TONIGHT! I'm going to be at the NYU bookstore with some really fabulous authors and editors as part of a SECRETS OF PUBLISHING panel. Come ask questions! 6pm, 726 Broadway, NYC.

Mad you have to do a bunch of non-book-writing work as an author? Yeah, we all are. But you still have to do it even if you don't get "paid" to do so. www.agentsandbooks.com/thats-what-t...

one thing about Kate's book WRITE THROUGH IT that I thought was really useful framing was the chapter on self-promotion where she talks about what kind of marketing the publisher is good at (trade reviews, bookstores & libraries) vs. what kind the author is good at (readers, your writing community)

Lunch at the Rapture sucksssssssssss

Mad you have to do a bunch of non-book-writing work as an author? Yeah, we all are. But you still have to do it even if you don't get "paid" to do so. www.agentsandbooks.com/thats-what-t...

Interviewed the great @mattielubchansky.com about her new graphic novel, utopian communities, and balancing SF and horror. www.vol1brooklyn.com/2025/09/23/m...

New York friends! Here’s my NYC tour stop! Please RSVP via the eventbrite link. See you there! www.eventbrite.com/e/offsite-tr...

I have seen 50% of all the musicals mentioned in this article & I agree the musical is in trouble. The money is going into things that will ensure the investors make more money (stars, brands etc) instead of what will make good musicals. It's boring. The plays this season have been AMAZING, and new.

This just might be @tylercoates.bsky.social's influence but I think publishers should do short run printings of mass market paperbacks of literary novels, for fun (and to revitalize the format). Scribner, Riverhead, Knopf, Ecco, Cardinal, FSG--I'm looking at you.

Christine is a ridiculous name for the main character of a story set in 1880s Paris. (Complimentary) 🦹‍♂️🎭

.

Watching Top Secret (1984) to see what the administration is planning next.

As an agent and author: What's the hottest book market these days?

Today on Agents & Books we talk about how to give a compliment sandwich so authors will listen to your editorial advice. www.agentsandbooks.com/q-a-thursday...

Many thanks to all who joined us yesterday for our PAGES Book Club where we discussed WRITE THROUGH IT by @katemckean.bsky.social! And a special thanks to Kate, who joined us in our discussion. We had a blast, and we hope you all did do. Stay tuned for the next PAGES announcement - see you soon!

Reading the force majeure clauses of book contracts hits different nowadays. "Pandemic, embargo, riot or intervention of any governmental authority" indeed.

everything went downhill when they took porn off tumblr

Fuck it, we ball. www.kenklippenstein.com/p/fbi-readie...

It's true: I’m serious about pay what you can. If you're interested in the class, check the link, send me a message and we'll work something out. I want to see you in class! jeremybent.com/podcasting-c...

I can tell this site needs more sports knowers because everyone's been yelling about canceling Disney+ and Hulu all day and I literally haven't seen anyone yelling about canceling the new ESPN app, which was just rolled out and the success of which is existential for ESPN.

Something I'm psyched about: Anna-Marie McLemore, Emily X.R. Pan, Sara Ryan, Nova Ren Suma & I are creating a (free) collaborative newsletter, The Eavesdrop, which is a quarterly conversation about process & craft. If you'd like to find us in your inbox four times a year, here's the link to sign up!

Today on Agents & Books we talk about how to give a compliment sandwich so authors will listen to your editorial advice. www.agentsandbooks.com/q-a-thursday...

Make Disney feel like Target.

If you have questions about the First Amendment, THE CONSTITUTION DECODED can help. Adults are allowed to read, too. www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-consti...

Just finished @katemckean.bsky.social's book Write Through It for the @pathsinpub.bsky.social book club, I highly recommend it for both writers and publishing professionals! www.simonandschuster.com/books/Write-...

Who can you trust on the internet to give writing advice (besides me)?? www.agentsandbooks.com/who-can-you-...

@katemckean.bsky.social This came in the post today. I’m super excited and can’t wait to dig into it!

Sometimes I just get to write about boats because no one can stop me. www.todayintabs.com/p/coastal-gr...

Who can you trust on the internet to give writing advice (besides me)?? www.agentsandbooks.com/who-can-you-...

Read one (1) science fiction novel, Mark. Just one.

All the Beatles had great noses

Sigh. A vision of my childhood.

They were playing DMX’s Up In Here in the hardware store this morning and when it suddenly went off all the 40+ Park Slopers said “Awwww man!” and they turned it back on. We were vibing!

Called "King-Miller's finest work to date" (New York Times), THIS IS MY BODY by Lindsay King-Miller is one you won't want to miss in your fall horror lineup. @lindsaykingmiller.bsky.social 🔥 "Unique, unexpectedly tender, surprisingly sensual, and full of queer love."—New York Times

Steve's C-Town in Park Slope is closing 😱 parkslopewalk.substack.com/p/breaking-9...

I made this meme for a newsletter post I don't know if I'll post but I also can't close the file so I just look at it 100 times a day so here you can look at it too.

I wrote a book to help you navigate the strange and wonderful world of writing and publishing books. It covers everything from how to write a query letter to how to write your next book. Get it wherever books are sold! bookshop.org/p/books/writ...

I had a physical today and I was chatting with my doctor about books and she had to take my blood pressure three times because I just kept getting excited about the books.

Hope everyone enjoys the Q&A Thursday I usually just send to subscribers that went out to everyone as I figure out all the buttons on ghost! www.agentsandbooks.com

I said something last week that is more broadly applicable today: Calling for empathy is not neutral or apolitical when only one group of people have been socialized and brutalized into having empathy.

And if you didn't know my sister @emckean.bsky.social has a fantastic newsletter called Things I Learned While Looking Up Other Things, now you do! Today's issue explores the family of the Pillsbury Doughboy. But real heads want to know what Mrs. Met's maiden name is.

If you were waiting for my sister @katemckean.bsky.social's great newsletter for writers, Agents and Books, to leave Substack before signing up, well do I have good news for you!!! www.agentsandbooks.com/oh-hello

Darth I wrote a book! And I have another book coming out next year about a cat who wants to be famous!

The shooting of Charlie Kirk was the 46th school shooting of the year. The 47th one happened moments afterwards. www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/u...

bluesky's gotta wash its laundry on the scold cycle

I really like Kate's newsletter. I missed it after I left substack so I'm glad to have it back.