Editor's Choice - Writers and Publishers Network

WPNews July 2026: Farewell and New Beginnings

June 29, 2026

Letter from the outgoing President Kathleen Kaiser Twelve years ago, Patricia Fry asked if I would take over as president of this organization. She was busy writing cozy mysteries and…

Editor’s Choice May 2026

May 4, 2026

In most areas, the cold weather has moved on. Although tornados and thunderstorms may be headed our way, in between, the weather is warming and it encourages us to step…

Editor’s Choice April 2026 The Spring Has Sprung Issue

March 25, 2026

So far, this year has been a mixed one – snow, ice, followed by temps in the 70s, tornadoes (two so far), and spring allergies I’ve avoided for the last…

Editor’s Choice March 2026 The Spring Forward Issue

March 2, 2026

Sandra Murphy, Editor If you’d like to write a guest post for the newsletter, send an email to editor@writersandpublishersnetwork.com with ideas for articles. Don’t send the full article—we want to…

Editor’s Choice February 2026 The Let’s Get Creative Issue

February 4, 2026

Sandra Murphy, Editor If you’d like to write a guest post for the newsletter, send an email to editor@writersandpublishersnetwork.com with ideas for articles. Don’t send the full article—we want to…

Editor’s Choice January 2026 It’s a Brand New Year Issue

January 2, 2026

Sandra Murphy, Editor If you’d like to write a guest post for the newsletter, send an email to editor@writersandpublishersnetwork.com with ideas for articles. Don’t send the full article—we want to…

Editor’s Choice December 2025 The Bye Bye 2025 Issue

December 1, 2025

Sandra Murphy, Editor If you’d like to write a guest post for the newsletter, send an email to editor@writersandpublishersnetwork.com with ideas for articles. Don’t send the full article—we want to…

Editor’s Choice November 2025 The Giving Thanks Issue

October 28, 2025

From the editor, Sandra Murphy This is the month to give thanks. Lately, the world has been in turmoil. Reading is more important than ever. When we’re constantly bombarded from…

Editor’s Choice October 2025 The Genres Issue

September 30, 2025

From the editor, Sandra Murphy If you’d like to write a guest post for the newsletter, send an email to editor@writersandpublishersnetwork.com with ideas for articles. Don’t send the full article—we…

Editor’s Choice September 2025 The Let’s Write Issue

September 1, 2025

From the editor, Sandra Murphy This month we’re introducing Walt Boyes, our newest columnist. He’s talking about world-building to start with—then who knows? He’s a sci-fi wizard (or is that…

Editor’s Choice August 2025 The Tools Issue

August 1, 2025

From the editor, Sandra Murphy Time is a commodity often in short supply. Here are ten tools that can help. The list has been published before but some ideas are…

Editor’s Choice July 2025 The Happy 30th Birthday WPN! Issue

June 30, 2025

From the editor, Sandra Murphy It’s Our Birthday! WPN Is 30 Years Old (and Doesn’t Look a Day Over 21). Its original name was the Small Publishers, Artists and Writers…

Editor’s Choice June 2025 The Behind the Words Look at Writing Issue

June 1, 2025

From Sandra Murphy, Editor July marks the 30th anniversary of this organization. First named Small Publishers, Artists, Writers Network (SPAWN) and meeting in person, it recently (recently compared to 30…

Editor’s Choice May 2025 The Warm and Cozy Issue

May 5, 2025

From Sandra Murphy, Editor If you’d like to write a guest post for the newsletter, send an email to editor@writersandpublishersnetwork.com with ideas for articles. Don’t send the full article—we want…

Editor’s Choice April 2025 News You Might Have Missed

March 29, 2025

From Sandra Murphy, Editor In the recent mergers with IWOSC (Independent Writers of Southern California) and PALA (Publishers Association of Los Angeles), we’ve gained so much talent. I’m particularly looking…

Editor’s Choice March 2025 News You Might Have Missed

March 1, 2025

We’re all asking ‘what’s next?’ about politics, our rights, the economy, and more. Uncertainty wears on our nerves and weighs on our minds. Writing can be your escape from a…

