Far be it for us to offer advice on how a publisher should conduct business, but we believe there should be a modicum (a modicum!) of experience when it comes to evaluating, oh, writing talent, marketability, and such. Those are traits we have encountered with many editors. The (we presume) press release reprinted by ABC News regarding Simon & Schuster’s new imprint and editor does not cite Mary Matalin’s previous editorial experience, and perhaps we are overemphasizing this as a trait, because,
“There have been sentiments throughout the company for creating a conservative imprint,” said David Rosenthal, executive vice president and publisher of Simon & Schuster’s adult trade division. “Mary is a distinctive voice in politics … and we thought she might be interested in doing this. It seemed liked a cool idea.”
Cool idea? This is a business decision? So they’re hiring an editor who won’t actually edit, though we will agree that expressing concepts is part of the editorial role (okay, expressing concepts is the author’s job; the role of editor should be to focus said concepts).
Also, it begs the question of why publishers don’t create, uh, progressive imprints. And other specialize imprints. We would have more respect for a political imprint, if that is the goal. Perhaps it is our background, but these tags don’t actually mean much, given the wide range of diversity in the audiences. But, hey, what do we know? We’re from California. (Via GalleyCat)
