Maybe We Shouldn't Meet
As a publisher, I struggle with the highs and lows of getting to know the real people behind authors’ personas. The highs are great; spending time with some authors is a delight. It’s my privilege to count some of them as personal friends. The lows, however, can be pretty low; spending time with other authors (the minority) is torture. People often ask, “What is so-and-so like in person?” When the author in question is a pleasure to be with, I am happy to say so. But what do you say when the truth is the author is unbearable? My policy in those cases is to make an honest, positive remark and then move on quickly.
As a reader, this has had an odd effect on me: it has given me a conscious desire not to meet the authors I admire. For instance, my life is much richer for having read the poetry, essays, and novels of Wendell Berry. Right now I have The Collected Poems of Wendell Berry, 1957-1982 on my nightstand. About once a month, I’ll pull out That Distant Land and read a short story. What Are People For? and Standing by Words were life-changing books for me. Berry lives in Kentucky, not too many miles from my Tennessee home. The innocent reader in me would love to meet him, get to know him. But the experienced publisher in me thinks I shouldn’t risk having my image of the author tarnished—even though I’ve been told that Berry is a wonderful, salt-of-the-earth guy.
These, I guess, are the blessings and the curses of working in publishing.
As a reader, this has had an odd effect on me: it has given me a conscious desire not to meet the authors I admire. For instance, my life is much richer for having read the poetry, essays, and novels of Wendell Berry. Right now I have The Collected Poems of Wendell Berry, 1957-1982 on my nightstand. About once a month, I’ll pull out That Distant Land and read a short story. What Are People For? and Standing by Words were life-changing books for me. Berry lives in Kentucky, not too many miles from my Tennessee home. The innocent reader in me would love to meet him, get to know him. But the experienced publisher in me thinks I shouldn’t risk having my image of the author tarnished—even though I’ve been told that Berry is a wonderful, salt-of-the-earth guy.
These, I guess, are the blessings and the curses of working in publishing.
posted by Brian Hampton at 6:39 AM
11 Comments:
No question this attitude is an effective and safe, if possibly over-protective way to guard your perceptions of those behind published work.
I have to admit I've felt the same as you have after meeting some great authors or preachers, etc. But what I've found is that if I can see them through the eyes of one who would visit me, I understand that they, like me, are God's works in progress, and that there is no way we could avoid all of the contacts needed to properly ensconce our sensibilities/appreciations of these folks. Best wishes as you try!
My Father was a publisher in New York in the mid 70's back when people's work during World War II were being declassified and he was busy making sure everyone in the world knew what these people did! On Friday nights he would bring them out to our house which was this huge thing that overlooked Manhattan and we would all have a party. His editors would bring their friends, people from the theatre and everyone had to perform something in the living room. It was a traditional event and is known to this day by editors across New York who were around in those days. Just like the Dick Van Dyke Show when everyone would do something in the living room to entertain each other. The house was full of people I had no idea what who they were or what they did, but they were interesting enough to get a book out of them, sort of like Gatsby. Sometimes I think my father wanted to be Gatsby; he missed. Beverly Sills sang in our living room she was the cousin of one of my father's editors. I thought that was normal, it’s what you do on Fridays when you live in New York. Oh sure he had some authors where miseries, usually they didn't make it to the party, those who did lightened up immensely. It taught me to live large and to have a great time doing it. I have made a handwritten and illuminated Bible (KJV), got blessed by the John Paul II and the Archbishop of York, Bob Cooper has seen it, and you can Google it at "The Pepper Bible" and click on the links to the CBS, ABC and United Methodist News Service videos of me at work.
Sincerely,
James G. Pepper
Biblical Scribe
self help books social skills excessive talker what about it..self help books social skills excessive talker
books help self what about it..books help self
Are you stuck in a job that is leading you on the path to no where?
We can help you obtain a College Degree with classes, books, and exams
Get a Genuine College Degree in 2 Weeks!
Well now you can get them!
Call this number now 24 hours a day 7 days a week (413) 208-3069
Get these Degrees NOW!!!
BA, BSc, MA, MSc, MBA, PHD,
Within 2 weeks!
No Study Required!
100% Verifiable
Call this number now 24 hours a day 7 days a week (413) 208-3069
These are real, genuine, They are verifiable and student records and
transcripts are also available. This little known secret has been
kept quiet for years. The opportunity exists due to a legal loophole
allowing some established colleges to award degrees at their discretion.
With all of the attention that this news has been generating, I wouldn't
be surprised to see this loophole closed very soon
Get yours now, you will thank me later
Call this number now (413) 208-3069
We accept calls 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
I would like to jump in here and bring to everyones attention that the information on this blog should also be shared with the readers of http://www.articlebeat.com Our sites readers and authors would benefit from the information being discussed here and would help get the word out faster, to everyone interested. With plenty of free articles on our site, the bloggers here would benefit from our site and our site users would benefit from the bloggers.
Come share, exchange and debate with us at http://www.articlebeat.com today.
I would like to jump in here and bring to everyones attention that the information on this blog should also be shared with the readers of http://www.articlebeat.com Our sites readers and authors would benefit from the information being discussed here and would help get the word out faster, to everyone interested. With plenty of free articles on our site, the bloggers here would benefit from our site and our site users would benefit from the bloggers.
Come share, exchange and debate with us at http://www.articlebeat.com today.
I would like to jump in here and bring to everyones attention that the information on this blog should also be shared with the readers of http://www.articlebeat.com Our sites readers and authors would benefit from the information being discussed here and would help get the word out faster, to everyone interested. With plenty of articles on our site, the bloggers here would benefit from our site and our site users would benefit from the bloggers.
Come share, exchange and debate with us at http://www.articlebeat.com today.
I would like to jump in here and bring to everyones attention that the information on this blog should also be shared with the readers of http://www.articlebeat.com Our sites readers and authors would benefit from the information being discussed here and would help get the word out faster, to everyone interested. With plenty of articles on our site, the bloggers here would benefit from our site and our site users would benefit from the bloggers.
Come share, exchange and debate with us at http://www.articlebeat.com today.
I would like to jump in here and bring to everyones attention that the information on this blog should also be shared with the readers of http://www.articlebeat.com Our sites readers and authors would benefit from the information being discussed here and would help get the word out faster, to everyone interested. With plenty of free web content on our site, the bloggers here would benefit from our site and our site users would benefit from the bloggers.
Come share, exchange and debate with us at http://www.articlebeat.com today.
I would like to jump in here and bring to everyones attention that the information on this blog should also be shared with the readers of http://www.articlebeat.com Our sites readers and authors would benefit from the information being discussed here and would help get the word out faster, to everyone interested. With plenty of authors on our site, the bloggers here would benefit from our site and our site users would benefit from the bloggers.
Come share, exchange and debate with us at http://www.articlebeat.com today.
Post a Comment
<< Home