Kolina Cicero
@kolinacicero.bsky.social
Writer | Author of Words on Words, the newsletter celebrating literature: kolinacicero.substack.com
This is the best news ever. Like, ever.
Simon & Schuster's flagship imprint is going to get rid of those little quotes from other authors on the back and front. I'm torn, having been a bookseller, a book reviewer and having been asked to write many blurbs. I'm also on holiday so I can't columnise on it, so here's a 🧵 instead.
Why Simon & Schuster’s Flagship Imprint Won’t Require Blurbs Anymore
In a decision some might call “stunning” or a “tour-de-force,” new S&S publisher Sean Manning has decided to no longer require authors to obtain blurbs for their books. Here’s why.
www.publishersweekly.com
January 31, 2025 at 3:09 PM
This is the best news ever. Like, ever.
Everyone pre-order! It’s Maris we’re talking about.
I wrote an angry yet hopeful book and now you can pre-order it! www.harpercollins.com/products/i-w...
December 10, 2024 at 3:58 PM
Everyone pre-order! It’s Maris we’re talking about.
Okay. Fourth Wing. Yes or no? It's not a genre I ever read, which is precisely why I'm intrigued. I'm at an indie bookstore coffee shop and they have a used copy for $10. I am tempted and would appreciate fellow readers' insight!
December 6, 2024 at 3:43 PM
Okay. Fourth Wing. Yes or no? It's not a genre I ever read, which is precisely why I'm intrigued. I'm at an indie bookstore coffee shop and they have a used copy for $10. I am tempted and would appreciate fellow readers' insight!
Maris knows what’s up
It’s corny but whenever I begin to despair about what 2025 might bring, I remind myself of the books. Here are some new ones.
December 6, 2024 at 2:23 PM
Maris knows what’s up
I have a lot to say about the Goodreads readers’ face historical fiction title of 2024.
The Women: Kristin Hannah borrowed all of me for a weekend
There's a reason this book has been on the NYT bestseller list for 41 weeks
open.substack.com
December 5, 2024 at 4:32 PM
I have a lot to say about the Goodreads readers’ face historical fiction title of 2024.
Book ideas for your holiday shopping!
December 4, 2024 at 6:57 PM
Book ideas for your holiday shopping!
“Something about being overly invested in the artistic side of writing can really mess with your writing and selling of books.”
I feel this in my bones, unfortunately.
New on @janefriedman.com
I feel this in my bones, unfortunately.
New on @janefriedman.com
What the MFA Does and Does Not Do for Aspiring Novelists | Jane Friedman
The director of an MFA program wrestles with how to make it a more useful degree for aspiring commercial novelists.
janefriedman.com
December 4, 2024 at 5:51 PM
“Something about being overly invested in the artistic side of writing can really mess with your writing and selling of books.”
I feel this in my bones, unfortunately.
New on @janefriedman.com
I feel this in my bones, unfortunately.
New on @janefriedman.com
I’ve come to measure how good books are by how much I think about them after I’ve finished. Half the time, I spend more time thinking about the book once I’m done than I do during the days or weeks that I read it, and it’s always a surprise.
Anyone else do this?
Anyone else do this?
December 4, 2024 at 5:42 PM
I’ve come to measure how good books are by how much I think about them after I’ve finished. Half the time, I spend more time thinking about the book once I’m done than I do during the days or weeks that I read it, and it’s always a surprise.
Anyone else do this?
Anyone else do this?
YES! Thank you to the librarians, your work is so important.
Today I’m expressing my immense gratitude for the librarian community. Whatever difficulties you may be facing - book challenges, budget cuts, burnout - no librarian fights alone. Thank you to all librarians - school, public, academic, special - for all you do for your communities. 🧡
November 29, 2024 at 1:50 PM
YES! Thank you to the librarians, your work is so important.
Reposted by Kolina Cicero
Yes, we are accepting submissions! We love getting great new submissions! (But please read our guidelines first.) buff.ly/33munHR
#writingcommunity #opensubs #acceptingsub #fiction #shortstory #litmag #magazine #literarymagazine #ethics #philosophy
#writingcommunity #opensubs #acceptingsub #fiction #shortstory #litmag #magazine #literarymagazine #ethics #philosophy
November 27, 2024 at 2:56 PM
Yes, we are accepting submissions! We love getting great new submissions! (But please read our guidelines first.) buff.ly/33munHR
#writingcommunity #opensubs #acceptingsub #fiction #shortstory #litmag #magazine #literarymagazine #ethics #philosophy
#writingcommunity #opensubs #acceptingsub #fiction #shortstory #litmag #magazine #literarymagazine #ethics #philosophy
Sitting in the third row of the minivan where my kids can’t see me and won’t ask me every 5 seconds for a new snack; reading a v good book; and chugging iced coffee as we travel for the holiday.
