C5yMgm9VWQU&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/C5yMgm9VWQU&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><div><br /></div><br /><div>Micol's Web site: <a href="http://www.micolostow.com/">http://www.micolostow.com/</a></div><br /><div></div><div>David's Web site: <a href="http://www.davidostow.com/">http://www.davidostow.com/</a> </div><br /><br /><div></div><div>Sample art from SO PUNK ROCK:</div><br /><div></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SjaWNecEuSI/AAAAAAAABPQ/CFuZ1OZteNg/s1600-h/Jewish+School+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347626765802322210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 241px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SjaWNecEuSI/AAAAAAAABPQ/CFuZ1OZteNg/s400/Jewish+School+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br /><br><br />Follow the Tribe on Twitter:<div></div><div>Ari <a href="http://www.twitter.com/rockonari">http://www.twitter.com/rockonari</a><br />Reena <a href="http://www.twitter.com/NJchoirGRRL">http://www.twitter.com/NJchoirGRRL</a><br /></div><div></div><div>* * * * *<br /></div><div><strong>Flux Mailbag: </strong>This month's burning questions get answered.... </div><div><br /></div><div>--"Do you accept submissions from anyone?" </div><div><br /></div><div>--"What bit of practical advice (aside from the oft-spoken 'Write well') do you have for aspiring writers?" </div><div><br /></div><div>* * * * *<br /></div><div><strong>Interview:</strong> Elizabeth Burns, blogger at <a href="http://yzocaet.blogspot.com/">A Chair, A Fireplace and a Tea Cozy</a> and recent Printz Award committee member. </div><div><br /></div><div>Liz Burns took time to give an insightful look into the processes involved in getting on the Printz committee (hint: it involves black magic...I kid...maybe....), what the day to day life of a Printz committee member was like (hint: any free time involves reading...a lot...) </div><div><br /></div><div>Check out Liz's blog at: <a href="http://yzocaet.blogspot.com/">http://yzocaet.blogspot.com/</a></div><br /><div>She also contributes articles to Pop Goes the Library: <a href="http://www.popgoesthelibrary.com/">http://www.popgoesthelibrary.com/</a></div><br /><div><br />* * * * *</div><br /><div><strong>To download the podcast:<br /></strong>AAC (iPod friendly) version: <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/_theme/flux/audio/june_2009_podcast.m4a">Right click here</a> and select 'Save as.' (Clicking on the link will prompt the file to launch in iTunes.)<br /><br />MP3 version: <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/_theme/flux/audio/june_2009_podcast.mp3">Right click here</a> and select 'Save as.' (Clicking on the link will prompt the file to launch in iTunes or Windows Media Player.) </div><div></div><div>* * * * *<br /><br /><strong>Next month:</strong> More author inteviews! More burning questions answered! And another Flux author steps forward in a brave attempt to be the new reigning champion of 60 Seconds of Fame!</div>Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-51805409024865834322009-05-19T20:48:00.010+04:302009-05-26T22:13:30.416+04:30Eye on Flux: May 2009 edition<strong>Overview:</strong> With the first podcast down, we sally forth with our May edition, featuring interviews with three authors, a peak into the Flux mailbag, and a new segment called 60 Seconds of Fame.<br /><br /><strong>Interview:</strong> Jeremy Craig, author of <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738714448">THE STRAITS<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340181208470352274" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/Shwig_8XcZI/AAAAAAAABOo/zhCh1kkj3Mw/s200/straits.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We talk to Jeremy about his debut YA novel and its eerily prescient correlation to a recent article in the New York times. Jeremy also shares some of his favorite literary figures and discusses how his writing relates to his current status as film school graduate student.<br /><br /><br />For more information, check out Jeremy's web site:<br /><a href="http://www.readthestraits.com/">http://www.readthestraits.com/</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Interview:</strong> Gillian Summers, author of <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738714110">THE SECRET OF THE DREAD FOREST<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340181627504687938" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 129px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/Shwi5Y97-0I/AAAAAAAABOw/FmY8yobj4FA/s200/dread.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Berta Platas and Michelle Roper don the pseudonym of Gillian Summers to write the Faire Folk Trilogy, the concluding volume of which comes out in June. Berta and Michelle offer a preview of what's to come in the series, give their insight on working with a writing partner, and talk about their attraction to renaissance festivals.<br /><br /><br /><br />For more information, check out Gillian's web site:<br /><a href="http://www.gilliansummers.com/">www.gilliansummers.com/</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Flux Mailbag:</strong> I answer questions sent in by listeners relating to the types of books we do at Flux and whether or not I read every submission we receive.<br /><br /><br />Send your questions for the Flux Mailbag to <strong>questions at fluxnow dot com</strong>. Each month, I'll randomly select a few questions to answer and if yours appear on the podcast, I'll send you the Flux book of your choice!<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>60 Seconds of Fame:</strong> A.S. King, author of <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738714264">THE DUST OF 100 DOGS</a>, joins us to launch<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/ShwjQkAno3I/AAAAAAAABO4/nzZ9fXQltQA/s1600-h/dust.