What is the secret society called ICER?

In the last piece of information I received from Jake Stone, the covert operative, he wrote that a secret group of powerful and well-funded individuals calling themselves, ICER, have hacked into and taken over the cell phone networks. He wrote that they took control of a special device installed by Homeland Security after 911 that can reprogram any computer wirelessly from aircraft to PDAs. Well, I was curious about ICER and did Google and Ixquick searches.

Curiously, ICER stands for the International Computing and Educational Research Workshop held every year at a major university in different countries since 2005. The first workshop was held at the University of Washington in Seattle and this year’s conference will be held this weekend (Sept 6-7) at the University of Newcastle in Sydney, Australia.

Here’s the mission statement of the workshop from the 2005 ICER workshop web site:

“Computing education, as a research discipline, is the study of how people come to understand computational processes and devices, and how to improve that understanding. As computation becomes ubiquitous in our world, understanding of computing in order to design, structure, maintain, and utilize these technologies becomes increasingly important both for the technology professional, but also for the technologically literate citizen. The research study of how the understanding of computation develops, and how to improve that understanding, is critically important for the technology-dependent societies in which we live.”

I don’t think Jake Stone was referring to this ICER. First, they are not a secret society; they are an open educational organization of computer professionals, educators and developers. Besides, I don’t have any proof what Jake Stone says is true. For all I know, he could be making this stuff up from my novel, Dark End of the Spectrum.

Interestingly, Wikipedia also has a listing for ICER. It is image compression software used by NASA on the Mars rovers, “Spirit” (MER-A) and “Opportunity” (MER-B).

From Wikipedia:

“ICER is a wavelet-based image compressor that allows for a graceful trade-off between the amount of compression (expressed in terms of compressed data volume in bits/pixel) and the resulting degradation in image quality (distortion). ICER has some similarities to JPEG2000, with respect to select wavelet operations.

The development of ICER was driven by the desire to achieve high compression performance while meeting the specialized needs of deep space applications.”

I also could not find the meaning of the photo-enhancing ICER acronym, if it is an acronym.

Operative Reveals Cyber Terrorist Plot

In my last post, The Starbucks Caper…, I thought I was going to meet the mysterious Jake Stone, who claims he was a covert operative for the CIA, NSA and other secret groups and that he has top-secret information to reveal that will shock the world. Instead, I received a Starbucks gift card and a letter with time sensitive ink. As I read the letter sitting in my car, the ink began to vanish. Luckily, I was able to photograph most of it with my phone before it disappeared. Here is what he wrote:

"A secret group of powerful and well-funded individuals calling themselves ICER have hacked into a newly developed wireless device installed in cell towers by Homeland Security after 911 that can reprogram any computer from aircraft to PDAs. The hackers also turned the device into a powerful weapon that can kill any living creature in its swath using cell phones as tracking devices.

It is believed these people can hack into any computer system including the power grid, banks, and other critical infrastructure systems with this technology.

No one knows for sure which cell towers contain the devices so the devices cannot be destroyed unless every cell tower in the US is disabled. They are fully integrated into the cell tower equipment and whoever is controlling them now changed our access codes so we can’t get in to turn them off. These devices were built with the highest security levels available…512-bit encryption…we couldn’t break the code in 200 years using all the computer power of all the computers on the Internet. We would have to destroy at least two thirds of the cell towers in the country to stop them.

JS"

The Starbucks Caper - Is This for Real?

You won’t believe this, but after I arrived home from work yesterday my phone chimed – a text message from Jake Stone, the alleged CIA, NSA operative I mentioned in my previous post, Clandestine Operative Hints at Cyber Terrorism Plot.

The message said,

“Go to the Starbucks closest to you and order a tall Caffe Misto. Pay with your debit card. JS”

What no time? Now I’m thinking this is so melodramatic like a cheap spy movie from television’s black and white days. So I immediately drive to the nearest Starbucks – a freshly built, clean structure that had yet to earn its handful of regulars.

An older man, white beard, glasses and wearing a cheap imitation of a captain’s hat and faded jeans, sat alone at one of the wired tables near the entrance. That’s him, I thought, but then why would he make himself so obvious? I went in and ordered the Caffe Misto. I handed the barista my debit card and waited for her to swipe the card and hand it back. Instead, she walked over to the barrister preparing my coffee and spoke in whispers. This is it, I thought, I’m dead meat. I danced nervously at the counter ready to bolt out at the slightest movement.

