Arthur

Acrostic Words by Thangavelu Chinnasamy

A fascinating compendium that marries poetics with pedagogy, Acrostic Words by Thangavelu Chinnasamy is an erudite, interdisciplinary study of language. An acrostic poem is one where the first letter of each line spells out something vertically – organized thematically, Chinnasamy’s work catalogs abundant acrostic formations, interweaving etymological asides and cultural references. The book is weighted more towards classification than literary analysis, but the result is eye-opening, whether or not you’re familiar with this niche genre. Though the writing and typography are ocassionally uneven, the project’s earnest eclecticism and organized taxonomy make it useful and compelling for teachers, language enthusiasts, curious […]

Arthur2025-10-20T17:10:54+02:00October 20th, 2025|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

How Not to Submit to a Literary Agent (and What to Do Instead)

Ah, the thrill of finishing a novel. You’ve spilled your soul onto 300 pages of tortured genius, and now the world – nay, the publishing industry – must fall at your feet. Right?

Wrong.

Before you clutch that manuscript to your chest and hit “send” with trembling fingers, let’s talk about what actually happens when your email lands in an agent’s inbox. Spoiler: if you skip the prep, your brilliant work will likely get deleted faster than you can say “subjective industry.”

Here’s how to increase your odds of success – and avoid joining the tragic ranks of great authors […]

Arthur2025-05-27T12:00:18+02:00May 23rd, 2025|Categories: Features|Tags: Publishing Tips and Advice|

Why Your Paperback Deserves an E-Book Sibling (And Maybe a Hard Cover Cousin Too)

Let’s face it—publishing a paperback and calling it a day is like baking a cake and never frosting it. Sure, it’s technically a cake. But it’s not quite ready for the party. In today’s ever-evolving literary jungle, if your book exists only in physical form, it’s basically wearing a sign that says, “I don’t like success.”

The Modern Reader: A Fickle, Digital Beast

Once upon a time, readers carried books everywhere. Literal books. Heavy, spine-breaking tomes. Back then, lugging around War and Peace was considered a character-building exercise. Today? Readers prefer downloading entire libraries onto devices lighter than a ham […]

Arthur2025-05-12T18:04:46+02:00May 12th, 2025|Categories: Features|Tags: Publishing Tips and Advice|

Review: Looking for Tennessee Williams by George Sanchez

George Sanchez’s evocative novel, Looking for Tennessee Williams: A Novel of New Orleans, November 1963, is a captivating literary excursion into the sultry, historical atmosphere of New Orleans during the tumultuous week surrounding President Kennedy’s assassination. Deftly intertwining personal drama with broader social tensions, the novel uses the backdrop of a Tennessee Williams Theatre Festival as both metaphor and catalyst for exploring complex personal relationships.

The plot revolves around a university theatre group’s journey, both literal and emotional, to perform Williams’ iconic play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Central to the story is the intense and fraught […]

Arthur2025-04-24T11:44:24+02:00March 31st, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, Literary Fiction Book Reviews|

The Long-Term Value of Metadata: How to Best Choose Your Keywords, Categories, and Book Description

In the vast and often unforgiving landscape of self-publishing, the difference between a book that thrives and one that languishes in obscurity often comes down to something invisible to most readers: metadata. Like a hidden force, metadata determines how your book is discovered, who sees it, and whether it has a chance to claim a place in the hearts and libraries of readers worldwide.

For self-published authors, mastering keywords, categories, and book descriptions is not just an exercise in optimization – it is a necessity for survival in a marketplace where thousands of books are released daily.

Why Keywords and […]

Arthur2025-04-27T12:21:20+02:00March 22nd, 2025|Categories: Features, Resources|Tags: Book Promotion Articles|

AI Book Cover Design is Here to Stay – Now What?

Since the early days of publishing, covers have evolved from simple, text-heavy designs to highly artistic and genre-specific illustrations. In the 19th century, book covers were often embossed with gold leaf and intricate designs to signal prestige. By the 20th century, technological advancements allowed for full-color printing, leading to the rise of illustrated covers that became marketing tools in their own right.

Similarly, in the music industry, album covers became a cultural phenomenon in the mid-20th century. Think of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band or Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon – iconic images that […]

Arthur2025-04-27T12:25:48+02:00February 18th, 2025|Categories: Features|Tags: Book Cover Design Tips|

How to Promote Your Book on Bluesky

The world of book promotion has always been tied closely to the latest trends in social media. In 2025, authors are grappling with major changes in the digital landscape, forcing them to rethink how they connect with readers, and how to convince those readers that their words are worth reading, their labors of love worth the scant price of a paperback. With ongoing controversies surrounding X (formerly Twitter) and the potential banning of TikTok in the United States, many authors are searching for reliable alternatives.