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340182025605718898" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 129px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/ShwjQkAno3I/AAAAAAAABO4/nzZ9fXQltQA/s200/dust.jpg" border="0" /></a> a brand new segment on the podcast where authors sit on the hot seat for 60 seconds and compete for valuable prizes (i.e. bragging rights for being the reigning champ of 60 Seconds of Fame).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>To download the podcast:<br /></strong><br />AAC (iPod friendly) version: <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/_theme/flux/audio/may_2009_podcast.m4a">Right click here</a> and select 'Save as.' (Clicking on the link will prompt the file to launch in iTunes.)<br /><br />MP3 version: <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/_theme/flux/audio/may_2009_podcast.mp3">Right click here</a> and select 'Save as.' (Clicking on the link will prompt the file to launch in iTunes or Windows Media Player.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Next month:</strong> We'll talk to Micol and David Ostow, the sister-brother writing team behind Flux's first hybrid graphic novel, SO PUNK ROCK (AND OTHER WAYS TO DISAPPOINT YOUR MOTHER) and our special guest will be Elizabeth Burns, librarian/blogger extraordinaire who will discuss her recent tenure on the Printz award committee.Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-74527453862120423382009-04-29T22:21:00.027+04:302009-05-04T18:06:30.904+04:30Eye on Flux: April 2009 Edition<strong>Overview:</strong> Our inaugural podcast! We set the stage for this new series of podcasts to discuss upcoming Flux titles, the world of YA, and anything else the editor feels like talking about.<br /><div><br /><br /><p><br /><strong>Interview:</strong> Susan Fine, author of <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738714660">INITIATION </a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/Sfhhn73MIbI/AAAAAAAABNY/xWkk39gndxU/s1600-h/initiation2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330117497704948146" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/Sfhhn73MIbI/AAAAAAAABNY/xWkk39gndxU/s200/initiation2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We sat down for a talk with Susan Fine to discuss how her background as a teacher at a private school influenced the world she created in INITIATION.</p><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>For more information, check out <a href="http://www.susanefine.com/">Susan Fine's website.</a><br /><br />Available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Initiation-Susan-Fine/dp/0738714666/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240865340&sr=8-1">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?sku=0738714666">Borders</a>, <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Initiation/Susan-Fine/e/9780738714660/?itm=1">BN.com</a>, <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9780738714660-0">Powells</a>, and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738714660">Flux</a><br /><br /><strong><br /><br /><br /><br />Interview:</strong> Lucienne Diver, author of <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738714745">VAMPED </a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SfhgZ2yGnlI/AAAAAAAABNI/Rnz7Nhl2UV4/s1600-h/Vamped.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330116156311641682" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 130px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SfhgZ2yGnlI/AAAAAAAABNI/Rnz7Nhl2UV4/s200/Vamped.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We chatted with Lucienne about her debut YA book and how her work as a writer informs the work she does as a literary agent.<br /><br /><br />For more information, check out <a href="http://www.luciennediver.com/">Lucienne Diver's website.<br /></a><br />Available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vamped-Lucienne-Diver/dp/0738714747/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241012291&sr=8-2">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.borders.com/online/store/TitleDetail?type=0&catalogId=10001&simple=1&defaultSearchView=List&keyword=vamped+diver&LogData=%5Bsearch%3A+23%2Cparse%3A+25%5D&searchData=%7BproductId%3Anull%2Csku%3Anull%2Ctype%3A0%2Csort%3Anull%2CcurrPage%3A1%2CresultsPerPage%3A25%2CsimpleSearch%3Atrue%2Cnavigation%3A0%2CmoreValue%3Anull%2CcoverView%3Afalse%2Curl%3Arpp%3D25%26view%3D2%26all_search%3Dvamped%2Bdiver%26type%3D0%26nav%3D0%26simple%3Dtrue%2Cterms%3A%7Ball_search%3Dvamped+diver%7D%7D&storeId=13551&sku=0738714747&ddkey=http:SearchResults">Borders</a>, <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Vamped/Lucienne-Diver/e/9780738714745/?itm=1">BN.com</a>, <a href="http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780738714745-0">Powells</a>, and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738714745">Flux</a><br /><br /><br />Send us your questions! Ask us your Burning Questions about Flux, the world of publishing, our authors, etc. and if we answer your question on the podcast, we’ll send you the Flux book of your choice. Send questions to <strong>questions at fluxnow dot com</strong>.</div><br /><br /><p>To download the podcast:</p><br /><p>AAC (iPod friendly) version: <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/_theme/flux/audio/april_2009_podcast.m4a">Right click here</a> and select 'Save as.' (Clicking on the link will prompt the file to launch in iTunes.)<br /><br />MP3 version: <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/_theme/flux/audio/april_2009_podcast.mp3">Right click here</a> and select 'Save as.' (Clicking on the link will prompt the file to launch in iTunes or Windows Media Player.)</p><br /><br /><div>Next month: We look at our June releases, answer questions, and introduce a new segment: 60 Seconds of Fame!</div></div>Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-91756881370326881792009-04-27T23:38:00.002+04:302009-04-27T23:45:52.936+04:30Eye on Flux<p>Yes, you’re in the right place.