Weekly Writer’s Round-Up… With a BIG Announcement!
Yee-haw! Welcome to the Weekly Writer’s Round-up, where I lasso up the week’s latest news and rootin’-tootin’ writers’ articles on the Net!
Top story today is, of course, the one I’ve been alluding to all last week, my big announcement, the subject of the poll in the sidebar. Incidentally, I got one vote for a third nipple. I mean, really? You’d think if I wanted to surgically enhance myself, I’d pick something more useful, like a third eye, or a second brain, or extra typing fingers! But a third nipple? Please…
Anyway, back to the announcement. It was a close fight between getting an agent or getting published, and I’m glad to say that 53.85% of those who answered the poll guessed right. Yup, nothing gets past my clever readers…
I’m getting published!!
Yessirree, Oracle is going to be published by J Taylor Publishing, and we’re looking at a release date of 1st August 2012 — right at the start of the London 2012! Just perfect for a novel set in the run-up to the Olympics! 
Here’s a link to my official author bio on their site! It’s all so…official, and such. Isn’t that cool? Also, we’re already playing with cover concepts. Based on the awesome covers on all their current books, I knew I won’t be disappointed! And you know what? I think we’ve already found the cover… I’m in love with it! (But the cover reveal will have to be another teaser to be revealed later… Sorry guys!)
Soexcitedsoexcitedsoexcitedsoexcitedsoexcited…!!
Right, enough about me. On to other news!
Amazon is further expanding its e-book dominance by announcing two new European Kindle sites: Amazon.es and Amazon.it.
Meanwhile, rival Barnes & Noble reported a second quarter dip in sales despite strong growths in its Nook market, as the sale of physical books continue to decline. (via TheBookseller)
FutureBook has a great article on the added value of publishers that not everybody sees.
Also from FutureBook: Can E-Books Meet Changing Social Demand?
Despite the country’s reputation of being big on all things high-tech, a recent survey has revealed that Japan are surprisingly wary of e-books. (via FutureBook)
Here’s an interesting debate about the Penguin subsidiary Book Country, an online slush pile/peer review community focusing on genre fiction: their announcement to launch their own self-publishing service has been criticised by self-published authors. Writer Beware asks: Why the hate?
By the way, have you seen the Genre Map Book Country has devised? Reminds me of the Periodic Table of Elements! 
Fellow UK scribes, you may be interested in this: Good Housekeeping has launched a novel competition in association with Orion and agent Luigi Bonomi. Open to any previously unpublished author in all genres except children’s, the top prize is a £25,000 advance, editorial help, and the chance to have the winning book published! Is this an awesome contest or what? For more details, you’ll have to purchase the January issue of the magazine, available now. (via The Bookseller)
Butt-kicking bookworm. Displaced Malaysian. Writes crime & thrillers. Debut novel ORACLE will be released by J. Taylor Publishing on 30th July 2012.
Wow! Congratulations, JC! Glad to hear the hard work has paid off.
Argh, I guessed wrong (I was in the ‘got an agent’ camp).
But regardless (or especially), very large amounts of congratulations!
Can’t wait to read it.
By the way, I remember there was some interest of an agent after you read a passage at a conference or something. Did anything ever come of that? Or did you submit directly to the publisher?
I'm so excitedsoexcitedsoexcited for you! And happy to be among the first to say congratulations! Well done you! Can't wait to read Oracle in more than 6 sentence bites
What a super fantastic holiday-time present 
Yay you!
Thank you Susanna! And thanks for your encouragement — they definitely help!
Argh, I guessed wrong (I was in the 'got an agent' camp).
But regardless (or especially), very large amounts of congratulations!
Can't wait to read it.
By the way, I remember there was some interest of an agent after you read a passage at a conference or something. Did anything ever come of that? Or did you submit to the publisher directly?
Still a close guess, Jake. You have an excellent memory: yes, I did have interest from an agent, and he hung on to my full for nearly three months. I submitted to a couple of other agents and publishers while I was waiting, and got an offer from J Taylor Publishing. I nudged said agent, who then turned me down, but by then I wasn't too bothered!
That's wonderful news. Congrats!
mood
Thank you!
Whoop!! A big congrats JC! And perfect timing indeed, I loved the sound of your book so can't wait. Brilliant news, well done!!!! x
Thank you, Talei, can hardly believe it. Been talking about the book for so long, can't believe it's finally going to see the light of day!
Thanks, JC!
It doesn't get much bigger than that!! Congrats..congrats!!! Awesome news!
Thanks, Don! Next challenge: edits!
Woo hoo!!!! That is so awesome!!!! Yay!!!!
congrats on the publishing deal. Awesome!
Congrats, JC. Thrilled for you.
Congratulations!!!!
I'm so happy for you JC. That's fantastic news! Who needs an agent??? Great job.
Congratulations!
WOOT!!!! Congrats for you and your book!!! So exciting!!! I love the dancing you've got going on up there… so captures sheer joy!
My actual dancing was probably a bit less graceful than that!
Sweet! Congratulations! Savor that happy dance. You've earned it!
Congratulations, JC!!!!
Yay! Congratulations! I actually saw your announcement on twitter. So I rushed over here to squee.
Thank you guys for the comments, and thank you for your encouragement and support the past few months! They made lots of difference, trust me!
Congratulations! Excited for you!
Hmmm you do sound just a tiny wee bit excited
and I am thrilled for you – and the timing is perfect too!! and yes I noticed your new avatar… WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WONDERFUL
I guessed it! Congrats, J.C. That's wonderful news. I bet you're walking on air.
Congrats JC!!
Supersuperexciting!
Congrats J.C.!!! So excited for you. I am just starting to warm to e-books.
That's awesome! Congrats! I'm so happy for you!
Way to go, J.C. It must feel good.
Intense congrats to ya!!! Yaaay.
Good luck with finding the perfect cover!