Um so yeah

Ok, you may have noticed that there have been no posts for over a month. EEK. Sorry. People have been laid off, and those of us still working have been a bit slammed. So, in the new year, we'll try to be back to posting on a semi-regular basis. In the meantime, I don't know. Check out the peeps on our blog roll.

Do tell,

The Editor

Vote!

This week's literary event has nothing to do with books...unless you figure Obama and McCain both have some. But seriously, people, just freaking vote. Today.

p.s. yeah, I know we haven't posted in awhile but for some reason, the economy being in the shitter has somehow equalled more work. bizarre. I haven't even had a chance to read the comic strips on my daily calendar. honest to blog. it's stuck on october 21st. so, yeah. hopefully, we'll get back on track soon with nice frequent posts but until then, um, go obama.

Jackie's gonna regret that...

Ah, Jackie Levin. Who hasn't placed constant emails, begging for placement on the Today Show for one of your authors? Yes, I know that you will never do anything with my little debut novelist, but hey, it's nice to try, right? And, really, I'm not offended that you rarely respond to my pitches. You are a busy lady, Ms. Levin, and I know that, one day, when you like one of my ideas, we will be friends. Or, at least when I work on Tina Fey's new book and you beg me for coverage (note: I do not actually work for the company that just paid millions for a non-existent book by Ms. Palin's doppelganger).

But, Jackie, I think you may of made an error in your recent interview with the 26th Story, when you said (in response to: Is it possible for a self-published author to get on the Today show?) this:

Absolutely...I have always said books are another vehicle for us to find great stories/segments, and if one happens to come from someone who published on their own, that's fine with me as long as all the facts in the book check out. If an author has the wherewithal to find me and pitch me, good for them, but at the same time, they have to be able to handle a "no" without having that buffer called "a publicist."

Oh my. See, here's a little secret. All authors would harass book reviewers, producers, etc. by themselves if they could. But we, as publicists, forbid it. Not because we want to do it ourselves. I'm happy to let other people do my work for me. It's simply that we are trying to protect you from the onslaught of inappropriate pitches, harassment from authors who have "nothing" to lose (we have your respect and our chances of ever getting ANY author on the show at risk), etc. We are trying to provide that extra filter for you. And how do we do that? By telling authors that you will ignore them. That you don't want to hear from them. That contacting you directly will HURT their chances, not help them.

But now, you've basically let them know that this is really just a free for all. And, well, I'm afraid that I just can't help you anymore. Godspeed, Ms. Levin, and I pray that your inbox does not implode.

--Ladytron

[This is a couple days behind the curve, but to be fair, Ladytron sent it to me on Monday. I just posted it late. My bad. --Ed.]

And...we're back

Sorry for the lack of communication, all! I went on vacation, and apparently, the other slunchies cannot be motivated to post in my absence. But I am back, and hopefully, so are more regular posts. Anyone have a last minute idea for this week's literary event?

Do tell,

The Editor

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Sees the Error of Its Ways? (UPDATE: No)

I was just skimming yesterday's Publishers Lunch (no matter how many times I whitelist it, PL always gets caught in my spam filter), and I noticed this. Apparently, after laying off half the publicity staff in the merger, HMH is now hiring a senior publicist. I'm sure that all of those still looking for a job are thrilled to hear that. Could HMH (specifically, Lori Glazer) have finally realized that doubling their list without doubling their staff was a mistake? UPDATE: Ok, apparently someone left. Which makes this whole post kind of pointless. Oh well. Except, hey guys, there's a senior publicist job out there! Apply. Or maybe they can hire one of their old employees back? I'm sure the severance must have run out by now.

--Ladytron

Literary Event of the Week: Whoops

Oh, huh, it's Friday and there's still no literary event of the week. Sorry, my bad. I'm still in a haze from BEA. Next week, I swear. It'll be a good one. And I'm taking suggestions so comment away! Requirements: this should vaguely relate to books and there should really be alcohol involved. That is all.

Do tell,

The Editor

Literary Event Take 2: Literary Upstart

So, remember how our Literary Event of the Week was the Mediabistro Circus Launch Party? And remember how it totally sucked? So, in order to make up for that, Slunch is giving you a second, bonus literary event: L Magazine's Literary Upstart. The slogan for the event is "Short Fiction, Cheap Beer." Really, what more could you ask for? This Thursday, 7 pm, The Slipper Room. Knock yourselves out.

Do tell,

The Editor

Exhaustion

Hey kids...I have half of a snarky piece about James Frey written for you, but, honestly, I woke up early this morning to hit the gym, my coffee buzz has worn off, and I haven't had a cigarette in four hours. So, probably not going to happen today. But the freaking Editor made the whole, there needs to be regular posts even though I don't pay you rule, and I said I was going to write the Frey thing and now I just can't bring myself to read thru Ulin's L.A. Times review and compare it to Maslin's, etc. So instead, happy monday. I'm tired. I'm hungry. I'm falling asleep at work. Here's hoping that you guys are doing at least slightly better than me. I'm off to smoke and find some v8 or something.

Thanks and bests,

Ladytron

ps. Two points for anyone who recognizes that sign off...

mea culpa...kinda (DBF part 2)

Wow. First off, let me say, we had no idea that so many people were reading us - or cared. I mean three comments in less than 24 hours. Wow. I mean, we're no GalleyCat or Gawker (yet!), so that's kind of a big deal. For us. God, we're losers. But yeah, thanks for taking the time to read and to make comments.

That said, the stuff about Wordsmith was pure speculation (hence, when I mentioned that I "unearthed some speculation" in the original post) from other local book people that I met at the Festival. I'm sure the stores did still get a good crowd, and I didn't mean to say that because they weren't "present" at the festival, they didn't draw business from it. Darren Wang (see comments), as head of the Decatur Book Festival, would certainly know better than I, but several sources did tell me that Wordsmith's application was rejected, and that they "lost" the right to sell books for the Charles Frazier event to Tall Tales.

Also, I never meant to imply that I was confusing the AJC with the DBF. But, you have to admit that it's a bit ironic. The biggest sponsor of the Festival (so big, their name gets to modify it) is the paper that drew so much criticism from the book community this year. That petition to save Teresa Weaver popped up in my inbox at least seven times - and I certainly signed it, for all the good it did. All I'm saying is, maybe they donated a bit more this year because they were feeling guilty? But again, people, I don't WORK there. SPECULATION.

Darren did put me in my place with the B&N info - seriously, Ladytron totally missed seeing them. I was probably too busy eavesdropping on people's conversations. However, his comments seem to suggest that I indicated the DBF was not supportive of independents. I certainly meant to convey the opposite (For example, when I wrote "So right on, DBF peeps.") I was proud of the independents being represented there - from Charis to Outwrite to Eagle Eye. I met tons of great people and was thrilled at a chance to mingle with the people that so lovingly handsell books and keep people like me in a paying job. One cannot live on slunch alone, you know.

I LOVED the Decatur Book Festival and think it's a wonderful event, and hope one day to be invited to participate myself, rather than just be an observer. I also did make my way over to Wordsmith and enjoy it. And I wish more power to Zach and the gang because Atlanta needs more booksellers that truly care about books. But, as a slunch contributor, it's my job to bring you what the people are saying (right until proven wrong)…and that's what they're saying, y'all.

-Ladytron