<br /><br />Welcome to the new blog for EYE ON FLUX, our brand spanking new podcast. This change marks a new direction for the Flux Blog. Where in the past we were a repository for Flux news, interesting stories from the world of publishing, and the occasionally bizarre random musings of Flux’s acquiring editors (I include my Esteemed Predecessor on that), the launch of the podcast brings a new feel and tone for the blog.<br /><br />This space will now be the “go to” source for everything having to do with the podcast. We’ll have a link whereby you can download it. You’ll be able to stream it directly from the site. We’ll have supplemental information on everything you hear in the podcast. And it’s all FREE!<br /><br />And just so you still get your fix for all the latest Flux news, there’s always the OTHER Flux blog on our main Web site: <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/">www.fluxnow.com</a>, maintained by the always entertaining Tricia O’Reilly. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out what Tricia’s doing over there.<br /><br />Here’s the skinny on what this podcast-thingy is all about:</p><ul><li>The podcast will occur monthly (for the foreseeable future).</li><li>I (Brian) will be hosting the podcast (for those with an insatiable desire to learn what I sound like).</li><li>We’ll highlight forthcoming books from our catalogs via author interviews.</li><li>We’ll answer Listener Burning Questions and give free books away.</li><li>We’ll have discussions about the world of young adult literature, we’ll have special guests, we’ll have fun.</li><li>For the time being, EYE ON FLUX is ONLY available here. We anticipate having distribution on iTunes in the near future.</li><li>Look for the first edition later this week.</li></ul><p>Spread the word! Go forth my pretties! Make blog posts and send e-mails. Make sure that everyone has their eye on Flux!</p>Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-40661355130842629432009-04-22T17:35:00.001+04:302009-04-22T17:38:23.286+04:30Ch-ch-ch-changes<div>It's been mighty quiet 'round these parts, I reckon. Must be a good reason for that.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Well, boy howdy, there is! You might be seeing a few changes at the ole Flux Blog in the near future. Kind of a "re-imaginin'" like them thar Hollywood folks like to say.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Best put the kettle on, kick your feet up, and keep your eye on Flux, ya hear?</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327501779255030690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 255px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/Se8WpFTB86I/AAAAAAAABM4/Tq5odtOTMDk/s320/cowboy.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div>Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-40528840015651008602009-03-17T19:05:00.005+03:302009-03-17T19:16:38.214+03:30Let me get this straight... you're dissing the Wild and Crazy Guy?For reasons that should be obvious, I get a bit twitchy whenever someone suggests banning a book or play or tries to impede others from access to artistic materials. For instance, a school superintendent in Oregon<a href="http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127374.html"> shut down a high school's impending production </a>of Steve Martin's play, PICASSO AT THE LAPINE AGILE, after 137 community members signed a petition stating their "concern" about the show's adult content. Similarly, across the country, other <a href="http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/high-school-rent-production-will-go-on/">high schools </a>have faced similar opposition to their <a href="http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2008/12/red_wing_says_n.php">proposed stagings </a>of the musical, RENT.<br /><br />In the case of the Oregon school, Steve Martin himself has stepped up to the plate and <a href="http://www.playbill.com/news/article/127374.html">offered to fund a non-profit production of the show</a> to be produced off-campus in an effort "to prevent the play from acquiring a reputation it does not deserve."<br /><br />I'm always happy to see parents taking an active interest in their children's activities and I firmly believe it is every parent's right to steer their children away from anything they feel might be harmful (based on personal values, of course). That stops making sense to me, though, when this "protective" nature expands to the children of other parents. Isn't it just easier (and more responsible) to tell your kid "I don't want you to have anything to do with that show" than it is to attempt to block other people's children from having the experience? Or am I missing something?<br /><br />Anyway. Yay on Steve Martin. I hope the director of the show takes him up on this offer.Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-47293597338098160242009-03-16T21:51:00.003+03:302009-03-16T22:03:49.070+03:30Congratulations to Robin Friedman!<div>Robin's Flux book,<a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738713045"> NOTHING</a> was recently shortlisted for <a href="http://www.forewordmagazine.com/botya/print2k8.aspx">Foreword Magazine's </a>Book of the Year Award for Best Young Adult novel.</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313853238433012834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 310px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/Sb6ZXclb3GI/AAAAAAAABMw/HBtnKTkG4cE/s320/nothing.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>Winners will be announced at the end of May. Robin's book had previously won the 2009 Sydney Taylor Notable Books for Teens Award. Go Robin!</div>Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-24739317049131146342009-03-09T17:08:00.003+03:302009-03-09T17:11:35.382+03:30Noah's got nothing on these ARCsLiz Burns, bloggoddess at <a href="http://yzocaet.blogspot.com/">A Chair, A Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy</a> has a well-researched piece on the nature of ARCs (that's Advance Reader/ing Copies) over at ForeWord Magazine.