Spanish Lit Prof

U.S. families hugging before saying goodbye. How dare Donald Trump do this to us all.

Stop Querying Publishers Do you believe finding a publisher will make your writing dreams come true? Here are some facts from a writer who has had 11 books pubbed by major publishers. If you find a publisher, you will get an advance that you will likely never earn out. Even small advances. Your publisher could keep the rights to your books forever. Your publisher will pay you a fraction of the royalties you can make self-pubbing. Your publisher will pick your cover, and your input will be minimal. Your publisher will price your books as they see fit. After your book is accepted by a big publisher and you sign a contract, it takes an average of 12-24 months before your book is published. Your publisher will get three copies of your book into some bookstores (if you're lucky), where they will be displayed spine-out in section, sit there for 90-120 days. If they aren't sold, they'll be returned. Bookstores can return books for full credit. 25% of hardcovers are returned, then remaindered or destroyed, and the author receives no royalties for those. Almost 50% of paperbacks are destroyed, and the author receives no royalty for those. If a bookstore does sell out of your book, there is a high chance they won't order more because they have to make shelf-space for new books. If bookstores don't order more copies, your book will go out of print, but your publisher may keep selling the ebook. You cannot do book signings unless your publisher pays for co-op. They likely won't. You cannot get endcap or front of store displays or in-store discounts unless your publisher pays for co-op. They likely won't. Your publisher will not advertise your book to any degree of success. A Publishers Weekly review does not sell many books. Your publisher will demand subsidiary rights and likely never exploit them. In a multi-book deal, your publisher can harm you with joint accounting/basketing. Publisher accounting is as honest as Hollywood accounting, and they pay royalties twice a year. There is a reason audits usually find money. Publishers can demand the right of first refusal, meaning you cannot offer your next book to anyone else unless they get a shot at it. Publishers can put in a non-compete clause, preventing you from publishing elsewhere. Plus, I'll be honest; the legacy publishers I have worked with have been earnest, but not effective. Why are you trying to get a mainstream publisher? For validation? So you can see your book on a bookstore shelf? To be that one-in-a-million bestseller? Sure, bestsellerdom is possible. So is winning the lottery. Bottom line: Publishers can get your book on shelves, but they cannot get people to buy it. In exchange for getting a few hundred (or thousand) copies of your book in stores, you give up a lot; royalties, rights, choice, control, release dates, and the ability to release other books or seek other publishers. I understand dreams of being published. I had them too. The reality of publishing beat those dreams right out of me. If you pursue this path, tread carefully and pay close attention. And if you have questions, AMA.

People are barricaded in shops. Others are unable to get down the street. Why? Because this is the “Clapham youth” in London. They have stormed the high street and are looting shops. Does not seem like anyone is being arrested yet. Instead police stand and watch. You can guarantee that if they were a large group of white kids they would be arrested in minutes. This is not the first time they have done this in the last few days. Their behaviour is feral.

UA UAV operator saw an injured russian fascist plead for his life as he was about to be blown up. Instead of finishing him off, the operator re-equipped the drone with a bottle of water and a note with instructions on how to surrender to Ukraine.

NEW!! U.S. has ordered all American embassies and consulates to launch a global campaign against foreign propaganda, specifically endorsing X as an “innovative” tool to combat disinformation, according to a State Dept memo 1/2