Welcome to our first links round up in August! Summer is in full steam here—we hope you are staying cool and enjoying your summer.
While lazing in the hammock, you may wish to ponder the philosophy of writing and reading with Marius du Plessis. Or delve into the metaphysical by contemplating Stephanie Feldman’s list of mysterious books about mysterious books.
Do your young kids that need entertaining? Check out these 8 apps to support early reading and writing.
Have you ever reread a beloved children’s book, only to find bizarre undertones you missed the first time around? Hephzibah Anderson discusses the hidden messages in children’s books.
J.K. Rowling’s birthday just passed. Here are 7 ways she changed childhood for an entire generation.
Traveling with books before Kindle: Louis Vuitton’s 1923 book case trunk.
CRAFT
Story-telling is evolving with our technology. Kathryn Stanley talks about her experience with a new interactive app called Episode in her post 4 things I learned from using Episode.
One thing that hasn’t changed is that a story is a journey. Martha Alderson shows us how to pick the exact right beginning to story, Angela Ackerman explains how transitions keep the story moving, and Roz Morris examines endings and epilogues.
Chris Lough examines world-building done right, and Henry Herz gives us 5 powerful writing techniques that bring stories to life.
Details matter, so Joe Bunting advises specificity to instantly improve your writing. Chris Winkle tells us when to cut a scene, and Rob Reinalda demystifies comma use.
If readers can’t connect with our characters, then the story fails. Mary Kole discusses character buy-in as a means to reader buy-in for your world, and Josh Weil suggests planting the seeds of your characters’ emotions early. C.S. Lakin reminds us that secondary characters must have their own needs, and K.M. Weiland lays out the 4 kinds of conflict in dialogue.
Anne R. Allen examines the right way to approach using critique groups, while Leila Austin says that getting things wrong is sometimes exactly right.
Stina Lindenblatt shares how to balance your writing career, while Delilah S. Dawson lists 10 things you DON’T need to be a writer.
Ali Hale gives us 7 things to do when we don’t feel like writing, while Clara Kenzie wraps up her serial novel blog series discussing how to market serial novels.
BUSINESS
Jon Scalzi has some down-to-earth thoughts about the latest carrot dangled by Amazon in the ongoing Amazon-Hachette dispute.
Some news on a new imprint and some editors changing houses on this month’s update for Who’s Moving Where at The Purple Crayon site.
Ever wondered what a super-fast rejection letter means? Patrick at Querytracker lists the reasons behind quick rejection letters. If you are seeking agents, try Mary Krienke of Sterling Lord (seeking literary fiction, creative nonfiction, YA, psychology, art, design) and Rachel Brooks of L. Perkins Agency (seeking young adult, new adult, picture books or romance).
Marketing! Jason Matthews discusses how to make the Amazon search engine work for you, Jami Gold examines Liliana Hart’s keys to self-publishing success, and Joanna Penn explores the best ways to sell directly to your readers through your website.
Your website should be your online hub. Even if you choose to have no other online presence, you should have an author website—and it needs to be a good one. Maria Ribas explains why website design matters, and Tucker Max tells us how to build a book landing page.
THE UNIQUE SHELF
For those of us who love the printed word, check out this video about the history of typography.
Wow! A 1483 edition of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, a digital collection of Medieval manuscripts, and Charlotte Brontë’s manuscript of Jane Eyre.
If you’re looking for a literary way to spice up your summer events, take these summer entertaining tips from writer Edith Wharton.
That’s it for us this week!
The Author Chronicles 
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