Thanks for the explanation Jane.

Jane,

Thanks for addressing this topic. It’s something we discuss all the time with our authors, and it can be frustrating on all sides - for reviewers who are inundated with books they just don’t have the time or space to cover - and for authors who work so hard to get their books published but find it difficult to get coverage. You’ve provided some useful information for authors to consider when they seek reviews.

Jane,

Let’s face it, you review what you want to review. There are plenty of local authors who write books about local interest and events that you never write anything about. Take the book my wife bought about the Shawn Hornbeck incident. It was by a local author, who happened to once write for your paper. You didn’t do squat. It was a great book by Kristina Sauerwein and I never saw one review from your paper. She won a Pulitzer, so I can’t say that her writing was weak. She uncovered pieces that were never printed in your paper and talked with many internationally known authors. Myself and my neighbors loved it. It hit on everything you said you want from a book-well written, new facts and discovery and its subject matter was not boring to anyone in this area.

Tim Brown
St. Louis

Tim, I tried to e-mail you back personally, but it bounced back.
I am not sure it’s appropriate for me to broadcast on the Internet the decisions on why we do not review any specific book. But i can assure you that the book was evaluated by an experienced writer/reporter here and I relied on that person’s recommendation. We have had many, many stories on Shawn Hornbeck, and when the book arrived I was told there was not enough compelling NEW reporting in it to demand a review.
Although many authors believe these things are somehow personal attacks, this has nothing to do with the author herself, who I believe is a fine reporter and person!
The book is also a paperback, which we rarely review, and although true crime books that are compiled quickly after events are worthy and interesting for many people, they are not necessarily among the best books I receive on a weekly, even daily, basis. To imply otherwise is disingenous, at best.
I heartily recommend that anyone interested in reading a book about the Hornbeck case to pick up “Invisible Chains.”
Just because we didn’t review it does not mean it isn’t a worthy book.

Right on, Jane.

I have to defend Jane Henderson here. While a student told me about this area yesterday and I don’t like blogging, I read Jane’s Book Section every Sunday. While it isn’t the NY Times, with the time and budget I am sure Jane gets at the Post, it is one excellent quality section. I especially like her actual articles. Her voice is down to earth but also literate, a true gift in journalism, if you ask me. Her section is a mixed bag of local and national publications and covers many genres, and more than anything to me, I personally look forward to it every Sunday. If they lay off Jane, my subscription ends!

I’m writing here because I was one of those smart-aleck local writers who thought my first book should be reviewed in the Post a few years back. I got selected over thousands upon thousands of books at a publisher, got an blurb from a Pulitzer Prize winning author, got chosen as a pick of the month in a prestigious literary magazine, blah, blah, blah, but the bottom line? She gave the book to someone who didn’t like it well enough to review it, or even finish it, for that matter. Fair enough! It’s tough out there, fellow writers. My agent told me there are 1 million manuscripts in circulation at any given time, way more people today want to be writers even if they haven’t bothered to become readers.

St. Louis, like the rest of the American public, has way more diversions than books nowadays, we all know that. Unlike Hemingway’s time, writing books just doesn’t carry the same aesthetic weight as it used to unless you are in that ever-dwindling pool of readers and mainstream publishers. When I was in High School every one read fiction. Recently I had to explain the difference between fiction and nonfiction to the young girl buzzing my hair off.

While the hardback of my second book is in every library in St. Louis County, I walked down to the St. Charles library that is half a mile away and told the librarian I have two published novels this decade and my second one is nominated for a Pen Award, and, and… I fully expected her to ask if they were self-published. Instead, she said this: “Right.” And smiled. We just sort of drifted away from each other.

When I first came to St. Louis there were around many wonderful bookstores in the area. My wife and I enjoyed every weekend making the rounds. Now it’s down to one and the last time I went down there I couldn’t get in because the staff was wearing aprons and people were walking past me grumbling about how rude Bobbie Flay was. I then recalled that I sent a review copy of my latest book to this store, with an advert my agent put together with blurbs, quotes, etc. They never got back to me. I had a student tell me she saw this book on the shelf for sale. I would suspect no one even bothered to read the blurbs or even open the book. Why should they? I’ve been in there three times in the last year or so and they never have the offbeat fiction I’m looking for. So why should I expect them to respond? I don’t know them personally and haven’t joined the club. I find most literary people creepy anyway. (Including myself). Besides, it’s a 45 mile round trip for me. They get hundreds of books like mine and even successful books elsewhere don’t necessarily sell in their store. I suspect my book is still on the shelf. Unsold. (I have fantasized about grabbing it, shaking it in the air, and running out with it. And then with handcuffs on, explaining it is my book…)

I also asked the student if she bought the book. Well, no, she said, her and her boyfriend just came down to have lunch and she just wanted to check to see if I was telling the truth.