Editor’s Choice February 2025 News You Might Have Missed

February 1, 2025

Emergency Aid for Creators Affected by the Los Angeles Fires As the Los Angeles wildfires continue to impact our community, we want to share some aid resources that may be…

Editor’s Choice January 2025 News You Might Have Missed

January 1, 2025

James Patterson is Santa for Booksellers Six hundred booksellers will receive $500 holiday bonuses from James Patterson. “Booksellers save lives. Period. I’m happy to acknowledge them and their hard work…

Editor’s Choice December 2024 News You Might Have Missed

December 1, 2024

How ‘parts work’ therapy can help with stress and trauma: Shots - Health News: NPR The holidays can be stressful—did I get the right gift, the right size, the right…

Editor’s Choice November 2024 News You Might Have Missed

November 1, 2024

Scribner to Look for a New CEO Next Year Nan Graham will step down as publisher of Scribner in 2025, per Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp. She will remain…

Editor’s Choice October 2024 News You Might Have Missed

October 1, 2024

Have you signed up for Lisa Angle’s (WPN webmaster) latest news? There’s a podcast about writing a memoir, an appearance with fellow WPN board member Desiree Duffy, and more news.…

Editor’s Choice September 2024 News You Might Have Missed

September 1, 2024

NCBLA Introduces Writing Project to Support Future Authors Empowering Young Writers, a series of slideshows and educational resources, demonstrates writing techniques for fourth through ninth graders. The online tools, available…

Editor’s Choice August 2024 News You Might Have Missed

August 1, 2024

October 19: Save The Date To Protect The Freedom To Read At The Polls Saturday, October 19th will be a nationwide day of action to fight voter apathy and support…

Editor’s Choice July 2024 News You Might Have Missed

July 1, 2024

The Written Scene Matthew Pallamary talks about being a one-man show after working in publishing, the origin of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference, having a foot in several different writing…

Editor’s Choice June 2024 News You Might Have Missed

June 1, 2024

Romance Writers of America files for bankruptcy amid bitter racism battle Group says membership crisis means it cannot pay conference contracts as top writer condemns RWA’s ‘retreat from commitment to…

Editor’s Choice May 2024

May 1, 2024

Why authors should put their fictional characters on social media and how to do it by Sandra Beckwith. For fun and reader engagement, perfect for those writers who are shy…

Editor’s Choice April 2024

April 1, 2024

ALA's press release, American Library Association Reports Record Number of Unique Book Titles Challenged in 2023, is now available online. As predicted last fall, 2023 saw new records for the…

Editor’s Choice March 2024

March 1, 2024

Amazon Advantage vs Amazon Seller Central: Sell Your Own Print Books by Jason Hamilton, reprinted with permission So let's assume that you have printed multiple copies of your book and…

Editor’s Choice February 2024

February 1, 2024

25 Podcasts for Authors on Writing, Publishing, and Book Marketing Vignette Books Succeeds in Selling Surprise Vintage Titles Vignette Books is an online bookstore that offers books like “blind date…

Editor’s Choice January 2024

January 1, 2024

One Piece of Advice from Each of 50 Mystery and Thriller Authors in 2023 Seven Ways to market and publicize your forthcoming book to create buzz “Every Main Character Needs…

Editor’s Choice December 2023

December 1, 2023

Sisters in Crime leaves Twitter/X After a very thoughtful discussion, the board voted to cease using Twitter/X immediately (11/20/2023). They will pin a post to keep their account on the…

Editor’s Choice November 2023

November 1, 2023

Author Website Must-Haves by Pauline Wiles Looking for a holiday gift? This book ⇒ shows what girls can do! Interesting facts, courtesy of Wordsrated. In 2022, the global book publishing…

Editor’s Choice October 2023

October 1, 2023

Ten Things Nobody Tells You About the Publishing Industry September 30, 2021 by Kilby Blades reprinted with permission An author offers some hard-earned tips. There’s more to authoring than conquering…

Editor’s Choice September 2023

September 1, 2023

A few of the services offered with membership in the Author’s Guild include: Featured Member Service: Contract Reviews Did you know? Their legal team will review members’ publishing agreements at…

