Publishing News -- 1/7/2009

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A full stack this week, like those big lumberjack pancake stacks you might be able to get at your family diner. The news isn't getting much better this week, but we're a few days closer to the end of the mess and pitchers and catchers report in about six weeks.

Publishing and the Economy
Blockbuster or Bust -- Like the guy at the races with that one tip that will change everything, publishers continue to gamble on potential big hits.

The New Austerity in Publishing -- Lavish spending is out as part of the new economic reality in publishing.

11.7 Percent Sales Drop and CEO Change at Borders -- New CEO has experience turning around retail establishments.

End Times -- The end of, or at least a drastic change in, the New York Times could be imminent.

Publishing Firm to Add Jobs -- It's only 20 jobs, but it beats another story on layoffs.

Agentry
Agent Stephen Barbara Moves to Foundry Literary + Media -- Leaves Donald Maass's agency and brings his entire slate of YA and adult authors with him.

Kicking Off the New Year--Courtney Milan's Query -- Agent deconstructs a successful query letter.

Surviving the Recession
Readiness is all in building your network -- The time to build your network is before you need it--like now.

Your Key Asset if You're Laid Off -- If you don't maintain a positive outlook, ending your unemployment is a lot harder.

Social Media
Why Executives Don't Get Social Media -- It has to do with how they view success. Fortunately, peoples' skills and viewpoints are complementary (one of the points of social media).

Why Twitter Matters -- More analysis and predictions about the newest social media fad.

How Social Media are Transforming Our Capacity to Achieve -- Our best growth opportunities may come from people we don't know well. Social media allow us to transform that number exponentially.