The man who ushered classics like Catch-22 into the world, Gottlieb has reason to brag. But in his new memoir Avid Reader he prefers to downplay the editor’s role Joseph Heller, the author of Catch-22, once gave an interview where he credited his editor with kicking his work into shape. After the interview ran, Heller got an irritated phone call. The caller was his editor, Robert Gottlieb. Gottlieb told Heller to knock it off. “I felt then, and still do, that readers shouldn’t be made aware of editorial interventions,” Gottlieb writes in his new memoir, Avid Reader: A Life. “They have a right to feel that what they’re reading comes direct from the author to them.”Gottlieb’s book is full of stories like that one. He is a very unassuming person, for an alleged legend – a characterization he laughs at to me, saying his daughter pokes fun at him for so often being called it. Yet beginning at Simon & Schuster in the 1950s and 1960s, flourishing at Knopf in the 1970s and 1980s, and with a brief but memorable detour to the New Yorker (as an editor), Gottlieb’s editing pen has touched the manuscripts of most of the important American writers of the 20th century – and several of the British ones, too. He did it, though, as much from behind the scenes as he possibly could. “I’ve given very few interviews,” he told me when I met him at his book-lined townhouse on New York’s East Side. He is only giving this one now, he says, because he needs to help the publisher sell his book. ... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2016-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Watch highlights from the opening panel session at the Changing Media Summit 2015 Speaking at the Guardian Changing Media Summit 2015, a panel of leaders from Hearst Magazines, the Financial Times, Guardian News & Media, Johnston Press and FremantleMedia, describe how their businesses are... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is honoring the 100th birthday of its short fiction compilation Best American Short Stories with a special anniversary edition, edited by Lorrie Moore, called '100 Years of The Best American Short Stories.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A new award aims to honor children's books that feature "events and people that shaped the history of the U.S." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Picador has pre-empted a début novel by American writer Nathan Hill. Associate publisher Ravi Mirchandani signed UK and Commonwealth rights in The Nix from Antony Goff at David Higham. US rights went to Tim O'Connell at Knopfy, while Gallimard and Piper acquired French and German rights at... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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(Reuters) - A little-noticed change in the way Google selects search results has allowed company statements to top the list of news links shown when users search for information on businesses. The measure may cost news publishers web traffic a ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher
[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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We spoke with the deputy editorial director at Paris-based Belfond about the importance of independent booksellers in her country, and the Irish debut novel she's publishing thanks a plug from to Colum McCann. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The VéroK Agency represents children’s book publishers across Europe and the English-language markets and is seeing changes in who buys what where. The post The VéroK Literary Agency on Kids Book Biz Changes appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In a heated exchange before a judge, YouTuber Commander Holly (real name: Holly Conrad) faces off against actress Tina Huang. The issue at hand is one that has divided many a Trekkie: William Riker, yay or nay? Welcome to Nerd Court, where arguments that one might normally witness at a comic... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2015-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Though 2015 is designated the Year of Literature to stimulate reading in Russia, the country’s book industry is facing its toughest test in decades. The post Russia’s Year of Literature Fighting “Toughest Test in Decades” appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Skybound Entertainment has had success with The Walking Dead across all mediums. Robert Kirkman’s comic book company has expanded into television with the AMC series, which is now the most popular show in the world. They’ve also enjoyed the same level of critical and commercial success through... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2015-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In the second of a two part investigation, literary agent Evangelia Avloniti considers the economic reasons why so little Greek literature is translated. The post Greek Literature Abroad: A Modern Odyssey (Part 2) appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With her recent promotion to editorial director of romance added to her existing role as executive editor at St. Martin’s Press, Monique Patterson will help oversee the house’s romance program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In the first of a two-part series, literary agent Evangelia Avloniti considers the cultural reasons why so little Greek literature is translated. The post Greek Literature Abroad: A Modern Odyssey (Part 1) appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For the 30th Jerusalem Book Fair Fellowship Program, 35 alumni — editors, agents and scouts — joined 39 new fellows for a week of professional networking. The post In Jerusalem, A “Retreat” for Editors, Agents and Scouts appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jeremy M. Davies and Colin Winnette debate and settle it once and for all (maybe). Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Tidying Up,' which gives readers a one-time solution to de-cluttering their home, has been a mainstay on bestseller lists since its publication. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Tidying Up,' which gives readers a one-time solution to de-cluttering their home, has been a mainstay on bestseller lists since its publication. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins Children’s Books has hired Nia Roberts as art director, where she will be responsible for the cross portfolio design strategy. She will also develop the picture book list. Roberts is currently art director at Simon & Schuster where she has worked with authors and illustrators... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For Robert Alter, translating the Old Testament is not only a way of expressing his love of both Hebrew and English, but also of illuminating the Bible as the key work of Western literature. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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We spoke with the editorial director of Longanesi Publishing about the problems with local price-cutting measures on books, and the debut by the "energetic and young" writer from Naples he's excited about publishing in May. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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