“Sir, your coffee,” he said.

With that he handed me my coffee and debit card.

“Sorry for the delay. We have to check all the cards now. There's a theft ring in the area.”

Popeye sitting outside must be my man. I started for the door and stopped as two little girls about five or so ran up to him followed by their mother, a thirty something woman wearing a billowing summer dress that made her look forty. Nice cover, I thought.

“Oh, sir this is for your trouble,” the young man said holding up a sealed Starbucks envelope.

“What is it?”

“A gift card.”

“For my trouble?”

“Yeah.”

I leave and notice Popeye and his crew have sailed off. Back in the car, I open the envelope. It’s a gift card all right with a form letter thanking me for buying Starbucks coffee. I throw it down on the seat and start the car. I’m about to pull away when I notice letters forming on the back of the letter. It’s new information from Jake Stone.

Clandestine Operative Hints at Cyber Terrorism Plot

I really don’t know how to put this, but I recently received a strange email from person calling himself, Jake Stone, saying he is involved with the CIA, NSA and other clandestine organizations and that he was now in a position to reveal information about cyber terrorism that will shock the world. My spam blocker didn’t even pick up the email and the domain server and IP address don’t exist when I tried to track its source.

He asked that I post several pieces of information on this blog since my upcoming book, DARK END OF THE SPECTRUM, touches on the very things he is involved with. The problem is my book is fiction with elements I made up from my research, but he says much of it is fact. I don’t know why he chose my blog – traffic to my site is not stellar and I can only conclude that maybe he doesn’t want to make a big splash right out of the box.

Here’s what he wrote:

“I am now in a position to reveal information that will shake the foundations of our government and the world. My family is dead, killed, and I have a rare cancer that is eating my life away each day. I have nothing to lose.

There is a secret group of powerful and well-funded individuals who plan to use the Internet, cell phones and computers to do something so devastating, so destructive that when it happens the world’s jaw will drop.

All this crap about the New World Order, Ameros and these massive retention centers they are building in Texas is just a ruse to throw off the most intelligent and resourceful conspiracy buffs like Michael Tsarion and Jordan Maxwell. All of that is to get people’s attention away from the real conspiracy – the group’s devastating agenda. Think about how easy it is to manipulate information on the Internet and in the press. You may not even believe what I’m saying, but there are signs and I will show you how to spot them.

Read Valerie Plame’s Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House and you will get a glimpse of what I’m talking about, but take it with a grain of salt because the CIA has redacted the book. Better to read Laura Rozen’s afterword. She’s a Washington journalist who does not accept the official spoon fed information as truth. 60 Minutes just aired a piece on Plame because her story now rings true in light of President Bush’s popularity ratings.

That’s all I can safely say right now.

JS”

I put in the links on his post.

Future Trends of Publishing

I was recently a guest blogger on Joe Wikert’s Publishing 2020 Blog with a post on the future trends of publishing. Here are the first few paragraphs. Click on the link below to read the rest of the story.

I recently caught a broadcast on my local NPR station from American Public Media about the troubled book publishing industry.

The most recent trend is that bookstores are ordering more books than they could ever sell because they are trying to compete with online book stores. They fear, according to the report, that if customers cannot find what they are looking for, they will go home and order the book online. Their fear is justified – after all, the average big box bookstore like Borders can stock approximately 100,000 titles while Amazon can list millions.

While book publishers may be rejoicing over increased orders, the orders are really a double-edged sword because the bookstores can return any books they don’t sell after 90 days.

To add to the problem, some bookstores are returning books before the 90-day window, waiting a week and then ordering more books. Now they have another 90 days to pay for the books and whatever they don’t sell they can return without losing a dime, according to the broadcast. More evidence that the publishing industry’s consignment model no longer works. Add to that decreasing book sales and you have a formula for disaster.

You can read the rest of the story by going to Joe Wikert’s blog.

Cyber Attacks are like Sex: No one wants to talk about it

It's one of America's well-kept secrets - cyber attacks. No longer the pranks of computer whiz kids it is now the new espionage of the 21st Century.

Hacking into government networks has become the mantra of nation states, organized crime and the web of terrorists.

You will rarely hear about it in the news unless a major site is taken down because governments and businesses don't want to invite others; don't want to appear vulnerable or short sighted and don't want the world to know they had inferior security on their networks.

But it goes deeper - this is the espionage of the 21st Century and governments around the world are doing it on a massive scale. The NSA, CIA, FBI and Homeland Security are all actively involved in cyber security and attack prevention. It is now a matter of national security.