Editor’s Choice August 2023

August 1, 2023

More than 10,000 Authors Sign Authors Guild Letter Calling on AI Industry Leaders to Protect Writers United Against Book Bans Want to be a mentor? Check this out: WriteGirl is…

Editor’s Choice July 2023

July 1, 2023

A response to Amazon’s decision to discontinue its digital magazine subscription program All the Ways We Have to Reach You by Janet Hutchings re: Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. The article…

Editor’s Choice June 2023

June 1, 2023

The contest sounds good but…is it too good to be true? A scam? Or overpriced for the return? Ingram is dropping all book set-up fees, eliminating charges for revisions in…

Editor’s Choice May 2023

April 30, 2023

Even books have a carbon footprint. How can you help neutralize it? The Society of Authors is pushing toward a carbon-neutral future. Read more in The Optimist Daily. Orbit Launches…

Editor’s Choice April 2023

March 31, 2023

IBPA Position Statement on Proposed eBook Laws and Their Impact on Independent Publishers Thursday, March 16, 2023 “Driven by corporate interests, the legislation being put forward undermines the intellectual property…

Editor’s Choice March 2023

March 1, 2023

HarperCollins union approves contract, ends 3-month strike The cause was an ongoing debate about salaries. As Book Bans and Legislative Attacks Escalate, the New Press Pushes Back Oral Argument Set…

Editor’s Choice February 2023

February 1, 2023

Update: Amazon Is Changing Its Ebook Return Policy in Major Breakthrough for Authors January 19, 2023 Amazon reported they are in the final stages of making technical changes and will…

Editor’s Choice January 2023

December 31, 2022

What’s Next for Simon & Schuster? Paramount Global chose not to extend the $2.175 billion sales agreement it signed with Penguin Random House in November 2020, which was set to…

Editor’s Choice December 2022

November 29, 2022

From Sandra Beckwith of BuildBookBuzz, gift ideas for writers, including this book of her own and at such a bargain price! She says, “Let me give your author a book-marketing…

Editor’s Choice November 2022

October 31, 2022

Amazon to shut down Kindle store in China After a massive July layoff of 140 employees (35% of the workforce) Callisto Media cut staff further by an estimated 200 workers…

Editor’s Choice October 2022

September 29, 2022

37 Outstanding Writing Conferences and Workshops in October 2022 Rather than list over 30 conferences, here’s the link. Some start the first of the month, so they’ll be underway by…

Editor’s Choice September 2022

August 30, 2022

9 DAYS is the second book in the five-time award-winning Dee Rommel Mystery series by Jule Selbo. Former policewoman Dee Rommel not yet thirty, sustained a life-changing injury while a…

Editor’s Choice August 2022

July 31, 2022

Take a minute to sign up for the Untreed Reads affiliate program. Tour the updated website. Print books are always 25 percent off list price, or check out ebooks. By…

Editor’s Choice July 2022

June 30, 2022

How chill are you? Take the quiz. This is one quiz where you do not want to score 100. And, this is a great way to promote your book and…

Editor’s Choice June 2022

May 31, 2022

Announcement from the Donohue Group, a cataloging business After almost 38 years in business The Donohue Group, Inc. is closing its doors within the next few months. We have loved…

Editor’s Choice May 2022

April 30, 2022

We Need Diverse Books Offers Banned Book Grants to Educators Grants of $2,000 each will be given to teachers and librarians to fund author school visits and field trips. Authors…

Editor’s Choice April 2022

March 30, 2022

Where to Start–the Importance of Choosing the Right Story Opening by Barb Goffman for SleuthSayers.org Sourcebooks acquires duopress, which will become an imprint of Sourcebook Kids. Hachette Book Group Plans…

Editor’s Choice March 2022

March 1, 2022

Amazon Literary Partnership Opens 2022 Grant Applications for nonprofit literary organizations through April 15 Why Amazon’s New LGTBQ+ Children's Category Matters Marketing director Hanna Kjeldbjerg argues that Amazon’s new LGBTQ+…

