On my 21st birthday I bought the book Please Don't Kill the Freshman by then-Portland-high-schooler Zoe Trope.
I was enthralled by the book, mostly because it was pretty damn similar to my own experience with growing up queer in an Oregon high school, and being emo and nerdy and mostly romantic. I devoured the story, and fell in love with the author, who I was pretty sure must have read and transcribed my diary.
Flash forward four years letter and I'm emailing Zoe Trope asking if she'd be interested in blurbing a book that I'm working on marketing and publicity for. Hate Mail by m.m.garcia is coming out from Dame Rocket Press, an imprint of the Ink and Paper Group, in June, and I thought it would be perfect for a cross-promotion with Zoe. The readers interested in each of these books are on the fringe, a bit cynical while retaining an understanding for what a "good person" really is, and enjoy when an author can tell it like it is.
I was super excited to email Zoe Trope about such a business-like thing. I'm sure fan letters are always appreciated, but I don't know how often she's been asked to blurb something (what do I know? It may be everyday). The fact that I was able to write an email to someone I admired professionally and ask for an industry-related favor was quite thrilling.
I suppose I was mostly excited by emailing Zoe because it was might be the first time I got to mix business with pleasure. I've admired Zoe's writing for years as a fan, and now as a pseudo-colleague, I'm able to approach her in a much different way.
19 April 2007
28 March 2007
Corporate Americana
I'm midway through my first week at my first editing job. It's actually an internship, but since it's a paid gig, that really only means that I don't get benefits. The company implements customized leadership training programs for various big (and I mean BIG) companies, on an international basis.
Not only are there several pharmaceutical companies as clients, but oil companies, beauty product companies, financial institutions. You know The Happiest Place on Earth? And that Beaverton shoe company? Both clients at my new job.
So this isn't really small-time stuff. So far, I've done some minor edits of materials. Eventually I will be doing final proofs on materials that one of the other editors has gone over, as well as writing some copy, and possibly having my own projects to work on.
I'm very excited about this job and the extensive editing experience I will get here. I am also thrilled that there's no mandatory hose-and-heels dress policy. Portland is rather famous for people "dressing up" in their nice jeans and shoes from that Beaverton shoe company to go to the symphony. Corporate casual is the best any employer could expect.
Not only are there several pharmaceutical companies as clients, but oil companies, beauty product companies, financial institutions. You know The Happiest Place on Earth? And that Beaverton shoe company? Both clients at my new job.
So this isn't really small-time stuff. So far, I've done some minor edits of materials. Eventually I will be doing final proofs on materials that one of the other editors has gone over, as well as writing some copy, and possibly having my own projects to work on.
I'm very excited about this job and the extensive editing experience I will get here. I am also thrilled that there's no mandatory hose-and-heels dress policy. Portland is rather famous for people "dressing up" in their nice jeans and shoes from that Beaverton shoe company to go to the symphony. Corporate casual is the best any employer could expect.
16 March 2007
Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association
I've just returned from PNBA, my first trade show, and I'm fifteen books richer. I got a ticket from a lifelong friend of mine (and all around book guru), Barb Swanson. Years ago I worked at her bookstore on NW 23rd, Catalyst. Barb now is a book consultant, primarily for teachers. She travels the country telling people about all the books they can no longer live without.
My tag at PNBA announced that I was also a book "consultant," and I have to admit I did feel a little sneaky. But I did once work at Catalyst, and I am involved in the publishing business. I could have gone with Ooligan and sat in the booth, but Barb's offer of the extra ticket came first (her sister, who also once was involved with Catalyst, was not able to attend). But hey, who knows? Maybe I am a consultant! I know books and books know me.
After the first few times of fumbling with how to introduce myself and explain my tag, I eventually just began with explaining that I was with Ooligan--which never fails to impress.
Barb and I didn't stay all day as we had planned, but I certainly got a lot out of the experience. I have all these exciting new books! That is, most of them look exciting. A couple of them look like...well, I'm glad they were free. Also, I have a lot of marketing materials to peruse over while I am finishing my end-of-the-term marketing portfolio.
Speaking of which...that marketing plan doesn't seem to be writing itself, so off I go.
My tag at PNBA announced that I was also a book "consultant," and I have to admit I did feel a little sneaky. But I did once work at Catalyst, and I am involved in the publishing business. I could have gone with Ooligan and sat in the booth, but Barb's offer of the extra ticket came first (her sister, who also once was involved with Catalyst, was not able to attend). But hey, who knows? Maybe I am a consultant! I know books and books know me.
After the first few times of fumbling with how to introduce myself and explain my tag, I eventually just began with explaining that I was with Ooligan--which never fails to impress.
Barb and I didn't stay all day as we had planned, but I certainly got a lot out of the experience. I have all these exciting new books! That is, most of them look exciting. A couple of them look like...well, I'm glad they were free. Also, I have a lot of marketing materials to peruse over while I am finishing my end-of-the-term marketing portfolio.
Speaking of which...that marketing plan doesn't seem to be writing itself, so off I go.