I have always believed that one day hackers would be powerful enough to take control of one of our country's major infrastructures like air control, electricity or the Internet. This belief spawned DARK END OF THE SPECTRUM, my high-tech thriller about a clandestine group who manage to hack into the nation's power grid and cell phone network and hold the US hostage.

My book is fiction, but more and more of it is coming true everyday. Business Week ran an in depth article in its April 21, 2008 issue "The New E-spionage Threat," about the rising attacks on America's most sensitive computer networks. Here's a quote from the article.

"The U.S. government, and its sprawl of defense contractors, have been the victims of an unprecedented rash of similar cyber attacks over the last two years, say current and former U.S. government officials. "It's espionage on a massive scale," says Paul B. Kurtz, a former high-ranking national security official."

And if you think that is scary, hackers brought down an entire country in May 2007. Tiny Estonia had to shut the Internet down throughout the country to prevent hackers from disrupting their infrastructure as reported in the September article in Wired Magazine, "Hackers Take Down the Most Wired Country in Europe."

The plot of DARK END OF THE SPECTRUM is similar only it happens in the United States. And if you don't think the threat is real read the first 100 pages of my novel by clicking here or buy the eBook at Lulu.com.

So You Are Still Not Sure About Self-Publishing?

Amazon's BookSurge Decision a Harbinger?

Amazon recently announced that it will no longer list print-on-demand books unless they are printed through their own POD publisher, BookSurge. The decision has started an avalanche of shock and awe not only among POD publishers, but traditional publishers as well.

New York Literary Agent Richard Curtis and founder of E-Reads said it is a harbinger of book censorship.
He writes,

"While you're trembling, consider the possibility of a mega-retailer ultimately deciding what you read as well as how and where it's printed."

Pretty scary stuff. You can read the rest of the story on his blog, The Nine Gazillion Pound Gorilla Bares its Fangs.

And there's more. Read Mr. Curtis' follow up post, Direct Sales... about how publishers may deal with Amazon.

The Writer's Edge: The Science of Rejection

The Writer's Edge: The Science of Rejection

Ever try to read between the lines of the mountains of rejection letters you received from literary agents? Take a look at my post on The Writer's Edge for some answers.

SIMPLY WAIT: THANK YOU! from Patry Francis

I just received this email from Karen Dionne of Backspace and one of the wonderful people who helped organize THE LIAR'S DIARY BLOG DAY on Tuesday, Jan. 29.

"In the end, very nearly 400 bloggers helped move her novel from a ranking of 55,000 on amazon at the start of the day, to #1 in Mystery, 375 overall by evening. Those statistics prove the day was a success, but we knew it would be even before the day began because we could see the groundswell of support, feel the sense of community.

Canada's National Post did a story about our effort on the 29th, and the next day, told us it was their third most-read online article EVER. We're hoping that others in the print media will now come on board. What took place was a remarkable demonstration of the power of the Internet community, and deserves to be told. And of course, we hope Patry's sales continue to soar, and more important, that her recovery goes smoothly."

And don't forget to read Patry's thank you on her blog, SIMPLY WAIT: THANK YOU!

Update to THE LIAR'S DIARY BLOG DAY!

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE - Thanks to Richard Cooper, one of the 300 bloggers who just pointed out that Patry's book soared to the Number One position on Amazon for Psychological and Suspense fiction yesterday. Check out his blog with the screen shot of this phenomenal success story.

***

The power of the Internet and more specifically the power of blogs proved to be a significant force yesterday in the publishing world.

Patry Francis' THE LIAR'S DIARY jumped from a sales rank of 26,701 to 380, up 6,926% on Amazon.com. The book was the 2nd largest gainer in sales in 24 hours as of yesterday afternoon.

Her current rank on Amazon is 440 up from 10,947 or a 2,387% increase in sales! Thanks to the selfless efforts of more than 300 bloggers who wrote about Patry yesterday and all the wonderful people who bought her book.

Take a look at my post below and the links there to realize the reach of this noble effort.

Today is LIAR'S DIARY Blog Day - Want to Help?

Well, today is the day when the stars of the blogosphere shine on Patry Francis and hopefully we will either make blog history as one of the greatest promotional efforts in publishing history or it will be just another Tuesday.

But none of that is important because no matter what happens it is a special day, a day when fellow writers, fellow human beings unselfishly gave some of their time and resources to help someone greatly in need of support.

