As parents, we sometimes miss vital news in our industry. This blog entry from the New York Times describes a vital current issue with which all authors — established, emerging, self-published, and not-yet-published — need to familiarize themselves. There is a war going on (James Patterson called it a war) in the industry. If you read no other article this year, read this one. It will affect you whether you are published by CreateSpace or by Hachette. You should find out the facts and take a side. You should make your voice known. As authors, we have the most at stake here. Read the article. Know your position. Be vocal.

If nothing else, you will have something to talk about the next time you meet a childless colleague at a public event. Hang in there—!