_{Bob Eckstein copyright © 2009}

No doubt, even Jesus would have had a tough time publishing in this climate. Anyhoo, this is follow-up to my last post, Good For You! Excuse Me If I'm Not Happy For Dan Brown about being Catholic & the Da Vinci Code (and spoiler alert; this is very much a puff piece.) but it's kind of interesting.

I received two responses from insiders who wanted to correct me or at least present the other side of the story. They gave me permission to publish their comments as long as it was anonymous and I didn't name the publisher they represent–both are high-up executives and from one of the "big six." First off, in regards to Dan Brown;

"As I'm at my office on a Sunday afternoon, I am very, very thankful for Dan Brown. Our industry needs some big hits right now and if several million people want to spend money on that: awesome. A recession is no time for elitism and I know it sounds like I'm selling out, but our industry has been in the dumps for 14 months straight and thanks to Dan Brown, September may be the first positive month. When bookstores make money they take more risks on other publishers' books. It's really a win-win for the industry and a personal win-win-win for me since I don't have to read that crap."

The other person wanted to defend Oprah, who I made fun of in the Low Points in Literature cartoon. In brief; "Oprah has been a blessing to publishing and all writers should be grateful for her impact."

I see both points and it makes sense (I apolognized & thanked both of them for their insight). It proves there is an audience here beyond my Mom's refridgerator.

  ^{Bob Eckstein copyright © 2009}

But no official word yet from the Herman Melville estate regarding my Moby Dick cartoon with robots on jet skis. 

And while I'm at it, I'd like to comment myself to a couple of posts on OS. While I agree with some of the points I read recently here about getting published, I also thought there were some misleading generalizations ; 1) There have been literary agents (and recognizable ones) trolling these waters, 2) Not every former good writer who left OS left angry. A couple are quite happy as they are currently working on, lo & behold, books. A sincere congrats to them.

Finally, 3) which I think can be best said through cartoon and song & dance;

First Novel Dance

(sung to the tune of Safety Dance)

You can write if you want to, and leave all your fears behind
     Cause fears are excuses, everyone abuses
Like darts inside your mind

I say, we can blog what we want to, the start of your new book
     Who knows who will read it, someone may need it
a good rep could take a look

I say, write a book you want to, anyone on Open Salon
     Whether you’re Floyd Eliot, or the village idiot
How do I make a cute emoticon?

Say, we can write if you want to, if you don’t nobody will
     If you can’t read, but have four months
Like Sarah Palin who is an imbecile

Reprinted twice, movie rights–somebody get me the Coast
First novel advice, dated insights–they’re dishing it from post to post

First Novel Dance, First Novel Dance, everyone take the chance,
First Novel Dance, First Novel Dance, ignore the OS rants

We can write if we want to, we've got all your life and mine
     Brush off the stumbles, that’s the way the cookie crumbles
Everything'll work out fine

Even with no advance, we can dance, we can leave your friends behind
     Cause if your friends don't dream and if they don't dream
Well, they're are no friends of mine

First Novel Dance, First Novel Dance, just ignore the OS rants
First Novel Dance, First Novel Dance, why not take the chance?

 First Novel Dance