When my second book came out I had maybe 60 people I wanted to do a signing for and I needed a place to do this and called three warehouse bookstores about this. (I would have called the one remaining independent bookstore, but I feel guilty not buying my books there…) I would provide the books, they would get a profit and it would be cool. Not a single one at these warehouse bookstores got back to me. (One said she was not close to a computer to verify if indeed I was telling her the truth)

You want more publishing stories; just email me you crazy genius writers!

So cut Jane a break. If we had a hundred or so people in this area working as hard as she does to juggle local and national coverage in that every closing space on Sunday, at least more of those sensitive egos all writers have in this oh so literate area might be better taken care of. But don’t bite the only hand many of you have left in the area.

So send Jane your book, maybe drop her an email and tell her you are local and hopefully not self-published, and I know she will work as hard as she can to acknowledge it in some way. (And don’t be rude in the email. I’m rude in ALL emails, which is why I use it only sparingly nowadays….)

jh

There are definitely too many books being published that shouldn’t be. There’s a lot of trash out there. When Bo Derek can get a book published that is titled something like “Everything I Learned in Life I Learned From Horses,” well, there you have it.

Thanks, Jim, for your note.

You know, several of your points would make interesting follow-up blogs:

Where do you find ‘offbeat’ fiction? I am assuming you are not talking necessarily about ‘literary fiction’ from MFA students.

Where can you do book signings? Main Street Books in St. Charles seems to be holding a lot of signings for local authors, but I have never asked the store’s owners how one sets them up. It can be a part-time job promoting a book, and most people don’t have the time/energy/experience to do it.

I agree with EJ that a lot of marginal books are being published. But if a publisher thinks folks will buy Bo Derek’s book, they will publish it. That kind of decision seems obviously to be about money. On the other hand, if new writers want to get in print by self-publishing and are happy with small press runs - and they realize their book is unlikely to be a best-seller - there is nothing morally wrong with that, of course.

I think people get in trouble when they believe they are going to be the next Stephen King or J.K. Rowling. It might happen, but the odds are strongly against it.

Hi Jane,
I came across your blog entry and wanted to chime in on the discussion. I am a published writer and also the Founder of Betta Book Publishing. I am located in Rochester, NY, and would like to help bridge the writer-publisher gap. As a writer, I can understand the frustration of not having your work reviewed. Like was mentioned, perhaps the work doesn’t offer new information, or may be similar to the other books it sits with on the shelf. However, I feel, as a publisher, it is important to highlight the work of the author. Whether someone takes the time to write a full review, or post a few words in a blog, I think everyone deserves to have their work in the marketplace for others to view and provide feedback for them. It doesn’t have to be that you crush the dreams of a new writer, but providing constructive criticism will be beneficial for the growth of that writer. Everyone deserves a chance.

Sincerely,
Kelly Sabetta

concerning offbeat…

Not so much “offbeat” as “off the beaten literary track.” For instance, I had to order recently Benjamin Percy’s REFRESH,REFRESH. This collection of stories is a naturalistic, powerful collection by one of the best writers of short stories out there. The title story was first published in the Paris Review and won a Pushcart Prize. But since it’s from a small but prestigious press, Graywolf Press, it wasn’t anywhere to be found in St. Louis when I went looking. Same goes for Carol Manley’s new book, CHURCH BOOTY. This is a hilarious collection of award-winning short stories set in the Midwest that deal with racial and sexual themes in a totally unique voice. It is published by another prestigious University press, Livingston Press. I found both of these books at the bookstores along Printer’s Row in Chicago when I attended a Dandy Warhols concert there. Since these presses have worldwide distribution, you’re more likely to find them in a bookstore in France than here.

I’ve been a big fan of University Presses for years. (After reading EATING MISSISSIPPI by Scott Ely several years ago- an allegory about race relations and sexual orientation channeled through a fishing trip in search of a great big turtle, I decided I was a great fit for Livingston Press- They thought so too, so that’s where I got my second novel published last year!)

No, warehouse bookstores and warehouse bookstores with smaller store space pay little attention to what’s not recommended through New York, and probably it isn’t their fault, since they have little knowledge outside the mainstream, but there’s a whole subculture of literary fiction and avenues for literary fiction writers out there! You just have to know where to look. The nearest bookstore I can think of that has a large selection of great University books is Burke’s Bookstore in Memphis. It’s well worth the drive to browse through there and talk to their staff.
I also sure wish there was a vibrant, updated Poetry bookstore somewhere in town. I went looking for the great Walter a few years back and people looked at me like I was high.jh