Wallace J Swenson’s debut novel Morgan’s Pasture is getting five-star reviews from across the nation.

“Swenson is sharp and incisive.” —Missouri
“I think the story is timeless.” —California
“It makes you wish it were much longer.” —New Mexico
“My personal library contains well over 1,000 books, and this will certainly belong with my favorites.”—North Dakota
“Master of dialogue, and flows to and from it seamlessly.” —Wisconsin

Stay tuned for news about readings, signings, radio interviews, and more!

Publishers Weekly called it “Facing the Facts: University Presses in the Digital Age.” Three Muses Press is not a university press, but the role (and fate?) of small presses is often closely related to that of our university counterparts, so we like to keep an eye on them. Oh to have been present for the conference mentioned in the article. Give it a read and let us know what you think.

“The future is now: That’s the message university and scholarly presses received this past weekend at the annual meeting of the Association of American University Presses in Salt Lake City from June 17 to 20. The conference, titled “Toward a Sustainable Future,” conveyed a sense of urgency in dealing with the changes now facing scholarly publishing. Whether it’s finding ways to publish scholarship that doesn’t fit the print book model, moving to e-publishing platforms, or accommodating shrinking library budgets, the conference’s recurring themes suggested that intellectual vitality and financial viability lie in better meeting users’ needs, and in closer collaboration with all stakeholders, from faculty to students to the universities themselves.” read more…

Yesterday’s American Association of Publishers‘ statistics that showed e-book sales increased by 127% in April. Yowza. If Three Muses hadn’t already had a digital version in the works for our newest book, Morgan’s Pasture, this statistic would have made us sit up and take notice. (Stay tuned for the Kindle version of Morgan’s Pasture, coming soon.)

Today’s e-book eye-opener comes from O’Reilly’s Tools of Change for Publishing, where Alexander Macgillivray (Twitter’s General Counsel and former Deputy General Counsel for Products & IP at Google) discusses copyright issues and digital rights management (DRM) for e-books. Fascinating and necessary information for writers, readers, and publishers.

The publishing industry, like any other, believes in a constant gathering of information and subsequent statistical analysis. Here, then, is a dose of stats to help keep book people healthy and informed. Enjoy!

Today’s Shelf Awareness newsletter included the following from the Association of American Publishers:

AAP: April Sales Increase, Big Gain for Hardcovers
In April, net book sales reported by 86 publishers to the Association of American Publishers rose 24.8%, to $629.8 million, and are up 11.8%, to $2.41 billion, for the year to date. The adult hardcover category showed notable strength, with an increase of nearly 50% for the month and 16.2% for the year.

Three Muses Press is pleased to announce that Morgan’s Pasture by Wallace J. Swenson is officially in the house—the first print run of many, we hope. Order your copy today! And be sure to let us know what you think; we’d love to hear from you.

We’ve been keeping an eye on it, and it is gratifying to see the trend growing: young adult novels are not just for young adults anymore. Novels such as Morgan’s Pasture, releasing any minute now from Three Muses, appeal to readers twelve and up. (Enthusiastic early reviews for Morgan’s Pasture from both demographics.) Strong themes, meaningful messages, and excellent storytelling are enjoyed and valued by younger and older readers. As  YA author Libba Bray remarked in a recent Book Expo America (BEA) panel discussion, ” “We never stop coming of age…the basics of the human condition are timeless. We want stories that enlighten us, that make us change.”

Crossover appeal of YA novels—the Harry Potter and Twilight series being two prime examples—was the focus of “You’re reading That!?! Crossover YA/Adult Readers Come of Age.” To learn more about the shifting lines between young adult and adult reading, be sure to read Library Journal’s article, “Panelists address misconceptions about teen/adult reading.”

Poets & Writers offers a terrific online resource list for writers. Here’s the first half of the article and list. Click here to see the entire list. Great information from a trusted source.

• Literary Magazines

  • Introduction
  • The World of Literary Magazines—Determining Which Are Right for Your Work
  • Submission Guidelines
  • Simultaneous Submissions
  • Cover Letters
  • Other Resources
• Publishing a Book

  • Introduction
  • Small Presses vs. Large Publishers
  • Chapbooks
  • Submission Guidelines
  • What to Expect from Your Publisher
  • What to Expect from a Standard Book Contract
  • Marketing and Distribution
  • Self-Publishing and Print-on-Demand Companies
  • What is a Vanity or Subsidy Press?
  • Other Resources
• Literary Agents

  • Introduction
  • What a Literary Agent Can Do for You
  • Finding the Right Literary Agent
  • The Query Letter
  • What You Should Know Before Signing a Contract
  • Literary Agents and Poets
  • Fee-Charging Agents
  • Other Resources
• Writing Contests

  • Introduction
  • Other Resources

“20 Under 40.”

The New Yorker has released its list of young fiction writers to watch.  (Read the New York Times article based on an interview with David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker.)

Here’s to fresh voices and new perspectives!

In brief, the forty notables are:

Chimamandu Ngozi Adichie
Chris Adrian
Daniel Alarcón
David Bezmozgis
Sarah Shun-lien Bynum
Joshua Ferris
Jonathan Safran Foer
Nell Freudenberger
Rivka Galchen
Nicole Krauss
Yivun Li
Dinaw Mengestu
Philipp Meyer
C. E. Morgan
Téa Obreht
Z. Z. Packer
Karen Russell
Salvatore Scibona
Gary Shtenyngart
Wells Tower

“They are Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, 32; Chris Adrian, 39; Daniel , 33; David Bezmozgis, 37; Sarah Shun-lien Bynum, 38; Joshua Ferris, 35; Jonathan Safran Foer, 33; Nell Freudenberger, 35; Rivka Galchen, 34; Nicole Krauss, 35; Yiyun Li, 37; Dinaw Mengestu, 31; Philipp Meyer, 36; C. E. Morgan, 33; Téa Obreht, 24; Z Z Packer, 37; Karen Russell, 28; Salvatore Scibona, 35; Gary Shteyngart, 37; and Wells Tower, 37.

First iPhone app for Ink & Paper Group! Bowler Hat Comics announced  that the eagerly awaited app for KID BEOWULF AND THE BLOOD-BOUND OATH, the  first book in the exciting Kid Beowulf series, is now available. Interested? Learn more here.

Three Muses and our parent company, Ink & Paper Group, have attended and exhibited at Book Expo America several times, but this year we tuned in from afar. The BEA festivities have wrapped up for this year, with overall good reviews now circulating in the world of words. Being forward-thinking publishing folk, we found the May 29 National Book Critics Circle panel discussion “The Next Decade in Book Culture” intriguing, and thought you might like to be a fly on the virtual wall. Here is a link to the event video posted on their Critical Mass blog.