It's tough out there, as all publishers will tell you. Fewer shops in which to sell books, fewer promotional slots to win, lots of other TV and gaming product to compete with. But the good news is that books can still sell and sell for sure, if you have the right book at the right…

The first rejection letter I drafted as a literary agent's assistant was written in hand-wringing apology and consolation. My boss accepted it pretty much as it stood: that is, once he had casually, brutally, deleted every single regret, compliment and word of encouragement. "They'll only be back," he advised sagely. "To argue, or to try…