The Knight Agency has adopted USA Cares as our charity of choice this holiday season. The organization provides post-9/11 military families with financial and advocacy support. We heartily endorse their cause, and encourage you to consider them as a gift option before you run yourself ragged, hopping from store to store in search of the perfect last minute present.
Giving the gift of charity can be done easily from your home, and it embodies the true tradition of the holiday – spreading goodwill to others. It’s easy to give a gift in someone’s name or on your own behalf. We support USA Cares throughout the year, and have had donations made to them in our name for the holidays – which we are incredibly thankful for.
We hope you will consider gifting family and friends with a USA Cares donation made in their name. Needless to say, this is a must-have gift for many needy folks this year.
Click here to learn more about USA Cares and how to donate.
Whether you are heading to the beach or barbecuing in your own backyard, The Knight Agency wishes you a safe, fun-filled Fourth of July holiday!! And, of course, it wouldn't be a proper Fourth of July post without fireworks...
**Please note, our offices will be closed Friday, July 2nd & Monday, July 5th in observance of the holiday. If you are a client and have questions about the schedule, please contact your agent.**
The Knight Agency will be closed from Monday, December 21st until Monday, January 4th, 2010.* We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday! See you in the New Year!!!
*If you are a Knight Agency client and have any questions about our holiday schedule, please contact your indivdual agent directly.
It's almost time for BBQ, bathing suits and, best of all, FIREWORKS!
The Knight Agency would like to wish you a happy and safe Fourth of July holiday.* Check out the video below to get in the spirit!
*Please note, our offices will be closed July 2nd & 3rd in observance of the holiday. If you are a client and have questions about the schedule, please contact your individual agent.
Guest Blogger Cecil Murphey's Advice for Writers in the New Year
He called and said, "I haven't had a book contract in six years." He had published six books in the late 1980s. He went on to ask me if there could be age discrimination because he's 67. I assured him that wasn't the case. For about 20 minutes he told me of the terrible ordeals of trying to publish in today's market.
I explored a number of possible reasons before I finally asked, "How does your writing today compare with what you did twenty years ago?" He assured me that his current work was as good as the former.
I didn't say this to him but I thought, that's the problem. Your answer should have been, "It's much better now."
I've noticed that many writers reach a certain achievement level, develop a following, and they stop improving. That's sad. We can always get better.
One of the things I've recently done to improve my writing was to buy a new English book. I'd never been able to remember terms like restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses. This book uses essential and nonessential clauses. That makes sense.
I decided to stick with that book and keep learning. My new goal is to submit manuscripts so good that frustrated editors will exclaim, "I couldn't find even a misplaced comma."
I'm aware that the book business is having health problems right now (like all the other industries). My recent proposals might not make the contract stage. I won't like that; however, I want to be able to say that the writing is better. That makes me more competitive. Most of all, it's a good feeling to know that I've improved and that my latest manuscript is better than the one before it.
To learn more about Cecil Murphey, New York Times bestselling co-author of 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN, visit www.TheManBehindTheWords.com.
Today is the last day before the agency officially closes for the holidays, and we're playing Christmas music and munching on the delicious treats that many of our clients and industry friends have sent to the office. The Harry & David truffles are decadent, but extremely dangerous. Besides listening to Santa Baby and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, we'll also cap off the day with our annual office holiday party. During the festivities, we're giving out our Secret Santa gifts. I can tell you I was personally struggling at 9:30pm last night trying to figure out what to get my secret person. Thank God for extended holiday hours! Take a piece of advice from me; don't wait until the last minute to do your shopping. Well, I suppose from this point forward – everything might be considered last minute... Ha! Good luck!
We've got a lot to celebrate at the agency this year. As of today, we have surpassed last year's sales by almost 50%! We are truly proud of this accomplishment. Consistently, this year TKA agents have been able to make excellent deals for our clients. We've also expand our agency in a multitude of ways. New website. New employees. New message board and newsletter. This unprecedented growth has only increased our endurance and strength for the year ahead. We intend to press forward and continue to think of dynamic ideas that will keep TKA on the forefront. But also as Christmas descends upon us, we want to recognize our industry peers that are facing layoffs and pay cuts during the holidays. We will be keeping everyone in our prayers, and hope that a solution to the current economic turmoil will come as soon as possible.
So, from Deidre, Jud, Pamela, Nephele, Lucienne, Elaine, Melissa, Jamie and Jia -- we wish you a wonderful and safe holiday!