<br /><br />Check out the first article <a href="http://www.forewordmagazine.com/blogs/shelfspace/PermaLink,guid,6ef8cfff-c44c-43bd-9078-de3bc7166f65.aspx">here</a>.<br /><br />And the second one <a href="http://www.forewordmagazine.com/blogs/shelfspace/PermaLink,guid,1d8b08aa-741a-4aea-9ccf-569006e5dc82.aspx">here</a>.Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-65587442287544763412009-03-05T22:16:00.002+03:302009-03-05T22:22:42.052+03:30Thou ShaltAgent Nathan Bransford has a fantastic post offering <a href="http://nathanbransford.blogspot.com/2009/03/ten-commandments-for-happy-writer.html">10 Commandments for Writers.</a><br /><br />My favorite?<br /><br />6. Keep up with publishing industry news. It may seem counterintuitive to follow the news of a business in which layoffs currently constitute the bulk of headlines. But it behooves you to keep yourself informed. You'll be happier (and more successful) if you know what you're doing.<br /><br />Actually, they're all my favorite. Good stuff.Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-74340700347639415452009-02-26T18:59:00.001+03:302009-02-26T19:02:09.812+03:30Rejection, schmejection.Agent Janet Reid has <a href="http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2009/02/1399-tax.html">a great story </a>about how getting rejected can be a good thing.Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-21913118289507397332009-02-25T17:31:00.003+03:302009-02-25T17:38:50.271+03:30If you like this, then you'll enjoy...Back in my days as a bookseller, I often talked with customers who looked for recommendations based on authors they liked.<br /><br />"I like Nelson DeMille," I'd hear. "Got any books like that?"<br /><br />We had cheat sheets that told us "if a customer likes THIS author, recommend THAT author." After a while, you got a feel for what people wanted and could make recommendations without even thinking.<br /><br />There's been an interesting discussion on <a href="http://www.adbooks.org/">Adbooks </a>recently that stemmed from one person's request that people recommend titles that are "like" TWILIGHT. The subsequent answers have often surprised (and occasionally amused) me. Sometimes I'd go, "That's a fair comparison" and other times I'd think, "Those two books are NOTHING alike." It got me to thinking: what exactly do we mean when we say one book (or author) is like another?<br /><br />Are we comparing style of writing? Similar theme? Pacing? In the case of TWILIGHT, when asking for a comp title, do we mean something that's romancey? Angsty? Vampirey? More importantly, when someone asks for a recommendation, do we offer suggests based on what WE feel is comparative or what we think the OTHER person feels is comparative?<br /><br />When someone asks you for a comparable title, which area do you typically default to?Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-78684893606170490772009-02-23T17:25:00.002+03:302009-02-23T17:29:21.689+03:30Biz Lingo<a href="http://editorialanonymous.blogspot.com/">Editorial Anonymous</a> is doing a great <a href="http://editorialanonymous.blogspot.com/2009/02/definitions-for-perplexed-cmyk.html">running series of posts </a>defining various publishing industry terms.<br /><br />Dying to know what CMYK, PPB, or F&G stand for? Want to find out exactly what the difference is between a galley and an ARC? Then EA is your one stop shop!Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-500837504986568222009-02-19T19:33:00.004+03:302009-02-19T19:51:06.934+03:30Accolades! Accolades! Accolades!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SZ2G5FwYFAI/AAAAAAAABMY/NYPRBw_7yf8/s1600-h/indienext.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304544251468059650" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 201px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SZ2G5FwYFAI/AAAAAAAABMY/NYPRBw_7yf8/s320/indienext.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>As you might have guessed, I'm a bit behind. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Some congrats are in order for Flux authors!<br /><br />Congratulations to A.S. King whose <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738714264">DUST OF 100 DOGS </a>was named a Spring 2009 Indie Next list pick! (Stop by the <a href="http://www.thedustof100dogs.com/html/book.html">D100D website </a>to check out the book trailer!)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Congratulations to Robin Friedman whose <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738713045">NOTHING </a>was named a 2008 Sydney Taylor Award -Notable Book for Teens.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Some great reviews for Heather Duffy-Stone's <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738714509">THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO TELL YOU</a>:<br /></div><br /><div>“A sharp writer, Stone’s central triangle of relationships is both strong and universal, and her details are authentic.”—<em>Booklist</em> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>“[T]he story is powerful and engaging and worthy of attention.”—<em>Kirkus Reviews<br /></em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>And praise for Barbara Haworth-Attard's <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738714837">MY LIFE FROM AIR BRAS TO ZITS</a>:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>“Although laugh-packed, the heart of this endearing, but definitely not sappy, novel is Teresa's evolving family relationships, which challenge her to grow up quickly.”--<em>Kirkus Reviews</em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>“This is a book for chick-lit fans who want more intelligence than fluff.”--<em>ForeWord Magazine<br /></em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div>And a bit of advance praise for a book you'll be clamoring for come April: Vance Briceland's <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738714240">THE GLASSMAKER'S DAUGHTER:<br /></a></div><br /><div>"A thoroughly engrossing and surprising narrative, with wonderful descriptions of an imaginary Italian kingdom, this one's a strong contender for next year's Cybil’s!”