“If you have a book you believe in, get to work,” says novelist Mary E. Kingsley. She would know. Mary’s debut novel, Angel, was released last November, with Mary acting as both author and publisher.

Set in an Appalachian town in the early 1970s, Angel is the story of a thirteen year-old girl who’s fed up with all the unanswered questions in her life. Why did her daddy run off when she was just a baby? And why does her Aunt Patsy have to live in a home for crazy people? Over one tumultuous summer and fall, Angel discovers answers buried in family secrets that turn everything upside down. 

Owen Laster, a literary agent with William Morris for fifty years until his retirement a few years ago (see my interview with him here), died today in Manhattan. I first knew him in the '70s, when part of my job as senior editor at Stein and Day was to take a literary agent to lunch every day. Lunch with Owen was always a high point. He loved fiction, and I thought he had great taste--because he liked the kind of stories and writing I liked. When I founded this company in 1980 and started pitching books I loved to Owen, he was more than receptive and quick to respond. And any client he took on could expect plenty of personal attention despite the size of the agency and the fame of Owen's big clients.

He talked to me about connecting with stories. He said that if we were excited about something, that was a "shortcut" for him and that if he connected with the story he might then find a publishing editor who would. I miss the connection with the connector.

For me, Halloween has always signified the start of the fall holiday season. From here it's a quick hop into Thanksgiving, and then the Christmas/Hanukkah/Solstice is upon us. These are all great holidays for families, and if you're looking for the perfect book to share with the children (and kids at heart) in your life, The Goopy Ghost of Halloween by V.R. Duin can't be beat. Goopy is the story of a displaced pile of pumpkin "goo" on the search for a new home after its pumpkin was turned into a jack o' lantern. If you've ever wondered what happens to pumpkin "goo" when the carving is done, V.R. has the answer for you! V.R. Duin worked with Renni Browne on this successful self-published effort, and a Thanksgiving-themed sequel is in the works now.

In the meantime, a second Goopy book is also available now: The Goopy Ghost at Christmas. Why should Goopy's adventures stop on October 31st? V.R. Duin says,"This rhyming, illustrated sequel is about one very goopy ghost that is determined to have a very merry time as it makes its way from a new haunt to the back of Santa’s sleigh. When Santa’s elves get into the “spirit” of the season, there’s even more fun to be had." The books feature gorgeous, vibrant artwork, and are perfect for young readers or reading aloud. We're pleased to have been a part of Goopy's development and encourage everyone to view the book trailer and follow it's author on Facebook for all the latest Goopy news.

No one is more excited than an author whose book gets published, but all of us at TED are thrilled about what's happening with Chevy Stevens' STILL MISSING, released July 6th. Chevy came to us with her riveting first novel when she'd taken it as far as she could. Chevy was determined and dedicated to making STILL MISSING the best book possible, and enlisted Renni Browne's editorial assistance. "She was tireless," Renni said. "And what she does with an editorial suggestion is just breathtaking."

In 2008 we matched Chevy with literary agent Mel Berger at William Morris/Endeavor, who secured a three-book contract with St. Martin's. All four advance reviewers--Publisher's Weekly, Kirkus, Library Journal, and Booklist--gave STILL MISSING starred reviews, and pre-pub recommendations have also rolled in from Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Oprah Magazine, Romance Times Book Review, and others.  STILL MISSING was touted in People Magazine's "Great Escapes" feature, and the book was held up and recommended in Good Morning America's "Top Picks for Great Summer Reading."

There are a number of books that come out any given week that reflect what has happened in the world, commenting on history, whether recent or ancient.  The nature of publishing means that a manuscript was turned in as many as 18 months before a book hits stores,  so by the time you open the front cover, the ideas within reflect a reality the author was considering quite a while beforehand.  What ends up being rare is a book that's prescient, that ends up being about a time that hasn't yet been realized when the author is first putting the words on a page.

Jacqueline Gum's Confessions of a Corporate Slut (released in 2008) managed to reflect universal themes about men and women, but also tell a story that will sound familiar to anyone who has heard the last names Spitzer, Sanford or Woods. Written as a memoir, but one composed by a fictional character named Roberta who gives up her identity for her husband's success. Confessions... is a really interesting book, and we're happy to have it on our bookshelf of titles we had a part in. Jacqueline puts the mirror up to society, and anyone who has any familiarity with the corporate world or the culture of success will find something on nearly every page that rings true. She's witty, insightful and great fun to read. In fact, there's been interest from producers in turning the book into the seed for a TV series.

{addthis off}When you work with books and authors, it's easy to get caught up in wanting great things to happen for the works you've been involved with.

Angel, the first novel by Mary Kingsley falls into that category.  The Editorial Department, specifically founder Renni Browne and editor Shannon Roberts, were happy to be part of the creative process that resulted in Kingsley's novel, but part of the satisfaction that comes with being part of something of artistic value (Renni described the book as "the kind of story that takes you over completely and stays with you long after you finish the last page", for example) is making sure it reaches an audience, which can often be just as challenging as writing the book in the first place.  We live with the story, watching it evolve to the final product and finding an agent, then a publisher, who shares the vision, who, with a quick glimpse, sees what we see, can be a tough road to travel.  So, when an A-list agent (Mel Berger at William Morris Endeavor) chose to represent Mary and Angel, we couldn't have been happier.

The Internet is a mess.  This might be my own personal bias resulting from the laptop melting virus that ruined the first half of my month, but I think most people would agree the signal to noise ratio online is rather low.  In a way, every horrible blog with pop-up ads flying everywhere makes up appreciate those places where the Internet is really helpful and kind of awesome.  Today, one of the really cool aspects of the Internet celebrates its first anniversary, LitChat.