Tidbits From Around the Industry

This week brought us two deaths from important writers in the industry.

First, Erich Segal, author of LOVE STORY died from a heart attack,
though he had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for many years.
Best known for coining the phrase, “Love means never having to say
you’re sorry, “ he also wrote the screenplay for the Beatle’s
“Yellow Submarine.” LOVE STORY eventually became a screenplay and was
nominated for 6 Oscars.

Robert B. Parker also died this week. Parker was best known for crime
novels featuring private eye Spenser. The books were also the basis
for the TV show, “Spenser: for Hire.” He is credited with bringing
back the hard-boiled style of mystery.

Helen Scott Taylor has some news to share. In celebration of the
release of her new book, THE PHOENIX CHARM, you can read a free short
story at Dorchester by going here:
http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/SpecialFeatures.cfm?Special_ID=2759.

Also, her first book trailer is up on You Tube
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8JvYC2ljzE) and the front page of her
web site. She tells me she is hard at work on her next book, this one
telling the story of Nightshade. It is due at the end of this year.
You can also find a novella of hers in the Mammoth Book of Irish
Romance when it’s released in a few weeks.

For those authors self-publishing their work through the Kindle, there
is some good news. Amazon is upping the royalties paid per book to
70%, minus delivery costs. This should open things up a bit more to
authors who were considering this option through Amazon. The higher
royalties start June 30.

That’s all for now. Hope you are all having a great week!
Nicole