Random Quotes from the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

This past weekend I spent both days at the Los Angeles Times. Unlike previous years, I spent most of my time in the panel discussions. These were some of the comments overheard.

“I don’t know what one of my stories is about until the reviewers tell me what it’s about.” Pam Huston, author of Cowboys are My Weakness, Contents May Have Shifted, and other books.

“We don’t review self-published novels. There are too many and no way to vet them.” David L. Ulin, book critic for the Los Angeles Times.

“Indie Presses are a collaborative relationship. Writers get an incredible amount of attention. We’re not spending all our time promoting some celebrity biography.” Sumanth Pabhaker, Editor, Madras Press.

“It’s still lotto fever in corporate publishing.” Rob Spillman, editor of Tin House magazine and editorial advisor of Tin House Books, explaining some of the large author advances from the New York publishers.

“We look at self-published books in ways that five years ago we wouldn’t have.” Bonnie Nadell, an agent with Hill Nadell Literary Agency.

“There is no one way to do anything in publishing anymore. Everything is a case-by-case basis.” Miwa Messer, Director of the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers program.

“No glitter, no unicorn stickers, and don’t tell me you had another dream about me last night.” Dan Smetanka, editor-at-large for Counterpoint Press, on query letters.

“Editors can look a writer up on the internet and see how he promotes himself.” Ken Baumann, owner of Sator Press.

“Dialog does so much work. Secondary characters do great work.” Karen Grigsby Bates of NPR.

“Barnes & Noble has a small press division. We ask authors for marketing plans. We ask to see previous sales.” Miwa Messer, Director of the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers program.

Comments

[Talespinsbooks.wordpress.com]

Interesting collection of quotes! Thanks for sharing. I was there Sunday. I noticed the self-pub/indie booths (for the most part) looked a little more buttoned-up and professional than in years past. I took that as a good sign.
Mm

[Tim Sunderland]

The panel discussions were also very revealing. Some of the indie presses were very encouraging.