The Expanding Empire of a Literary Agent (Swara Jya Magazine)

Once an author is established, there is a tendency to go to the publisher directly. This is where Gupta tries to show his acumen and adds value by guiding the author, whether it is the  signing amount or the right publisher which will help the book to reach a particular mark. Finding authors across the border or finding manuscripts with niche subjects has helped this most successful agent in South Asia to continue building his reputation as India’s foremost literary agent.

Mary Alice Amory Releases THE BUTTERFLY AND THE DRAGONFLY (Broadway World)

Mary Alice Amory, a mother, grandmother, creative artist, gardener, devoted writer and author, has completed her new book “The Butterfly and the Dragonfly”: a vibrantly crafted work that depicts the beauty of love, wild animals and Mother Nature. This adventure story told by the author, will introduce children to the fascination of the outside world.

Lack of Black Children’s Books Are Still a Problem (The Undefeated)

Yet, nearly 30 years after the six authors shared a laugh over the fact that they represented the vanguard of black children’s literature, the publishing world still grapples with issuing books that children of color see themselves in. The representation of black children in animation isn’t the only place where images have evolved. The literary industry’s efforts have grown, too, but given the intricacies of race in this country, publishing books for children of color is complicated.

Getting Your Book Published: What Are Our Options Today? (The Jewish Press)

Traditional publishers take a financial risk when they take on a book, especially if the author is new and untried. There is no sure way for them to know if a book will sell enough copies to recoup their costs and make a profit. That’s why they’re so selective about which books they gamble on. Many books that went on to become bestsellers were initially rejected by many traditional publishers until they finally found a home. Many good books never got published.

Why Wouldn’t An Immortal Black Superhero Have Just Ended Slavery? (io9)

So, if a dark-skinned alien with Kryptonian-on-Earth levels of power landed in the Deep South in 1839 and found himself a slave, he’d just break the chains binding him and others, right? Not necessarily.

A comment thread on my piece about Icon #16 popped up, explaining why someone never got in the Milestone Media comic-book series after wondering Augustus Freeman didn’t use his superhuman abilities to overthrow the system of chattel slavery he grew up under…