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Attendance Exceeds 600

Southwest Writers Conference

Draws Major Publishers,

Writers Profit From Open Mood

AUGUST, 1996--Editors of major publishing houses turned out for the 14th annual Southwest Writers Workshop August 23-25 in Albuquerque, along with numerous agents and more than 600 writers.

Among publishers represented at the three-day event in the Hilton Hotel, were:

• Random House
• Avon
• St. Martin's Press
• HarperPrism
• Simon & Schuster
• Silhouette
• Harliquin
• The New York Times
• G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

One of the best organized writers' conferences so far this year, the Southwest Conference gave participants ample opportunity to meet and talk with editors and agents on a one-on-one basis. In addition to specially-arranged individual "pitch" appointments, writers exchanged ideas and concerns in round-table talks, and receptions with publishing industry experts.

Editors and agents maintained an open, upbeat mood. All 17 guest editors and agents appeared especially receptive to receiving new manuscript proposals, and made themselves available to eager participants.

Writers, organized into small break-out sessions, received detailed coaching by editors and agents on everything from improving characterization to querying agents and writing book proposals.

In the coming days, Authorlink! will publish highlights from key conference speeches, and include tips on what specific editors and agencies are seeking and how they like to work.

More Southwest Writers' 14th Annual Conference Highlights

PW's New Religious Publication

To Review Religious Web Sites

AUGUST, 1996, NY, NY-- Publishers Weekly Religion Bookline, the printed news publication launched by Publishers Weekly in January this year, has announced it will soon begin reviewing some of the 7,000 religions book internet/web sites.

PW Religion Bookline, published twice monthly, offers professional religionists an all-faiths overview of religion books. The newspaper reviews non-fiction, fiction, reference and children's books as well as audio, video and multimedia presentations. In addition, Religion Bookline includes a Religion Bestseller List, author profiles, columns, category close-ups and annotated bibliographies.

Associate Publisher: Robin Mays, pwbookline@aol.com

Editor: Lynn Garrett, 72624.3562@compuserve.com

Review Editor: Henry Carrigan, rlwrt@aol.com

Electronic Bookseller Site

Unveils Unique Distribution Approach

AUGUST, 1996, CLEVELAND,OH-- OverDrive Systems of Clevland, Ohio has launched a new service that enables book publishers to distribute fully-searchable electornic books, on its Electronic BookAisle (http://www.bookaisle.com).

Other online bookstores allow users merely to order books after searching indexes by title or author. BookAisle users can either order a book the traditional way, or download a several-hundred-page work in about ten minutes. Proprietary file compression makes the quick download posssible, and thus practical. The user pays the same price whether choosing to order the book or to download it.

TimeWarner, Simon & Shuster, McGraw Hill and John Wiley & Sons are among the first to sign up for the service. On-line booksellers are looking to BookAisle as a new profit center. Booksellers who provide a tracked hyperlink from their site to BookAisle earn a 10-15% commission on customer purchases. (OverDrive, 800-860-7243).

Super Distributors Continue

To Crush Small Independents

AUGUST, 1996, NEW YORK, NY--John Harrington, former president of the now defunct Council for Periodical Distributors of the Americas, told Publishers Weekly recently that the number of independent book distributors has shriveled to 85. Before long, he speculated, 90% of the chain business will be controlled by 10 to 12 independent distributors. About 30 to 40 other companies will serve niche markets.

Harington now has his own company, Harrington & Associates, which publishes New Single Copy, a newsletter which apparently fills a void left by the CPDA's newsletter, Single Copy.

Mesa House Publishing

To Expand List

AUGUST, 1996, FORT WORTH, TX-- Mesa House Publishing, formerly known as Tangram Press, has announced an energetic expansion of its list.

The publishing house, founded in 1981, formerly focused on publishing coffee table books and titles aimed at improving study skills of high school and college students.

"We are actively expanding our line to include professional development, business, conservation and personal growth, " Managing Editor Karee Galloway told Authorlink!

Mesa House is currently seeking titles for a new professional development series. Targeted areas include middle/upper level management, small business, family-owned busines, nonprofit management, franchising, entrepreneurship, comercial real estate, customer research, marketing, demographics and other business-related areas. The publisher continues to consider manuscripts for learnign skills assessment and improvement, personal growth and spirituality, and titles of regional interest. Proposals should include an overview of the scope proejct, an outline,market analysis, author's credentials and 1-3 sample chapters. Include SASE for return of manuscript. Send queries to:

Karee Galloway

Mesa House Publishing

1701 River Run Road, Suite 702

Fort Worth, TX 76107

DHS Literary Cinches

Double Book Club Deal

AUGUST, 1996, DALLAS, TX--Davis Smith of DHS Literary, Inc. in Dallas, has closed a dual, $40,000 book club deal for Richard Paul Evans' newest book, The First Gift of Christmas. The work will be released in September by Gibbs Smith Publisher, Layton, Utah. David Smith made the sale to the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club. His agency handles subrights and marketing for The First Gift, which is about love, faith and parenthood.

Evans' first book The Christmas Box.was originally self-published, and later picked up by Simon & Schuster to become the No. 1 hard-and softcover bestseller.

Agents Seek 22 Authorlink! Works

Sign Six Writers In 60 Days

AUGUST, 1996, DALLAS, TX--Authorlink! writers have attracted brisk attention from agents during July and August. In one 60-day period, more than 22 manuscripts were requested, and six writers have already signed with agents. The successful writers are from all parts of the USA and Canada. Categories range from science fiction and mainstream to non-fiction health.

Gulf Publishing Launches

Professional Book Series

AUGUST, 1996, HOUSTON, TX--Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, TX, has launched a new series of books on human resource development and performance improvement. The new line offers practical approaches to increasing individual and organizational effectiveness. Target audiences include training professionals human resource professionals, and managers.

Proposals should include a 500-word synopsis, market analysis, author resume and names of two authorities willing to comment on the manuscript. For guidelines or to send synopsis, contact: Jack D. Phillips, Ph.D., Performance Series editor, Gulf Publishing Company, PO Box 2608, Houston,TX 77252-2608.

The well-established Gulf line includes books on science and technical subjects, trade topcis such as gardening, camping, boating, and the series on management, international business and human resource development.