“Publishers to some extent are beating back the waves here. They haven’t accepted that digital content is going to be a major factor”
-Larry Kirshbaum
“An entrepreneur within an organization is a problem”
-Jane Friedman
Jane Friedman was the President and CEO of HarperCollins Publishers Worldwide from 1997-2008. Her countless accolades include Publishers Weekly Person of the Year, The Wall Street Journal’s 50 Women to Watch and she is among 101 Most Powerful People in Entertainment by Entertainment Weekly. She has an inner confidence and achieved great heights while raising four boys and that is why I’m Obsessed with Jane.
Larry Kirshbaum spent 10 years as CEO and Chairman of the Time-Warner Book Group. In 2005 he was named Publisher’s Weekly’s first “Publishing Person of the Year.” He is now an agent, having launched his own renowned literary agency, LJK Literary Management. He has discovered and led countless authors to capitalize on their work and possesses unparalleled talent and warmth and that is why I’m Obsessed with Larry.
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August 4th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Great interview! It was very insightful - get more guests like these
August 4th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
I am thinking about starting a literary agency, but is this truly the worst time to become a literary agent?
August 4th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Hands down.
The best show you have done!
Enjoyed and learned every minute of it.
Congratulations!
August 5th, 2009 at 1:29 am
Fascinating, honest conversation; Samantha asked the right questions. Jane’s wisdom extends way beyond publishing. I especially like her optmistic, guilt-free approach to parenting, work, and life. Larry is upbeat, too, stressing the cyclical nature of art and commerce.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Samantha,
Wonderful wonderful interview. Larry Kirshbaum is the King of Publishing, cool and kindness and Jane Friedman is a role model for “You can do it”!
I was published by Simple Abundance Press in October 2008 and identified with everything your show addressed. Love to see your guests return, maybe even a series!
You were terrific.
Mary Jane Hurley Brant, M.S., CGP
August 5th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
This was a superb interview and well worth every moment I spent watching it. I was especially interested in the remarks about digital content. Just two months ago, a publishing exec from one of the two guests’ former companies told me that they do NOT allow their authors to do any digital content at all. I was told by this executive that authors are foolish to allow their books in digital form. It is my opinion that said exec is very nervous about the changing face of publishing. I’m wondering if others have noticed execs in publishing running scared.
August 6th, 2009 at 11:32 am
I agree about the growth of digital books - that it will stil take some time. It is the first time in history that a consumer would need a piece of hardware to read a book, it requires a different mind set and a change in consumer habbits. When Ms. Friedman states that “books are not music tracks” I applaud her, remember digital music started as file sharing by fans.
My questions is as follows: Do you believe that most large publishers, who are active in digital media, realize that the production cost savied in converting to digital may need to go into marketing these digital books to the consumer?
August 6th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Why do publishers continue to give major advances to well-known entities but do not promote less known authors. I Wouldn’t publishers gain more profit from sales if less was paid for advances and more cash spent on promotion? Wouldn’t publicity create more sales and net more to the bottom line since the lower advances would be earned out and a higher number of books would be sold?
August 31st, 2009 at 4:57 pm
How do I contact Open Road?