Today is THE LIAR’S DIARY blog day when more than 300 bloggers all over the country mention Patry Francis and the release of the paperback version of her debut murder mystery novel, THE LIAR’S DIARY.

We are also encouraging you to buy a copy in support of Patry, in support of life and of all the people who have suffered or are suffering with cancer.

Patry Francis was diagnosed with rapidly-spreading cancer a few months ago and does not have the energy to promote the release of her book after several surgeries. So fellow writers, authors, agents, publishers and publishing professionals have banded together to help Patry promote her book on the blogosphere today.

I know Patry only through emails, but from our short communications I found that she is an amazing and talented person. Here is what she wrote three weeks after she was diagnosed with cancer:

“One thing I learned was that for every ounce of trouble I was forced to drink, I would counter it with two ounces of bliss. Not the cheap bliss I attempted to find in a wine bottle, but the real thing. The kind I saw in that thin shell when I held it up to the light. The kind we all have inside us if we choose to draw on it.

I really think this is where we so often go wrong. When bad things happen--whether it's disease, rejection, mistreatment, perceived or otherwise - we allow it to control us. In other words, we pour ourselves another glass of poison when what we really need is the antidote - a double shot of BLISS.”

You can read the rest of her story of hope on her blog, Simply Wait.

You can also help by buying a copy of THE LIAR’S DIARY at Amazon or at your favorite bookstore. It’s a great read.

Here’s the synopsis:

How far would you go to protect your family? To protect your children? How many lies would you tell? Would you dare to admit the darkest truths - even to yourself?

Jeanne Cross is an ordinary suburban wife and mother with a seemingly "perfect" life when Ali Mather arrives on the scene, breaking all the rules and breaking hearts. Almost against her will, Jeanne is drawn to this powerfully seductive woman, a fascination that soon begins to infect Jeanne's husband as well as their teenage son. Though their friendship seems unlikely and even dangerous to their mutual acquaintances, Ali and Jeanne are connected by deep emotional needs, vulnerabilities, and long-held secrets that Ali has been privately recording in her diary.

The diary also holds the key to something darker. Though she can't prove it, Ali is convinced someone has been entering her house when she is not at home - and not with the usual intentions. What this burglar wants is nothing less than a piece of Ali's soul.

If you are not convinced this book is a page turner, take a look at some of the five-star reviews on Barnes and Noble and the cool book trailer on Powell's Books.

In case you didn't know Patry Francis, here is a brief bio from her publisher:

Patry Francis is a three-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize whose work has appeared in the Tampa Review, Colorado Review, Ontario Review, and the American Poetry Review. She is also the author of the popular blogs, simplywait.blogspot.com and waitresspoems.blogspot.com. This is her first novel.

One last thing, if you have a story of hope or just want to say a few kind words, please feel free to post them here for Patry and others like her. She would like that.

Don't forget to check Susan Henderson's blog, Lit Park, and to see the special gift Patry's husband Ted gave her.

And if you want to know how this great effort started and who are some of the participants check out my earlier post, "Have a Blog? Want to Help a Fellow Author".

Getting Published is a Matter of ...

I recently read in The New York Times Rachel Donadio’s essay on how Elie Wiesel’s NIGHT, a Holocaust memoir, was rejected by 15 publishers, ignored by readers and went on to sell 10 million copies. It was recently taken off the NYTimes best seller list after Oprah Winfrey picked it for her book club last January. During that time, it sold 3 million additional copies and stayed on the NYTimes list for 80 weeks.

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL by Jack Canfield was rejected by 140 publishers because no one in the business could figure out how to classify it among all the different genres already taking up space in bookstores all over America. The book has sold over 112 million copies worldwide and it has spawned over 170 titles in 41 languages.

What both books did was create new genres. And whenever something new comes along it takes a while for it to be accepted and embraced as another icon in our culture.

I believe it is the same with writing. Established authors try to recreate themselves all the time. Dean Koontz did it in THE GOOD GUY, where he “…did not use traditional methods of character revelation, no back stories in narration or in dialogue until late in the text. All the characters have secrets.”

Michael Crichton veered away from the traditional novel in NEXT, where he compiles a series of different scenes thinly related by his overall theme emphasizing the dangers of gene therapy and genome mapping.

Both books explored new areas of storytelling moving away from the traditional plane.

The moral of this post is to take these stories to heart and never give up on your writing - persist.