Happy Thanksgiving friends!
Happy Thanksgiving friends!
November 27, 2024 at 2:34 PM
Sitting in the third row of the minivan where my kids can’t see me and won’t ask me every 5 seconds for a new snack; reading a v good book; and chugging iced coffee as we travel for the holiday.
Happy Thanksgiving friends!
Happy Thanksgiving friends!
“I have been with many women, but my only long-term relationship is my torrid, lifelong affair with Mother Nature.” ☠️☠️
"I grow my own weed. I make my own soap. I know the difference between the call of a Carolina wren and the call of a northern mockingbird imitating a Carolina wren. I have never used a toilet that flushes."
I Am a Guy in a Patagonia UV Hoodie, and I Have Never Been Indoors
If you’ve spent any time at your local state park, your local body of water, or your local abandoned granite quarry turned rock climbing haven, the...
buff.ly
November 26, 2024 at 7:57 PM
“I have been with many women, but my only long-term relationship is my torrid, lifelong affair with Mother Nature.” ☠️☠️
Jon Batiste performing at the National Book Awards was THE RIGHT CHOICE. Nobody has energy quite like him.
Jon Batiste opens the night playing Beethoven’s fifth symphony with his own twist, influenced by the African Diaspora — and it’s breathtaking, and so fun
November 21, 2024 at 1:22 AM
Jon Batiste performing at the National Book Awards was THE RIGHT CHOICE. Nobody has energy quite like him.
Did I read @katemckean.bsky.social's essay about Bluesky and immediately clean up my account and publish my first post?
You bet I did.
You bet I did.
If You Build it Again, Will They Come?
To Bluesky?
substack.com
November 20, 2024 at 5:01 PM
Did I read @katemckean.bsky.social's essay about Bluesky and immediately clean up my account and publish my first post?
You bet I did.
You bet I did.
I have a serious question for everyone who works from home:
Do you or do you not wear shoes while you work?
Do you or do you not wear shoes while you work?
November 20, 2024 at 2:27 PM
I have a serious question for everyone who works from home:
Do you or do you not wear shoes while you work?
Do you or do you not wear shoes while you work?
I'm a newborn around here and this was supremely useful!
Hey, authors new to Bluesky: We've gathered a little starter pack of publishers, organizations, and publications to follow and help populate your feed with literary resources.
go.bsky.app/bQfVJ6
go.bsky.app/bQfVJ6
November 20, 2024 at 2:21 PM
I'm a newborn around here and this was supremely useful!
YES! So passionate about people pre-ordering books. Even if the book arrives a day or two after pub, it's a small price to pay compared to how much it helps the author.
When I was a buyer at a large indie, my rule of thumb was:
1 preorder: huh, let me take a closer look at this one
2 preorders: we need to stock this book
3 preorders: we should order enough to face this out
4+ preorders: this should be on front-of-store display
1 preorder: huh, let me take a closer look at this one
2 preorders: we need to stock this book
3 preorders: we should order enough to face this out
4+ preorders: this should be on front-of-store display
More detail: When booksellers get pre-orders, it's a quantitative and qualitative signal that there is like *something here* about a book. The avalanche of new books out there is hard to communicate if you're not in the industry, and pre-orders are one of vanishingly few signals. It is a real thing!
November 20, 2024 at 1:12 PM
YES! So passionate about people pre-ordering books. Even if the book arrives a day or two after pub, it's a small price to pay compared to how much it helps the author.
👋🏼👋🏼👋🏼 Hi! I'm Kolina. I'm a writer and I'm passionate about supporting authors and indie bookstores. 📚📚📚
- I'm working on my 2nd novel
- I write a newsletter about books, Words on Words
- I love to talk about writing, publishing, reading, agent querying, and books books books.
Excited to connect!
- I'm working on my 2nd novel
- I write a newsletter about books, Words on Words
- I love to talk about writing, publishing, reading, agent querying, and books books books.
Excited to connect!
November 20, 2024 at 1:10 PM
👋🏼👋🏼👋🏼 Hi! I'm Kolina. I'm a writer and I'm passionate about supporting authors and indie bookstores. 📚📚📚
- I'm working on my 2nd novel
- I write a newsletter about books, Words on Words
- I love to talk about writing, publishing, reading, agent querying, and books books books.
Excited to connect!
- I'm working on my 2nd novel
- I write a newsletter about books, Words on Words
- I love to talk about writing, publishing, reading, agent querying, and books books books.
Excited to connect!