Last night I had the pleasure of participating in a panel discussion of "cult followings" at the invitation of the New York Chapter of the Womens' National Book Association, along with Richard Nash of Soft Skull Press, Jeralyn Gerba of DailyCandy.com, Simon Lipskar of Writer's House and our excellent moderator M.J. Rose. It was really fun, actually, which I can attribute at least partially to the quality of the company plus M.J.'s insistence that the speakers get a drink before the event (instead of after, as is the custom). The audience was fun, too, and included Ron Hogan of Galleycat, Josh Kilmer-Purcell (I Am Not Myself These Days) and Robert Westfield (Suspension), literary agent (and WNBA board member) Ben Salmon, the WNBA's Jet Reid, and lots of cool publishing professionals who I didn't get nearly enough of a chance to chat with afterwards. And in the serendipitously lovely vein, while I was getting ready to leave for the event, I turned off my phone to focus on what I might say and when I checked voicemail later, discovered an invitation to speak at the Virginia Festival of the Book next spring!
Previously: Field Notes, Shortlisted.
Comments