- Upcoming Events Around Town
- Independent Publishing in the News
- Be Part of Tapping the Muze!

The American Medical Association Spouses’ Book Group
This is a national medical spouse’s Book Club meeting in Washington, DC. This dedicated book group of a dozen or more members has been meeting for more than twenty years. Group leader Debbie Lazarus says, “Almost everyone will have read the book [Satan's Chamber]. It is a treat for us to have the author at the meeting to discuss the important aspects of the book. We rarely get this opportunity and it is always interesting and fun.”

Bob’s Book Group (pictured to the left)

Bob’s Book Group, named for the last child born to any of the women who belong, has been meeting to discuss good reads since March of 1992! The thirteen members regularly meet for discussion and a potluck dinner. Karetta is looking forward to introducing Satan’s Chamber to such a lively, longstanding, enthusiastic group in February.

If you would like to invite one of the authors to your book group, please call Elizabeth. Thank you!

The slush pile refers to the stream of unsolicited manuscripts (that is, manuscripts without representation by an agent) received by large publishers. It used to be that publishing companies employed entry-level readers to sift through these offerings, in search of surprise gems. Philip Roth and Judith Guest (Ordinary People), for example, were slush pile discoveries. Obviously this strategy is more idealistic than cost-effective; thus in today’s industry, where the bottom-line rules, slush piles have become history.

Rosman explores some of the implications of this change. In short supply, coveted agents have become powerful gate-keepers, and now they are demanding clients with recommendations and track records. They are unwilling, by their own admission to take a shot on a new voice. Editors also admit anxiety that as the industry constricts, good stuff is slipping through the cracks. That’s where Fuze comes in, ready to catch some of those literate, exciting works by new authors.

Visit http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703414504575001271351446274.html to read Rosman’s entire article.

Across the country, Jeff Baker, Book Editor for The Oregonian, profiled Fuze Publishing’s own Molly Best Tinsley in last week’s Arts and Entertainment section. He recounts the collaborative journey that led to the independent publication of Satan’s Chamber and praises the “can do” attitude behind the creation and development of Fuze Publishing. Baker also covers the four-night run of one of Molly’s short plays as part of Portland’s Fertile Ground Festival. An annual, ten-day celebration of new work by local writers and performers, Fertile Ground springs from much the same impulse that nourishes Fuze: the desire to preserve the creative spirit despite our corporate culture and to encourage the arts at the grass roots.

Read more about Molly’s lengthy career in Baker’s article: http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2010/01/molly_best_tinsley_oregon_book.html

To join the conversation, send Molly a note at fuzepublishing@gmail.com.