The Other Shoe Drops

[ahunter3]

On October 18, Janet Rosen, assistant to Sheree Bykofsky, wrote back to me to say that she had completed her reading of my manuscript and that although it was not without merit, this was not a project that Sheree Bykofsky Associates could pursue

Comments

[devifemme]

Dear Allen -- I seem to recall the "double-l-e" version of your name...

I read your TWO "October surprise" emails with genuine dismay! HOW a publisher, much LESS a lit-agent could turn down such a magnificently literate PUN in a book-title is beyond me!

Funny (I know -- "t'ain't funny, McGee!") enough, I'm currently reading Jay McInerney's new novel "Bright, Precious Days" (perversely, there IS a comma in a freakin' BOOK title!). Updating two of Jay's earlier novels, the hero runs a small NY publishing house.

Jay, as an aging author (aren't we all?!), knows well the current economics of publishing -- and his frustration shows in every well-crafted page.

Dammit, Allen, it ain't fucking fair! I write that as a would-be reader of your opus --
as an aware gender-bender, I NEED to read the thing.

I think as Musicman does: you gotta go after the broader consumer community. (Hey, after reading HIS book, send Jay a fan-letter, introducing yourself and proposing lunch. After all, to the NY litwrary cognoscenti, your theme IS compelling.)

Best of luck -- you're a better man (?) than I!

Cheers, Justine

[devifemme]

ps I got to meet Garry Trudeau with just such a gambit. Long story, I also got lunch with another hero, the former racing driver Alessandro diTommaso, then running Maserati. I also got to take one of his cars for a few laps around the racetrack...

[mallorys_camera]

Jay knows the current economics of publishing well enough to have married into the Hearst publishing dynasty, Justine! :-) Jest sayin'. :-)