Does New York notice e-book authors? I've asked that question before, and now I can answer. Well, it does, at least in my case. Last week my agent, Barbara Poelle of the Irene Goodman Agency, called me with a two-book deal with NAL. After I picked myself off the floor, I believe I mumbled some inarticulate words of gratitude that probably made her wonder how on earth I could string two sentences that made sense together in a manuscript, and we ended the call. Well, wow, I said to myself. The "how" So how did this...

What's the draw? If the big New York houses aren't publishing you, who are you? Now that is a great question, and here's a shot at answering it. I recently had a book come out from a fairly big e-publisher, which lets readers comment online. And a fan wrote in that one of the things she liked about my books was this: When my titles appear in E, or those from countless other writers, she could buy them on the spot. All right, we're a society of people who expect quick gratification for our dollars, and, yes, I can relate. Hey, I shop...

Here we are. Techo savvy, but still testing our boundaries, learning and growing and expanding---and yes, finding the usual problems along the way. One of those, naturally, is the same one the music industry has had to address: the sharing of information across the net. All right. How many of us feel sorry for big music stars when their songs are downloaded? (Looks for raised hands). Well, since technically it is stealing, we probably should, but heck, we all know they make a bundle... No, it still really isn't right. Moreover, it is against the law unless specifically released...

Moderator's note: TeleBlog contributor Katherine Smith, in her Emma Wildes incarnation, is among the best-selling authors at Fictionwise. But as someone out for more than the buck, she also writes more serious books, and I'm delighted to share her thoughts. - D.R. One of the things an author---and reader---cannot escape is the sweep of popularity. We all know it, because how could we not? Right now, it tends to be fantasy action/young adult, but let's not forget blockbuster suspense novels. The books sell incredibly well. The movies follow. Let's all write them! With this type of impact on the...

Moderator's note: Katherine Smith, aka Emma Wildes, our newest contributor, is a star of e-bookdom---the #1 bestselling writer at Fictionwise for the past six months, as well as author of over thirty books and short stories. A member of  Romance Writers of America, she is a 2006 Lories novella winner and a 2007 Eppie winner for the best erotic historical. Welcome, Katherine! - D.R. Hundreds of e-writers must have been cheering or groaning as the news filtered into the inboxes of their PCs throughout the world. E-mails Thursday were telling them whether they were finalists in the e-bookdom's high-stakes contest,...