Dept. of Zeitgeist

From these deals reported on Publisher's Marketplace, grok the zeitgeist:

Amanda Trimble's debut novel SINGLETINI, about a sassy, single girl in Chicago whose bubbly life gets a strong shot of craziness when she finds herself playing matchmaker between martinis as a professional wingwoman, a job that quickly threatens to take over her life and forces her to take a closer look at how cupid has affected her and her friends, to Shana Drehs at Three Rivers Press, in a nice deal, by Jenny Bent at Trident Media Group (NA).

Escort and sex educator Veronica Monet's SEX SECRETS OF ESCORTS: What Men Really Want, including the promise of the "sexiest secret of all - one that men, all men, find deliciously irresistible," to Paul Dinas at Alpha Books, in a nice deal, by Bob Diforio at D4EO Literary Agency (world).

Fortune Magazine Writer and author of Black Power Inc. Cora Daniels' GHETTONATION, about how Black "ghettones" has become a hip cultural norm though it demeans women, celebrates some of the worst African American stereotypes and contributes to civil unrest, to Clarence Haynes and Janet Hill at Doubleday, in a very nice deal, by Nicholas Roman Lewis (NA).

THE WHITNEY CHRONICLES author Judy Baer's inspirational chick lit NORAH'S ARK, featuring a pet store owner who finds herself falling for an animal-adverse cop, to Joan Marlow Golan at Steeple Hill, in a nice deal, for six books, by Karen Solem at Spencerhill Associates (world).

Update: A reader suggested I be more clear about what I think these books have in common -- what zeitgeist do they embody? It's that they're all about reflecting consumer society's fascination with itself-as-stereotype -- the stereotype of the daffy young single girl, of the "ghetto" rap artist, of the notion that hookers are in possession of sexual secrets unknown to civilians. They're all about reveling in, or revealing, these stereotypes.

What else are most reality shows about? The stereotype of the plucky good-looking youth who's willing to do just about anything to succeed -- however that's defined in a particular show, whether it's eat worms, get plastic surgery, or camp on a beach for two months. This stereotype that youth and good looks basically grant you immunity from being a loser or a fool, that you can do anything, no matter how outrageous, as long as you're 24 years old and gorgeous. We love that one.