The Knight Agency will officially be closed from December 23rd until January 5th. Clients, if you have any questions about the holiday schedule, please contact your individual agent.
It's "Winter Wonderland Week" on the TKA blog, and we have some fabulous guest bloggers and exciting prizes lined up to get you in the holiday mood. Our special guests will include authors Tommy Newberry, Wendy Etherington, Shirley Jump, Joey Hill and Nalini Singh!
One thing that's got us feeling quite merry around the TKA office is the recently released list of the Annual Romantic Times Bookclub nominees. The list reads like a virtual who's who of TKA's client list!
CAREER ACHEIVEMENT NOMINIEES
Series Romantic Suspense - Jessica Andersen
African-American - Jacquelin Thomas
REVIEWERS' CHOICE NOMINEES
BEST SERIES ROMANCE
Harlequin Nascar: HOT PURSUIT by Wendy Etherington and TEAMING UP by Abby Gaines
Silhouette Nocturne: LAST WOLF HUNTING and LAST WOLF WATCHING by Rhyannon Byrd
BEST HISTORICAL NOVELS
Historical Vampire/Werewolf Romance: COME THE NIGHT by Susan Krinard
Sensual Historical Romance: DON'T TEMPT ME by Sylvia Day
Historical K.I.S.S Hero: Gabriel MacBraedon in THE NIGHT BEFORE THE WEDDING by Debra Mullins
BEST EROTIC ROMANCE & EROTICA NOVELS
Paranormal/Fantasy/Sci-Fi Erotic Romance: THE MARK OF THE VAMPIRE QUEEN by Joey W. Hill
Erotic Romance Historical: MIRAGE by Monica Burns
BEST SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY NOVELS
Fantasy Novel: SHADOWS RETURN by Lynn Flewelling
Urban Fantasy Novel: THE IRON HUNT by Marjorie M. Liu
Urban Fantasy Protagonist: Joanne Baldwin in GALE FORCE by Rachel Caine
BEST CONTEMPORARY & PARANORMAL ROMANCES
Shapeshifter Romance: THE ACCIDENTAL WEREWOLF by Dakota Cassidy and THE LAST TWILIGHT by Marjorie Liu
Paranormal Action Adventure Romance: HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE by Nalini Singh
BEST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE/INTRIGUE NOVELS
Romanctic Intrigue: NO CONTROL by Shannon Butcher
Also, UNLACED, an anthology co-authored by Joey Hill and Jasmine Haynes, et al, was selected by Michelle Buonfiglio at Lifetime's Romance B(uy) the Book as this2008's Best Erotic Anthology!
We are so excited about all the wonderful achievements our clients have made this year! Congratulations to everyone!
Looking for a present this holiday season that will please even the grumpy Ebenezer Scrooges in your life? Short on time and money? Consider the book. From fishing to fine china, I challenge you to name one subject a book doesn't cover. It’s the perfect one-size-fits-all present for ages 0 thru 102 (they've got audio and giant-sized print for those whose sight isn't what it used to be and parental units can help out the kiddies…it’s never too early to start prepping your future Einstein).
In an effort to bolster sales in the flagging economy, many publishers and retailers have launched inventive advertising campaigns to rally support for the book industry. One of the largest promotions is Random House's "Books Equal Gifts."IndieBoundandBookReporter.comare also jumping into the mix with their own spin on why books make the perfect present.
So why do you think books make great gifts? Below are a few reasons fromBooksEqualGifts.comto get your synapses clicking.
--It comes fully charged --You can buy 10 hardcover books for the price of an iphone --Costs less than a movie (with popcorn) --Around the same price as a DVD, but the experience lasts much longer --It can change someone's life --It can make someone laugh --It's a thoughtful gift --One-stop shopping—your bookstore has the right gift for everyone on your list --It weighs much less than a fruitcake --It's easy to wrap
Thanksgiving is about being thankful for the passage of another year spent in the company of family and good friends. Not only are we thankful for our wonderful TKA family, inclusive of tremendously talented authors and a top-notch company team, but also for a year filled with unprecedented growth and sales for the agency. We do not take this blessing lightly, and are so grateful for the gift of being able to work in an industry that we love. So we send out a heartfelt thank you to all our clients, industry peers and readers. May you have a joyous holiday!
The Knight Agency will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday Wednesday, November 26th - Friday, November 28th.
As we all head off to beaches and barbecues, TKA wishes everyone a fantastic Labor Day weekend! Also, check out the newest Author Talk below, with guest Jackie Kessler, to kick the weekend festivities off with a few guaranteed belly laughs...