--<em>Readers' Rants</em></div>Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-37329361770141548932009-02-06T17:40:00.007+03:302009-02-06T18:22:41.138+03:30You can take the boy out of publicity...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SYxIrJ-IeDI/AAAAAAAABMI/49dA2aQCi8E/s1600-h/toppit1.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299690767756326962" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 116px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 151px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SYxIrJ-IeDI/AAAAAAAABMI/49dA2aQCi8E/s200/toppit1.bmp" border="0" /></a> Although I currently wield the dreaded red pen (actually, no, my pen is black), I find my roots in publicity hard to shake and I continue to be fascinated with unique approaches to marketing and publicity. Say what you want about THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (I happened to love it), the marketing plan that blurred the line between reality and fiction was br-ill-iant. Others have tried to mimic this sort of approach to varying degrees of success.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SYxIxmMpmjI/AAAAAAAABMQ/o1bBf8qNhPA/s1600-h/toppit2.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299690878412626482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 145px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 115px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SYxIxmMpmjI/AAAAAAAABMQ/o1bBf8qNhPA/s200/toppit2.bmp" border="0" /></a>This most recent effort comes to us from across the Pond, regarding a forthcoming book called MR. TOPPIT. Apparently, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2009/feb/05/penguin-mr-toppit">the publishers took out a large add in the Times</a>, claiming to be the characters in the book who then went on to denounce the book as unauthorized. Nothing courts controversy like something being made public that was never meant to see the light of day. The ad then directs you to a<a href="http://www.hayseedfoundation.com/"> web site </a>for more information but when you arrive there, the site claims to have crashed due to high volume of traffic but clicking on the "more info here" bar sends you to a <a href="http://mrtoppit.wordpress.com/">blog with further mocked-up info</a>.<br /><br />It's kinda fun (says the geek who enjoys all the tertiary internet diversions offered by the producers of <a href="http://www.ajiraairways.com/">LOST</a>).<br /><br /><div>One bit of frustration is that after only a base level of searching, I still don't know what the book is about. But here's the thing: I want to find out. So I'm going to keep digging. Damn their ability to spark my curiosity!<br /><br /></div><div>It's a fun little gamble that Penguin has taken. I'm really fascinated by risky attempts at book publicity; the more creative, the better. I remember a stunt a few years back involving carting a casket full of books around town and handing out free copies. (Was that also London? I can't remember. I couldn't find it in a quick Google search. If you remember this and have the info, send it my way.) What remains to be seen, of course, is if it will translate into sales. What's obvious is that it's translated into <em><strong>attention</strong></em>, which is half the battle right there.</div><div></div><br /><div>Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go figure out what this book is all about. <em>I have to.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><br><div>UPDATE: <a href="http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780670917815,00.html">I found it</a>. I cheated. You'll have more fun if you burrow through the blog.</div>Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-18165713684860699412009-01-28T18:49:00.005+03:302009-01-28T19:21:42.200+03:30Coming soon to a Kindle near you...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SYB_ApieTUI/AAAAAAAABMA/BC4qLpDIeZA/s1600-h/kindle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296372810914876738" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 199px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SYB_ApieTUI/AAAAAAAABMA/BC4qLpDIeZA/s200/kindle.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SYB3mRzAtwI/AAAAAAAABL4/TuO8XHBFM4E/s1600-h/kindle.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div>Never let it be said that Flux isn't standing at the ready to pounce on any bandwagons that saunter our way.</div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>Starting this month, the first few Flux titles (HOW TO RUIN A SUMMER VACATION, THE TREE SHEPHERD'S DAUGHTER, and INTO THE WILDEWOOD) became available as Kindle downloads on Amazon. Over the next few months, more titles will be appearing in this exciting (and popular) format.</div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>The people I know who have Kindles swear by them. I know several agents who use them as an alternative to schlepping paper manuscripts around, I know publicists who enjoy being able to view popular blogs for breaking news, and I know editors who use them on the commute to work to get caught up on the competition.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br />As Kindle 2.0 looms in the near future (with, I'm told, a sleeker design) and as Amazon struggles to keep up with the orders, it's clear that the age of the e-book may finally be coming into its own (and, no, I don't think that threatens the future of publishing real books, as some harbingers of doom like to predict...but that's a post for another time). I say "finally coming into its own" only because e-books have had a start and stop history, as have most new techonologies strugging to discover which formats make the most sense (VHS vs. Betamax, Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD).</div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>So for you e-book readers out there, have at thee! More Flux to come!