Book publishers/editors having to socialize?

Question

For those of you in the publishing industry - especially the book publishing industry - I have a question for you. Of course you have to go to parties and socialize with clients.

Are you constantly bombarded with, say, influencial people - those you can't afford to offend - having them pull you aside to say, " hey, would you mind reading my wife's manuscript? " Or their cousin's dog's sister's owner's housekeeper's husband's manuscript?

I've always wondered about that. Since this is an anonymous forum, you can vent your heart out.

Answer 1

Although I don't work directly in the publishing field (I'm an author, not an editor or agent), I can tell you that yes it does happen. However, you really have to realize something very important. The publishing industry is just that; an industry. They can push something at you all they want, but the fact is, with the time and effort that goes into producing a book, an individual simply cannot afford to allow crud to be pushed their way. They may feel obligated to take a look at it, but even if they're pressured that far, the review board will rarely let it go past the five minute spiel in the pitch meeting.

There have been several times that my agent has complained about people attempting to push stuff on her, but she does her best to handle it professionally. Usually, if it's someone that is too important to be ignored, she will know them personally and can simply respond by saying that she does her best not to represent individuals with whom she has had a previous relationship not directly related to having written a book. However, to be kind about it, she will offer them the contact information of someone whom the individual does not have the same relationship with and let them handle it. If the piece is bad, let that person offend them.

I imagine publishers are similar in how they sluff those questions off if they can.

Answer 2

some books are like that and needless to say all of us have diverse tastes. some memories make an boring examine because of the fact of writing form yet they make an fairly stable action picture and To Kill A Mockingbird is a sturdy occasion of that. The books i come across over rated are those written with the aid of Dan Brown. They make thrilling movies yet in my opinion the memories seem very long and drawn out. very everyday nonetheless.