Josh Getzler
Sometimes, you can have a terrific book--beautifully written, compelling plot, interesting topic--and it is published...and nothing happens. Sometimes it's the wrong time for the genre, sometimes it's the wrong time of year, sometimes there has been transition in the publishing house and the project falls through the cracks. And sometimes everyone does everything "right" and you simply don't get the love.
And then, every so often, you get an editor who gets the book, positions it correctly, and has some magical power to make the universe align and the dominos fall.
This morning, Paul Goldberg's novel of Soviet Russia, THE YID, was published, to great acclaim in the New York Times, New Yorker, NPR, Washington Post, and many other Name Brand outlets. And the person responsible for that magic (beside Paul, who is an insane genius), is Picador's Director of Publicity--and Paul's editor--James Meader. From understanding how to pitch this unusual book to booksellers and his own sales force, to keeping a periodically frantic agent under control, James has been an incredible force for good the past year.
So congratulations to Paul--this was a marathon project, and we've crossed the finish line. And Thank You to James, for everything.
And Nastrovia to both of you.
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