</div></div>Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-29887078831369592062009-01-16T23:48:00.005+03:302009-01-17T00:28:48.254+03:30Freaky (sorta) Friday<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SXDwrmx2K1I/AAAAAAAABLg/oORGrzb2hJc/s1600-h/mylife.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291994194094992210" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 309px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SXDwrmx2K1I/AAAAAAAABLg/oORGrzb2hJc/s320/mylife.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SXDsoZ_A7hI/AAAAAAAABLY/cwq2K8SrWYo/s1600-h/thisiswhat.jpg"></a><br /><div>Remember FREAKY FRIDAY? Not the movie(s) but the original book by Mary Rodgers? In it, teenage Annabel Andrews swaps bodies with her mother and is forced to give Mom's life a try (it turns out harder than she first imagines).<br /></div><div>Well, I've decided that if I ever wake up in the body of a teenage girl,* the book I'm turning to that will tell me what I need to know is <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738714837">Barbara Haworth-Attard's MY LIFE FROM AIR BRAS TO ZITS</a>.** A hit in Canada (under the title A IS FOR ANGST), Flux is pleased to publish the US debut of this funny and original novel. Teresa, the book's protagonist, is a fresh and (sometimes painfully) honest voice that had me from page one. I'm not saying I want to BE Teresa, but I think she holds her own in the story and (again, should I find myself a teenage girl in this or any future life) I'd be happy to follow her example (well, mostly).</div><div></div><br /><div>You may have guessed by now that this February release also just arrived in house and I'm holding a shiny new copy in my hands, which made me happy and giddy and prompted the need to tell the world about it.</div><div></div><br /><div>So there it is, world! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>*=No, I don't plan on this happening but I liked to think I'm prepared for any eventuality. Ask me sometime what I plan to do if I ever find myself in John Malkovich's body.</div><div> </div><div>**=The plot of Barbara's book has NOTHING to do with FREAKY FRIDAY or body swaps. It's just a segue device. Not necessarily a good one. I'll work on it.</div></div>Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-31444726668263783572009-01-13T19:34:00.001+03:302009-01-13T19:34:51.910+03:30Yes. Exactly. This is all true.<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NQ78WHpGZ1o&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NQ78WHpGZ1o&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-79593721912191477402009-01-06T21:56:00.003+03:302009-01-06T22:13:58.019+03:30You had me at 'ahoy.'<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SWOkM4UevcI/AAAAAAAABI8/aaybHmCHZN8/s1600-h/dustdogs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288250928646766018" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 129px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SWOkM4UevcI/AAAAAAAABI8/aaybHmCHZN8/s200/dustdogs.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p>Some of you know that I started my career with Flux as the senior publicist. In that capacity, I had the good fortune to work one-on-one with many of the authors (and in my new position, I'm enjoying the chance to get to know the other authors not in my charge) and it often fell to me to discuss with them some of the quirkier of aspects of publishing. Like having a final copy of a book in your hand when it first gets delivered from the printer is very different from the book actually appearing on a bookshelf. These things take time. And after a bit of initial consternation, everyone comes to understand this.<br /><br />My Esteemed Predecessor liked to blog about new books when final copies arrived in house. He'd share his delight at seeing the book come to light and just generally enthuse about how excited he was that soon the world would know the wonderful secret he'd been sitting on for months.<br /><br />This sort of blog post usually started this chain reaction:<br /><br /><strong>Esteemed Predecessor (on blog):</strong> TITLE X is in the house! Woo hoo!<br /><br /><strong>Author of TITLE X to Me (the author's publicist):</strong> You have my books in? Why aren't they in the stores? Why aren't they available? Oh sweet Gutenberg, my life is over!!!!*<br /><br /><strong>Me to Esteemed Predecessor:</strong> I hate you.<br /><br />And then me and Author of TITLE X would talk about the aforementioned difference between having a book in house and having a book in store and everything would be cool.<br /><br />Now that I've shifted sides, I completely understand his often unbridled giddiness at seeing a project come to fruition. Case in point: I'm holding in my hands a brand-spanking new copy of <a href="http://www.fluxnow.com/product.php?ean=9780738714264">THE DUST OF 100 DOGS,</a> the debut YA novel of A. S. King. It's pretty. I didn't acquire this book. I had no editorial input. But I read it and fell instantly in love with it.<br /><br />The book has generated <a href="http://fluxnow.blogspot.com/2008/10/ahoy-mateys-sneak-peeks-of-dust-of-100.html">a bit of internet buzz</a> for its cover and some of the early reviews have been <a href="http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com/bookshelves_of_doom/2008/10/the-dust-of-100-dogs----a-s-king.html">positively glowing</a>. I can guarantee that you haven't read anything quite like this book and if you think you've got it pegged based solely on the premise (17th century pirate is killed and reincarnated as 100 dogs before finally being reincarnated again into a 20th century teen with all her memories intact), you're very, very mistaken.<br /><br />This beautiful book (no, really, how can you not love the cover?) also features a fantastic interview with the author, conducted by Leila Roy, the blogoddess over at <a href="http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com/bookshelves_of_doom/">BOOKSHELVES OF DOOM</a>. Everyone who has read this book can't help but talk about it. So pardon me while I summon the spirit of my Esteemed Predecessor and crow about the impending arrival (in a bookstore near you) of DUST OF 100 DOGS. You'll find it in about a month. Pick it up and see what all the talk is about.