Editor’s Choice February 2022

January 30, 2022

Literati Acquires Follett Book Fairs Literati is a subscription box and online book club. The fairs will be rebranded Literati Book Fairs and continue to service PreK-8 grade schools. While…

Editor’s Choice January 2022

December 29, 2021

Supply chain woes, holiday sales, and more—and a bit of explanation Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, Diana Gabaldon, Author, Delacorte Press, $36 sold 182,941 in its first…

Editor’s Choice December 2021

December 2, 2021

Writer Beware! Novel Cat has clauses in its contract that can tie authors up for twenty to forty years with no way to cancel unless Novel Cat agrees to the…

Editor’s Choice November 2021

November 2, 2021

Catch a one-on-one interview between an NPR host and some of the sharpest contemporary storytellers going deep on the works that dominate the discourse. No mood, genre, or writing style…

Editor’s Choice October 2021

September 30, 2021

HBG Delays Office Return Until 2022 Hachette Book Group and Macmillan are pushing any official return date to the beginning of next year. Any HBG employee who can work from…

Editor’s Choice September 2021

September 1, 2021

Sad news Award-winning children’s-book author and poet Eloise Greenfield, known for her positive depictions of Black family life, her biographies spotlighting notable Black figures in U.S. history, and her efforts…

Editor’s Choice August 2021

August 3, 2021

Fan of mysteries? Podcasts? Stacey Abrams to Publish Children's Debut with HarperCollins Her first picture book, Stacey's Extraordinary Words, launches on December 28 with HarperCollins Children's Books imprint Balzer. An…

Editor’s Choice July 2021

June 30, 2021

Bologna Children's Book Fair: “From Page to Screen” Producers seek authentic characters, surprising twists. Dynamite, Curiosity Ink Collaborate on Children's Books, Graphic Novels Coming Together: Libraries Find Success in Peer…

Editor’s Choice June 2021

June 2, 2021

Call for Submissions: (I Just) Died In Your Arms: Crime Fiction Inspired by One-Hit Wonders Ahh, the One-Hit Wonder! That one song everybody knows but was the only hit for…

Editor’s Choice May 2021

April 30, 2021

Also from Untreed Reads, a new imprint and call for submissions. Deadline is May 31, 2021 Editor-in-Chief, Jay Hartman, says, “For 11 years, Untreed Reads has operated in the daylight…

Editor’s Choice April 2021

April 1, 2021

THE FIGHT IS ON! Want to borrow that e-book from the library? Sorry, Amazon won’t let you. Its monopoly is stopping public libraries from lending e-books and audiobooks from Mindy…

Editor’s Choice March 2021

February 27, 2021

Amazon E-book Case Sprawls, Lawyers Propose Consolidation: Amazon and its co-conspirators’ anti-competitive agreements causes consumers to be overcharged for e-books purchased through retailers that compete with Amazon. Bookstore Sales Fell…

Editor’s Choice February 2021

February 1, 2021

Jeffrey Archer left St. Martin’s Press to publish with HarperCollins. A three-book, world English rights agreement was negotiated between HC UK’s Charlie Redmayne, Kate Elton, and Kimberley Young and Archer’s…

Editor’s Choice January 2021

December 31, 2020

Frankfurt Book Fair Plans to Go Back to Basics November’s reorganization has resulted in the New York office being closed, an undisclosed number of layoffs, and a decision to continue…

Editor’s Choice December 2020

December 2, 2020

Susan RoAne, VIRTUAL keynote speaker, international bestselling author of How To Work A Room ® & F2F communication expert, not only knows how to work a room but how to…

Editor’s Choice November 2020

October 31, 2020

John Gilstrap, thriller writer, posted a new YouTube video on How to Build Your Author Platform, which is just another way of networking. Pulp Modern Flash is expected to reopen…

Editor’s Choice October 2020

October 1, 2020

What’s New in Publishing? Catch Up on the Latest Every Sunday Evening Join in on Sundays for Untreed Reads Live! on YouTube, hosted by Untreed Reads Editor-in-Chief Jay Hartman along…

Editor’s Choice September 2020

August 31, 2020

Updates on Shutdowns Word from Kensington is they won’t be back in the office until October 5 at best. Penguin says not until January. This affects reviewers hoping for ARCs…