15 March 2007
Baker's Mark Literary Agency
Q: How many cliche phrases are there to describe a couple of kickass* people involved in a common endeavor?
A: Two: dynamic duo & gruesome two-some
Bernadette Baker and Gretchen Stelter of Baker's Mark Literary Agency are surely a dynamic duo, from what I saw from their informal presentation to my Book Marketing and Promotion class this evening. There's definitely potential for these lovely ladies to be a gruesome two-some as well, if by "gruesome" you mean "awesome."
Baker's Mark is only one of several companies that sprang up from the lovely compost that Ooligan creates--they met in PSU's publishing program. I can't tell you how many times while hanging out with publishing students I've heard the words "Gretchen and Bernadette" spoken with gushing awe attached to it. I'm happy to finally put some faces with that gush.
From their visit to my class, I learned:
*you had to be there...
A: Two: dynamic duo & gruesome two-some
Bernadette Baker and Gretchen Stelter of Baker's Mark Literary Agency are surely a dynamic duo, from what I saw from their informal presentation to my Book Marketing and Promotion class this evening. There's definitely potential for these lovely ladies to be a gruesome two-some as well, if by "gruesome" you mean "awesome."
Baker's Mark is only one of several companies that sprang up from the lovely compost that Ooligan creates--they met in PSU's publishing program. I can't tell you how many times while hanging out with publishing students I've heard the words "Gretchen and Bernadette" spoken with gushing awe attached to it. I'm happy to finally put some faces with that gush.
From their visit to my class, I learned:
- why we have Bernadette and Gretchen to thank that City of Readers by Gabriel Boehmer was published
- how Bernadette and Gretchen (lets call them Bernagretch...or Gretchadette?) got started as agents
- their day-to-day life in the field involves 40+ hours of work, along with other jobs which pay the bills
- Gretchen quotes movies for no particular reason (which made me fall a little bit in love with her)
- Bernadette is a hardass cleverly disguised as a nice person
*you had to be there...
Indexing class
During the past term, I've learned several things about indexing:
1) Indexing is difficult
2) Indexing is sexy
3) There's such a thing as the PNW/ASI (that's Pacific Northwest Chapter of the American Society of Indexers. That's right society.)
4) Lots of people think that indexing is easy. This is evidenced by several conversations that went something like this:
me: I'm taking an indexing class in my book publishing program.
friend: (pick one) There's a class on that?
I thought authors just did that for their own books.
Don't they have computers for that?
So you just write down key topics and what pages they're on?
These sentiments reminded me of the times I worked in childcare. Upon learning that I spent my day with twelve children under the age of three, people would respond with something such as: "That must be easy; you just get to play all day."
Right. Diapers, feeding, cleaning, bathing, dressing, reading, naptime, throwing up, tantrums, stubbed toes, Idontwanna, crying, soothing, burping, teething....and then there's the kids to deal with.
Like childcare, indexing is not for the faint of heart.
1) Indexing is difficult
2) Indexing is sexy
3) There's such a thing as the PNW/ASI (that's Pacific Northwest Chapter of the American Society of Indexers. That's right society.)
4) Lots of people think that indexing is easy. This is evidenced by several conversations that went something like this:
me: I'm taking an indexing class in my book publishing program.
friend: (pick one) There's a class on that?
I thought authors just did that for their own books.
Don't they have computers for that?
So you just write down key topics and what pages they're on?
These sentiments reminded me of the times I worked in childcare. Upon learning that I spent my day with twelve children under the age of three, people would respond with something such as: "That must be easy; you just get to play all day."
Right. Diapers, feeding, cleaning, bathing, dressing, reading, naptime, throwing up, tantrums, stubbed toes, Idontwanna, crying, soothing, burping, teething....and then there's the kids to deal with.
Like childcare, indexing is not for the faint of heart.
Why Pre Pub Post?
This blog is my introduction to the world of publishing, and the publishing world's introduction to me. Nice to meet you. I'm Erin and I'll be your student this evening.
I'm currently getting my MA in Writing from Portland State University, home of the incredible Ooligan Press, an entirely student-run publishing company.
The name of this blog was chosen for a few reasons. One of which is that the letter P is very fun to include in an alliterative list, if only for the spittle factor.
Pre Pub Post is where I will post my musings on my education in the book business. The ups, the downs, you'll laugh, I'll drink. Since these posts will be more in the realm of my literary marketplace education, I don't intend on ever posting anything that includes the phrase check out my new pics!!! :)
Let me know what you think, because I want this to be a learning experience for everyone.
I'm currently getting my MA in Writing from Portland State University, home of the incredible Ooligan Press, an entirely student-run publishing company.
The name of this blog was chosen for a few reasons. One of which is that the letter P is very fun to include in an alliterative list, if only for the spittle factor.
Pre Pub Post is where I will post my musings on my education in the book business. The ups, the downs, you'll laugh, I'll drink. Since these posts will be more in the realm of my literary marketplace education, I don't intend on ever posting anything that includes the phrase check out my new pics!!! :)
Let me know what you think, because I want this to be a learning experience for everyone.
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