</p><br /><p><br />*= This is, of course, an gross exaggeration of the actual reaction. But I think the spirit is there.</p><br /><div></div>Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-6502572868877646092008-12-18T23:07:00.004+03:302008-12-18T23:21:13.614+03:30Where Young Adult is a Point of View, Not a Reading LevelAnd now the NEW YORKER <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2008/12/book-bench-read-1.html">is throwing its rumpled hat into the "can YA be literary" debate</a>. And not doing a very remarkable job of it.<br /><br />In the comments section, the inimitable <a href="http://www.sparksflyup.com/">John Green</a> points to the same argument I always use when someone tries to define YA as any book with a teen protagonist: Well, then, CATCHER IN THE RYE is YA. Funny, that's not where it's shelved. That would also make Brian Malloy's YEAR OF ICE a YA novel (again, not where it's shelved). Jonathan Safran Foer's EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE becomes a middle grade novel with its 9-year-old protagonist. THE LIFE OF PI was released as an adult novel, shelved in the literature section, until someone realized its crossover potential and a YA edition was later released. Would it have received the accolades it did if it had started as YA? (Sadly, probably not, owing to an excess of snobbery.)<br /><br />How can people accept that adult literature can fall into literary and commercial categories (and Michael Chabon would argue that even that delineation is an atrocity) but refuse to accept that YA can offer the same depth and breadth of character? Is it simply because it's easier to dismiss that which one doesn't understand? (Well, duh, yes.) The problem, as I see it, is that little effort is made to even start to understand. That the entire YA oeuvre has, in many cases, been condemned on a small sampling. That would be like reading one poorly written science fiction novel and condemning the entire genre as a result.<br /><br />I've given up being outraged when I see people whose alleged education would suggest they know better than to make blanket statements of condemnation based on their peripheral experience with YA novels. It's not worth my time or energy. It's sad, though, when the media feels the need to present only one view point on the subject. And it's always the one with the weakest arguments.<br /><br />Go fig.Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-80722245897114227752008-12-11T00:18:00.003+03:302008-12-11T01:01:19.821+03:30My First FAQIn desperate need of a blog post that exists purely to spite <a href="http://dogfact9.blogspot.com/">A.S. King</a> (long story), I thought I'd take a moment to address a few questions that have come my way since taking over here at Flux. It occurred me to that the answers might be of use to people besides the one who asked the questions. Many of these questions are related not just to Flux but to "the biz" in general. Please remember: most of these answers apply to ME. Questions that focus on preference are MY preference and may differ by editor or publishing house. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. Let's check the Flux mailbag for some FAQ!<br /><br />Writermania100 writes: <strong>Is there a standard font and format for manuscripts to be submitted to editors and agents?</strong><br /><br />I think there are a few standards. Double spaced? Absolutely. I don't think I'll find anyone who argues with me on that. Will I banish you to the Total Perspective Vortex for sending me something single spaced? No. (I will WISH I could banish you as I hit Ctrl-A and double space it myself and that will make me start reading your work with my mind in a haze of anger and resentment but I won't banish you.) One inch margins? Yeah, I think that's pretty standard across the board. Fonts? Oy. Some old school editors and agents ask for Courier. Personally, I hate Courier. Dunno why. Just hard on my eyes. I'm very much a Times New Roman guy. (And, yes, if you submit something in Courier, I'll do my Ctrl-A trick and magic it into being TNR.) I encourage people NOT to get creative with fonts. Don't submit your fantasy novel in Olde English font. (Please, for the love of Mike, don't submit ANYTHING in Olde English font.)<br /><br /><br />YAguy asks: <strong>Do you have any pet peeves when it comes to the stuff you read?</strong><br /><br />Of course I do. The person who tells you they don't is a liar-pants. Will I share them with you? Mmm. I dunno. As soon as I start saying, "I hate when writers do this..." it sends writers in a tizzy, either fumbling to "fix" something in their manuscript or they denounce me as a fool who wouldn't know their brilliant writing if it grew legs, crawled up my arm, and danced the Watusi. I'll say this much: I enjoy logic. I want things to make sense on some level. If your hockey playing, first person boy protagonist is spending WAY too much time cataloging every article of clothing that every character he encounters is wearing ("Todd was standing there in his navy blue, GAP, zip-up pullover, his dark tan Dockers, ankle cut white socks, and brown bowling shoes..."*), I need to know that there's a really good reason this guy is obsessed with fashion**. Otherwise, I'm going to assume you just took a writing class where the importance of concrete details was impressed upon you and you took it a <em>liiiitle</em> too much too heart. Again, will it make me reject you? Probably not. But you can bet any sweet bippy you may have lying around that it WILL come up in my editorial letter. And it will look a lot like this: "Is this really his voice? :-("<br /><br /><br />SuperAgent29 asks: <strong>Are you going to go and change everything that Andrew worked so hard to establish?