It’s a matter of persistence – finding the right agent or publisher who believes in your work and will expose it to the publishing world with the same enthusiasm and passion that you have for your work.

It’s a matter of timing – eventually readers will get tired of seeing the same genre of books on the best selling lists and migrate to other genres. If your book is in the newly accepted genre, it will have a better chance of selling. (However, don’t write a book because you think a particular genre is hot at the time. Just write no matter what genre.)

The right stuff - Lastly, your writing must be engaging, your story interesting and the mechanics of your book flawless. Your work must have the right stuff of good storytelling and a purpose whether to entertain, inform or take up a cause.

Have a Blog? Want to Help a Fellow Author?

If you have a blog and would like to help fellow writer Patry Francis fulfill a lifelong dream, please help us support her by mentioning her in your blog and encouraging readers to buy her book, THE LIAR'S DIARY on January 29^th.

Patry was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer in November and does not have the energy to promote the launch of the paperback version of her book on January 29th.

You can preorder her book from Amazon.com right now or buy it from your favorite bookstore on the 29^th. I've already ordered mine from Amazon.

I know Patry Francis only through emails, but she is a wonderful, warm, and sincere person. You can read an interview I did with her on her writing at the Backspace website.

I also included this blog post reprinted here with permission from Backspace, the Writer's Place.

Patry Francis is a talented author and lovely person whose debut suspense novel THE LIAR'S DIARY came out last spring in hardcover from Dutton. The trade paper release is January 29^th, but a few weeks ago, Patry was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. She's had several surgeries, and her prognosis is good, but given that Patry won't have much energy for promoting, a number of bloggers are banding together to do it for her.

"THE LIAR'S DIARY Blog Day" is going to be held January 29^th. Folks who wish to participate are asked to mention the book on their blog that day and link to Patry's website (www.patryfrancis.com) and the book's purchase page on Amazon. You can do a liars themed blog, review the book, sponsor a contest, or anything else you think might help Patry get some much-deserved notice. Bloggers are also asked to
encourage their readers to buy one/buy one for a friend between January 29^th and Feb 1.

Brilliance audio is putting together a special audio clip that bloggers can use, and Circle of Seven productions is making a "cover story" promo video, which will also be available to bloggers. And Susan Henderson, of LitPark, says if you like, you can come to her blog on the 29^th and copy what she writes.

Just to give you a very small idea of what you'll see on the 29^th, here are the folks who have already stepped forward to help: Laura Benedict, who came up with the idea. Patry's editor at Dutton, Julie Doughty. Her agent at the Jean Naggar Literary Agency, Alice Tasman.
Her publicist, Laurie Connors, Eileen Hutton at Brilliance Audio, Jessica Brilliant Keener, The brilliant Susan Henderson, Tish Cohen, Dan Conaway from Writers House, Sheila Clover English, CEO of Circle of Seven Productions, Jeff Kleinman at Folio Literary Management, Robin Slick from In Her Own Write, Ellen Meister, Bella Stander, M.J. Rose, Robin Grantham, Kamela Cody of ModernGirlStyle.com, Kathryn Esplin at Gather.com, Clair Lamb at her Answer Girl blog, Sarah Weinman at Confessions of An Idiosyncratic Mind, Hank Ryan from JungleRedWriters, Sisters In Crime, Raven Bower, CJ Lyons, Jordan Dane, Murderati, Jen Jordan at Crimespree, Richard Lewis, Gail Baker and The Debutante Ball, Eileen Cook, Kelli Stanley, Davi Thayer, Amy Nathan, Karin Gillespie, Melanie Lynn Hauser, Amy MacKinnon, Anthony S. Policastro, Carolyn Burns Bass. And you, too, right?

A list of bloggers who plan to participate will be sent to Patry's publisher in a few days. If you'd like to be included, please send your name, the name of your blog, and how many hits per day/week/month your blog gets (if you have those stats, and if you're comfortable sharing them) to me, Karen Dionne, as soon as possible. (karendionne@bksp.org) Patry's publisher is aware of our efforts, and excited about the prospect of working with us to make this blog day a success.

Meanwhile, you can read Patry's unsentimental and inspiring account of how she's dealing with this setback onher own blog, "Simply Wait."

Equally inspiring is watching the writing community rally around one of their own. Our cumulative efforts can make a difference! Feel free to copy this post and share it around to help spread the word, and on behalf of Patry, THANKS.

