Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Publishing’s Big 12

I came across an article by bestselling thriller author Jason Pinter over on the Huffington Post. I liked it enough to want to share it with you all.

Pinter lists his top 12 Game Changers in Publishing. He does more than just list them, though. He tells you why he thinks these people visionaries or brilliant or game changers.

I’m going to list his 12 here, but to know who these people (and one company) are and why Pinter sees them as Publishing’s Big 12, link over.

Here’s his twelve:
1. Andrew Wylie
2. Dawn Davis
3. J.A. Konrath/Seth Godin/Pete Hamill
4. Neil Gaiman
5. Jonathan Karp
6. Suzanne Collins
7. Dorchester Publishing
8. Jennifer Weiner/Jodi Picoult
9. Jonathan Franzen
10. Ben Greenberg
11. Amy Einhorn
12. David Thompson

Anyone you would add to the list?

25 comments:

  1. Interesting list and reasons for that list. I do love that Picoult and Weiner got on there as I have enjoyed reading their very articulate arguments about issues in the publishing industry. Too few have done just what they are. I still find it unfortunate that in doing so has opened them up to more criticism in the forms of talking about their bitterness and pettiness, though. Seems to rather confirm what they were saying in some ways.

    Thanks for the article, Helen!

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  2. I clicked over to get a better look at this, and what it seems is that everyone on the list is fearless in their convictions. They definitely own their decisions, no matter how controversial, and it shows what happens when we do "own" our choices, work, lives.

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  3. Heading on over to have a read.

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  4. Kimberly and Joanne, it does seem like a thread going through the list is fearlessness and belief in yourself and your future.

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  5. I'm glad to see David Thompson in that list. MBTB is one of my favorite bookstores and Busted Flush Press is an innovative mystery publisher. Thompson's death was tragic and writers can't imagine how much he will be missed.

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  6. A very interesting list. I'm glad to see Jodi Picoult is on it. I'm going to link over now and read more. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Thanks for blogging about this. I think Pinter is right on the money.

    I tagged you on my blog.

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  8. Really interesting article. I like what he has to say about each one, and why they deserve a place on the list.

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  9. Mark, I for one was really shocked when I heard about his death. He was so young.

    Everyone on the list is influential in some way. Ooh, I've been tagged! I'm it!

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  10. Interesting article. I would add Mark Coker to the list, the founder of SmashWords. His innovation has opened the ebook door to hundreds, if not thousands by now, of independant authors.

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  11. Some interesting people on this list. I can see where he's coming from with the compilation...lots of newsworthy folks here.

    Konrath was one of the first who came to mind and I wasn't surprised to see him on there.

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  12. Neither was I, Elizabeth. I think Konrath is a trail blazer.

    I don't know much about Coker, Laura. Are you published through SmashWords?

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  13. Will have to check out that article when I get a chance. Thanks for posting the link. And I am glad to see so many authors I respect on the list. I'm reading a lot of Jodi Picoult right now and enjoying her work a lot.

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  14. Yes, I am. I published myself for Kindle on Amazon but let SmashWords 'meatgrinder' as he calls it do all of the other ebook formats. It's a one-stop place for all ebook formats or pdf and html for computer reading.

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  15. Very interesting--the 'whys' in particular. I know so few names that I couldn't generate anything. I think he missed one point on Suzanne Collins--she has managed to break a gender barrier, in that boys are reading books by a woman with a female protag--that is very atypical, but I have book store friends who say it's true.

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  16. Thanks Laura!

    Hart, I'm going to look for Suzanne Collins. I don't think I've read anything of hers.

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  17. She is the Hunger Games author. Her other stuff is cute, but more juvy fic. The Hunger Games trilogy though, is a big bump up in terms of pushing boundaries. It's dark, dystopian stuff and is done so well that I was able to ignore present tense (which normally bugs me a lot, but the story requires an 'in the moment')

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  18. I like people who think outside the box. Some great ideas come from that area. I also like those who see an idea and make it happen without worrying about how it hasn't been done. They see a vision and do what the can to make it happen.

    You gotta admire that. Thanks for the link, Helen. Very interesting article.

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  19. I don’t have any to add, but I do want to find out why they chose the folks on the list, so I am off to click on the link.

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  20. Definitely heading over to see his reasons. Konrath, I understand. He's made his case very well. Wondering about some of the others.
    Sylvia Dickey Smith

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  21. Guess I need to go read why...

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  22. Thanks Hart.

    It is an interesting list of the movers and shakers in the industry, at least according to one person.

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  23. Interesting stuff. I don't know that much about a few of these so I'll check out the link :)

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  24. Interesting that he puts Weiner/Picoult before Franzen. Here in SA there's been quite a discussion about the various merits of Franzen writing vs Weiner/Picoult writing.
    Judy

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