This incredibly informative video interview of Anna David (born 1970) gives insider info on the publishing industry, the funny agents that represent authors at the highest levels, and some of the delusions publishing inspires.
Some of the many amazing facts that emerge in this video:
-The WSJ Best Seller List & the USA Today Best Seller List are compiled strictly by the numbers (as "best seller" implies), but the NYT Best Seller List is a compilation of factors including "editorial decision"! The NYT Best Seller List is by far the most prestigious. [No list includes books of poetry, but you can find separate poetry lists like this https://www.spdbooks.org/pages/bestsellers/poetry/default.aspx.]
-How Anna David got on the NYT Best Seller List for her book "By Some Miracle I Made It Out of There," co-written with Tom Sizemore, and that she was never more broke during that time.
-There are no mid-list authors (a long-standing staple of publishing) anymore.
-Only approximately 3% of books optioned to be made into films are ever made!
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Yes, and we're leaving out what else is often said in private about the identity many of these types share, although I wish to God this were not the case. But on the flip side, there are tales with smooth rides and happy endings for writers... I'll keep my eyes open and follow up on this.
I am happy Ms. David shared what happened with the negligent agent at CAA, a supposedly top agency, and I have heard similar stories of appalling laziness. Or is it stonewalling? Why use an agent at all? :-/