Writing After the Holiday Cheer

I’ve noticed there are lots of articles in writer’s magazines and on blogs about getting back to writing now that the holiday season is winding down.

Yes, Virginia, it is a busy time, but a break can improve your writing. It’s hard to be creative all the time, and a change of routine is not only good for the mind and soul, it’s good for your creativity.

What I find works for me is to work on two or three projects at the same time. I’m not saying this is for everyone, but it works well for me. I’m currently working on 3 novels right now. One is complete and two are in the beginning chapters. I’ll work on one for awhile, then put it aside and pick up the next one. What I find is that when I go back to one of the novels after a week or two, I have a whole new outlook on it and I usually improve the writing or the characters or the plot.

I try to write something every night - have to make a living during the day. And I usually write for a few hours in the morning on weekends unless a flash of creativity strikes and then I’ll spend more time writing.

I carry a small notebook around all the time to write down ideas or I use a voice recorder when I can’t use the notebook. I also keep a notebook and pen on my nightstand for those rare dreams or epiphanies that come in the middle of the night.

I find my creativity is more abundant and the writing flows better when I can take breaks and think about my writing rather than thinking about how much I should write.

Happy writing!

It's a Wonderful Life

My wife and I were watching Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” on NBC the other night for the 100^th time or so. We both have seen the movie so many times we can recite the actor’s lines as they say them. We watch it every year just as we put up a Christmas tree every year. Although we have seen the movie many times, we both thoroughly enjoy watching it again often saying, “This is one of my favorite scenes,” or “I can’t wait to see this part.”

I started thinking about this film and why it is still popular and why it is so timeless. After all, the film debuted in movie theaters on December 20, 1946, it is in black and white and the lifestyle and mores of the era are those of our parents and grandparents depending how old you are. Some of the actors and scenes are corny by today’s standards, but the film remains highly popular. In addition, it was considered a box office flop because it did not generate the anticipated revenue.

As I watched it I could see that the film was made like a well written novel. Great characterizations, conflict, drama and George Bailey’s (played by Jimmy Steward) self realization that his problems were nothing compared to all the things he had done and all the people his life had touched. All the plot points are resolved in the end and two major themes emerge: self sacrifice to help others and that family and friends are all that matter.

This is the stuff of great novels like GONE WITH THE WIND, THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA and others that speak a universal human truth that lives on through each generation. A truth that is not anchored in time and relevant to the values of any era. This is the kind of story telling all writers would love to write and it is the universal thread that keeps us writing against all odds.

If you have never watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” it is one of those films that should be required watching to become a member of the human race. It’s a film you should watch if you are writing a novel because it has all the elements of great story telling.

Here are links to additional information on the film.

A great review by Tom Dirks on filmsite.org

Photos and videos on The Internet Movie Database

Photos and information at Reel Classics

Do You Believe in Reincarnation?

Author MJ Rose believes so, along with 60 million others in America and this inspired her to write, THE REINCARNATIONIST, her ninth book, a suspenseful historical thriller about gripping revelations on humanity and beyond.

Her book, released on Sept. 1, appears to have been smoldering inside of MJ all of her life as she tells how it started although she didn't know it would be a book one day.

"When I was three years old, I told my great grandfather things about his childhood in that there was simply no way I could have known. He became convinced I was a reincarnation of someone in his past. Over time, after more incidents, my mother - a very sane and logical woman - also came to believe it."

Read my interview with this fascinating author on the Algonkian Writers Conferences website.

Publishing Trends Favor Women's Fiction

If you want to get a feel for what publishers are buying these days, check out Agent Andrew Zack's blog at all that's new(s) from A to Z: Looking for...Historical Fiction...and Women's Fiction...

He is now representing manuscripts in the following areas:

• Commercial Women's Fiction
• Literary Women's Fiction
• Romance Fiction, including Romantic Suspense and Paranormal Romance
• Chick Lit
• Smart women's fiction that isn't Chick Lit or Romance

It seems that the majority of agencies are looking in these genres for well-written and compelling manuscripts. Why? According to Mr. Zack,

1. I'm married now and wifey needs more to read;
2. The majority of my interns are women and many are fans of these categories;
3. Fifty percent of all books sold in the United States each year fall into those categories.

Don't be discouraged if your book doesn't fall into one of these categories - there is still plenty of room for thrillers, suspense and other genres provided you have a concept that immediately pulls readers into your book and your writing reflects your voice.

It's just that this is a strong trend right now and like everything else trends change and other genres may dominate the publishing industry.