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Ken W.'s avatar

Sorry to focus on one section, but I really don't believe Cait Corran's excuses, especially with the additional details that she was confronted by her victims in private first, lied about it, then only apologized when it went public. Also the fact that most of her victims were POC and she's white.

To me, for her to do that to several reviewers, including a couple personal friends, tells me she simply didn't respect them as people or writers. And that points to a more personal problem.

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Joel J Miller's avatar

I agree there’s some deep dysfunction there—not a momentary lapse of judgment. From the reports she sounds somewhat sociopathic.

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Max Eichelberger's avatar

It’s people like Deep Vellum / Dalkey Archive that give me hope that we’re not all sinking into one giant bland Penguin catalogue.

One thing that your article reminded me of was the recent legal spat that recently re-emerged with S&S being finally bought out. Of all the testimony, what really stood out to me was how much of Penguin Random House still operates based on vibes. There’s not some ultimate algo that’s churning culture a little gray. It really is just a small group of people in a room.

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Joel J Miller's avatar

Yeah, I spent just over a decade at Thomas Nelson and was involved in acquisitions for the entire time, eventually as publisher and then VP of editorial and acquisitions. Signing new books involves research, but none of it’s terribly objective. It’s all gambling on taste—i.e., vibes. I assume that’s true all over the industry.

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Paulette's avatar

This article meant more to me today than it would have sooner because I read Yellowface yesterday. Both have given me a lot to think about concerning my reading life!

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Joel J Miller's avatar

I’ve heard great things about that one.

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adam hill's avatar

All I have to say is Lawrence Osborne.

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Joel J Miller's avatar

I’ve only read one and must read more eventually.

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adam hill's avatar

I'm just playing the "mention the author you love" card, over and over.

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Joel J Miller's avatar

LOL, there is nothing wrong with that!

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Duane Toops's avatar

Just wow. A series of gasps and gut-punches.

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Joel J Miller's avatar

Right?! So much zaniness out there. Reminds me of Thornton Wilder’s line in Our Town: “Wherever you come near the human race, there's layers and layers of nonsense.”

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Duane Toops's avatar

It's nonsense all the way down

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Ruth Gaskovski's avatar

Joel, what a confrontation! I can only imagine how that authors heart must have sunk into his shoes as he heard you read the lifted lines...

Having experienced the process of my husband's debut novel getting published, I deeply concur with your crystal ball predictions. Landing a deal with Ingatius Press was a true blessing given the current situation for unknown authors. I can also attest to the power of word-of-mouth recommendations, which we witnessed via the Front Porch Republic conference this fall (where a speaker drew attention to Exogenesis during a presentation) and through various personal networks. Finally, bibilotherapy sounds like the perfect retirement project for you:)

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Joel J Miller's avatar

I’m often reluctant to embrace conflict but this time I remember feeling galvanized. A big part of me was miffed that I’d paid this person for his work and he not only didn’t deliver, he let me (and the entire world) think he had.

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David Perlmutter's avatar

Why the hell would you destroy your career before it's even started? That woman is nuts.

I haven't heard of an author self-destructing so bad since Bret Harte blew his lucrative contract with the Atlantic Monthly by writing sub-standard junk back in the 19th century.

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Joel J Miller's avatar

I don’t know the Bret Harte story. I’ll have to look it up. Thanks!

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Dec 13, 2023
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Joel J Miller's avatar

No doubt. Definitely some deep dysfunction there.

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