The NYT book podcast is a bit too pleased with itself. I do hope that dialogues among writers and editors continues. But no more congratulations to one another. Publishing itself is about looking back. Publishing looks forward, too. What it finds difficult to sell is immediacy. There are 100 people times ten who stand between you and your book. Gatekeepers. Mean people like myself do go crazy and we trash the book biz. It’s dangerous. You will be blacklisted, and summarily confined to the bad tower. I will welcome you to the turrets. Some fairly edgy writers around here. Please do not email a book critic. I so wish I had known that one. Writers want to know who wants what. We write that. Stay in your own lane. My readings were usually back by the Mens’ Room. I was usually juxtaposed against a continual moving crowd of males just behind me. The door to the bathroom always slammed shut. Bang. Publishing has a lot of doors. They can shut tight in unison. Perhaps a pandemic can be what changes the business of traveling bookstore blitzes. If you want to play the game, it’s about who you know. Every editor will scream at that. Please don’t shoot me. A pandemic is probably not enough to facilitate much change to the paradigms of literary success. The movers and the shakers do not forgive. Do not forget. The business, like a pit bull inside a cage. It wants to kill you. Do not badmouth the players. Just getting these people into the same room or zoom room, is an accomplishment. Book publishing is a level playing field. And I am Marie of Romania.