Ed’s Comments (group member since Jan 06, 2012)

Ed’s comments from the Q&A with Ed Brodow group.

Fixer's marketing history is indicative of the current sorry state of fiction and the publishing industry. Despite all the excellent revues ("a modern classic"), the doors were closed to Fixer. The publishing houses are looking for the latest sure thing by an established fiction writer. At the same time, they have given up the right to select the books they publish, having abdicated that privilege to a small clique of literary agents who have questionable credentials, poor judgment, and no tolerance for risk. What a bore for the readers out there. Where are the new voices going to come from? The answer: ebooks. Many new and (increasingly) established authors are publishing on Kindle, Nook, and Smashwords. This is a positive development because it means that the traditional houses will no longer control what people read. That will be determined by the readers themselves. Without the interference of publishers and agents, we will have greater access to books of all kinds. And more people will be reading thanks to lower prices and the accessibility of books on the Internet.

Fixer came about as the result of a lifelong wish to provide some sort of memorial to my grandfather. He was a remarkable man who touched the lives of many people, mostly in a positive way. Until Fixer, his memory was all but gone. About five years ago, as I was having dinner with a friend, the story came bubbling up. I can't say why it happened when it did, but I went home and immediately began writing Fixer. The first draft took only seven weeks. A waterfall. Then another two years to polish. Some of Fixer is true but most is my imagination filling in the gaps wherever I lacked information. The experience of trying to land a literary agent is a story in itself and, I think, the subject of another post. Meanwhile, your comments are encouraged.
Ed Brodow

Please introduce yourself and feel free to ask a question.

Welcome to the discussion group. Please introduce yourself. We will be discussing my historical novel FIXER, my new books (Getting a Success Change and The Stamp), my writing process and habits, and my favorite writers and influences.
Ed Brodow