</strong><br /><br />This actually is THE most FAQ I have. My somewhat wishy-washy answer thus far has been: I don't see the point in fixing that which isn't broken. That's not to say that I might not explore some new territory (I like to experiment) but I like what Flux is and I like what we're known for. My goal isn't to change and shake things up. My goal is to continue the standards we've tried to maintain since our inception. If that's a little vague and evasive, good. Means I can do whatever I want. :-)<br /><br /><br />Although I never opened myself up to questions, I find myself getting them. That's cool. Feel free to keep sending and maybe I'll do another of these soon. And not just out of spite.<br /><br /><br /><br />*= I made this line up. This is not from an actual submission. But it closely approximates one of those moments where I go, "Ummm..." in certain manuscripts.<br /><br />**=I'm not saying that hockey playing, first person boy protagonists CAN'T be obsessed with fashion. That might actually make for an interesting book. But the observations should be organic to the character. You should assume, for the purposes of this post, that said HPFPBP showed absolutely NO OTHER INTEREST in fashion throughout the book, except when another character would walk through the door and he would interrupt his discussion of Derek Boogaard to go into extended detail on what the character was wearing.Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-70776670197502418862008-12-02T22:22:00.003+03:302008-12-02T22:40:31.555+03:30Bang Head Here<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/STWHIJvtjlI/AAAAAAAAA3M/12KXDQOD-H8/s1600-h/BangHeadHere.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275271112659144274" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 165px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/STWHIJvtjlI/AAAAAAAAA3M/12KXDQOD-H8/s200/BangHeadHere.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I'm surprised <a href="http://carolrhoda.blogspot.com/">Andrew </a>hasn't piped in on this one yet. Guess it's up to me. Be afraid.</div><br /><div></div><div>So, yeah, the YA blogosphere nearly caught fire over the last 48 hours or so <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/print/200812/twilight-vampires">after this writer made some staggeringly ill-formed blanket judgments about YA as a whole</a>. One of those instances where an entire oeuvre is condemned because someone jumped to rash conclusions based on a limited (and, apparently, ill-chosen) sampling. It's like saying all science fiction sucks based on reading a single STAR WARS novelization.</div><br /><div></div><div>There are rebuttals, refutals, recriminations, and other re words floating around. It's good to see. Nothing mobilizes the YA world like being dismissed (or the mistaken perception of being dismissed, as novelist Margo Rabb learned a few months ago <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/20/books/review/Rabb-t.html?pagewanted=1">when she penned a NYT essay that was frequently misunderstood</a>). Colleen Mondor has a wonderful response on <a href="http://guyslitwire.blogspot.com/2008/12/in-which-another-adult-says-silly.html">Guys Lit Wire</a>. And TadMack <a href="http://writingya.blogspot.com/2008/12/reading-and-you.html">sends her thoughts</a> from Glasgow.</div><br /><div></div><div>Sometimes I think we owe these Ann Coulters of YA thanks. (Not Colleen and Tadmack! I mean Caitlin Flanagan and her ilk.) By contributing outlandish opinions, they force us to look at what we do and want to accomplish and really appreciate that we have vision that's not limited by our diminished sense of tolerance. Just like how banning a book is the surest way to watch its numbers rise, poo-pooing YA galvanizes the community. </div><div> </div><div>So go ahead. Turn up your nose, naysayers. That which does not kill us...won't get a second chance to try. BWAH-HAH-HAH!!</div>Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8108330419285670988.post-36995548231119531222008-11-21T18:21:00.004+03:302008-11-21T19:14:49.379+03:30Today I am a man.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SSbW857HcXI/AAAAAAAAA3E/qUd4yzyPEm8/s1600-h/First+Book.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271136755713012082" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 198px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIzVoLxorLo/SSbW857HcXI/AAAAAAAAA3E/qUd4yzyPEm8/s200/First+Book.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Another rite of passage at the helm of Flux: I acquired my first book!</div><br /><div></div><div>OK, truth be told, I've acquired my first FOUR books. They all sort of happened at once.</div><div></div><br /><div>It leaves me searching for a metaphor or simile. I want to say I feel like I've inherited this wealth of books (Flux's backlist and everything Andrew acquired for the next year and a half) and now I've got a chance to honor that inheritance by spreading my wings and starting my own--</div><div></div><br /><div>And it's about there I realize that's a <em><strong>horrible</strong></em> simile. That's not even "first draft" bad. That's "I swear I wasn't on hallucinogens at the time I said it but it would have been nice to be able to claim that because, seriously, there's no justification for anyone who is clear of thought to be stringing that set of words together" bad.</div><div></div><br /><div>Let's just leave it at this: I'm thrilled. Thrilled that I get to continue working with the authors with whom my esteemed predecessor forged relationships. Thrilled that I've had the pleasure to make a few fun discoveries on my own and add them to my literary harem (and the horrible metaphors continue...Bad editor! Bad!). I should just stop. And I will.</div><div></div><br /><div>Please join me in welcoming <strong>Heath Gibson, Ed Briant, and Karen Kincy</strong> to the Flux family! Their stuff made me giddy with happiness and you'll be seeing why in 2010.</div>Brian Farreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13752212248460652888noreply@blogger.com5