Editor’s Choice August 2020

July 31, 2020

NBCC schedules meeting to vote for Board Member Carlin Romano’s removal following month-long turmoil and infighting resulting from an effort to draft an anti-racism statement. (National Book Critic’s Circle) Huge…

Editor’s Choice July 2020

June 28, 2020

HarperCollins Hosts an 'Epic' Pride Panel with work from home too https://tinyurl.com/yas32uj4 ______________________ On June 11th, the National Book Critics Circle released an anti-racism pledge (read it here https://www.bookcritics.org/2020/06/11/6792/). Following…

Editor’s Choice June 2020

May 29, 2020

The Latest Blog Post at JaneFriedman.com... Join Me for Sunday Business Sermons (Free) by Jane Friedman Jane is offering free afternoon discussions about the business of writing, publishing, and making…

Editor’s Choice May 2020

April 29, 2020

MORE CONFERENCE CANCELLATIONS Bouchercon 2020 in Sacramento October 5 to 18 is cancelled. Thrillerfest 2020 in New York City July 7 to 11 is cancelled. The Cat Writers Conference in…

Editor’s Choice April 2020

March 29, 2020

Barnes and Noble rescued and turned into an indie bookstore? We can hope. https://tinyurl.com/tqvhyk2 _____________________ Colvin Ramps Up Graphic Novels at LBYR https://tinyurl.com/vejk6jh _____________________ New Survey Finds Little Improvement in…

Editor’s Choice March 2020

February 27, 2020

Cozy author Julie Hyzy started with nine books featuring a female executive chef in the White House. You can imagine the problems caused by finding a dead body now and…

Editor’s Choice February 2020

January 30, 2020

A number of writers have passed away recently, reminding us all to make sure our contact information is correct, wills are updated, and intended heirs are able to receive royalties…

Editor’s Choice January 2020

December 30, 2019

New Agency Promotes African Writers for Youth https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/81960-new-agency-promotes-african-writers-for-youth.html ____________________ Is it better to write a series or a standalone? John Gilstrap, author of the Jonathan Grave thrillers, has the answer.…

Editor’s Choice December 2019

November 30, 2019

HarperCollins is launching Heartdrum, an imprint publishing books by Native creators in 2021. ____________________ 2020 Children's Book Week will be May 4 to 10, continuing its mission to engage booksellers,…

Editor’s Choice November 2019

October 30, 2019

Mango Publishing Acquires Red Wheel/Weeiser’s Conari Press. Details at https://tinyurl.com/y6fda7ms. ____________________ Looking to get more organized? Ready to drop hints for holiday gifts? Check out Jane Friedman’s personal newsletter, in…

Editor’s Choice October 2019

September 29, 2019

How to combine promotion for a book with a good cause—in this case, blind cats! Gwen Cooper is the author of Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I…

Editor’s Choice September 2019

August 29, 2019

Toni Morrison, the only African-American laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature, has died. Read more here: https://tinyurl.com/yxezz2mf. Her publisher, Knopf, is increasing all of her books, hardcover and paper,…

Editor’s Choice August 2019

July 30, 2019

Writing reviews can be hard, but here are some tips: Six Elements of a Good Book Review. Two large companies print most of the books and magazines we see. They…

Editor’s Choice June 2019

May 29, 2019

Kimberly Davis Basso is pleased to announce that her debut, I'm a Little Brain Dead is nominated for an INDIE from Foreword Reviews, in Humor and in the overall INDIE…

Editor’s Choice May 2019

April 29, 2019

Family, friends, acquaintances—when you say you’re a writer or an artist, they look at you like, “Oh sure you are.” Don’t let their doubts become yours. http://bookendsliterary.com/2019/04/04/facing-naysayers/ EDUCATIONAL PODCASTS

Bits and Pieces for January 2018

December 30, 2017

By Sandra Murphy, Editor, WPNews - editor@spawn.org Whine Less, Write More: The No-Excuses Guide to Getting Your Butt in the Chair, Your Head Out of the Clouds & Your Words…

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