Some thirty years in the making, Selden Edward’s debut novel, The Little Book, became an international bestseller when published in 2009. Of it Pat Conroy hailed, “I’ve never read a novel like it. I felt like my life was changing forever as I savored its many delights and mysteries.” NPR’s Maureen Corrigan called it, “A soaring thing of joy whose only purpose—and I mean this as a compliment—is to delight and entertain.” Entertainment Weekly called it, “Back to the Future for the intellectual set.” Three years later, its eagerly anticipated follow-up, The Lost Prince, a kind of sequel, or maybe prequel, is just out. Selden returns to the SCWC to discuss the impact such breakout success has had on his journey, the pressure to deliver on expectations, and anything else he wants to. Be sure to watch Selden’s take on rewriting and rejection in the video excerpt from his SD24 keynote address at the bottom of this update.
Some more additions to the LA10 roster. From boutique publisher Muse Harbor, acquisitions editors Eileen Workman and Dave Workman are aboard and accepting advance submissions for consideration. Author and longtime SCWC workshop leader Matt Pallamary recently joined the house as its editor-in-chief. On the screenwriting front, Tarcher is sponsoring a Sunday panel featuring contributors to its popular Now Write! Screenwriting: Screenwriting Exercises from Today’s Best Writers and Teachers. Moderated by Laurie Lamson, the book’s editor, those joining the discussion will be accomplished screenwriters Glenn M. Benest, Christine Conradt, and Tommy Swerdlow. Should be lively!
Recent Good Muse
Author/workshop leader Maralys Wills is having a busy year. Two new books: Buy a Trumpet and Blow Your Own Horn! Turning Books into Bucks, which features 18 lengthy interviews with authors of all stripes, including our own dynamo Darlene Quinn; and So You’re Seventy… So What? How to Love the Years You Thought You’d Hate–that one pretty much speaks for itself.
Also, the jacket to Jessica Therrien’s second volume in her “Children of the Gods” trilogy, Uprising, has just been unveiled by her publisher ZOVA Books. ZOVA premiered the first, her debut novel Oppression, at SD26 along with SCWC director Wes Albers’ Black & White.
