Comments on: Editor Spotlight: Betsy Mitchell, Del Rey

By: msaggie

msaggie — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:44:03 +0000

Thank you Betsy for answering my initial question that Jane put to you. A turn-down rate of 98% is very high – I never realised that – that’s higher than rejection rates for articles that we send to scientific journals. And I am so glad that you “discovered” Temeraire and Naomi Novik. I agree that a good story-telling skill is the most important attribute in an author, especially in a fiction novel, even if the raw material seems to have been used umpteen times before, whatever genre, as that echoes the oral story-tellers of old (before the written word) – could you hold the audience with your story? Do people want to carry on listening to it? I hope you discover many more wonderful stories for us all!

By: Natalie

Natalie — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:31:29 +0000

Thanks Betsy for that little look into the life of an editor. I look forward to the next Naomi Novik book. Oh and I love CE Murphy, great storyteller.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:30:00 +0000

I’m thrilled Naomi Novik has made the jump, but I’m a little sad my books won’t match anymore, too. I love love love the paperback artwork and if Victory of Eagles when it does come out in paperback is in the same style as the first four, I’ll probably keep buying them, as well as the hardcovers. They’re more portable, so I wouldn’t feel too guilty about having two copies of the same book.

If the style is different, though, forget it.

This is the only series I would buy in hardcover. SO EXCITED for next week!

By: Chicklet

Chicklet — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:39:08 +0000

Gah! Temeraire is in hardcover? Now my series won’t match on the shelf, I have to pay more money, and it’ll be murder on my wrists to read it on the train. Sigh. I’ll still buy it on release day, but I won’t be anywhere near as happy about the book as I was before I found out they’ve switched to hardcover.

By: AnimeJune

AnimeJune — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:11:08 +0000

I can’t wait to start the Temeraire series.

But The Bearskin Rug by Jennifer Stevenson? I’m guessing she also edited the Brass Bed?

Couldn’t have protected us from that? I needed the literary equivalent of a long, clean shower after that dreck.

By: Marg

Marg — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:05:45 +0000

Temeraire is one of my favourite series! Thanks for bringing it to us!

By: GrowlyCub

GrowlyCub — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:54:03 +0000

I’ve always wondered how many readers are lost when the big shift to HC happens. I know 9 times out of 10 I won’t buy the new book in HC and have forgotten about the series when the book finally comes out in paperback or am confused about which number in the series it is and whether I’ve read it already or not. Too confusing.

Thanks for the behind the scenes look. It’s always fascinating to get the inside scoop. :)

By: SonomaLass

SonomaLass — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:43:04 +0000

Thanks for this behind-the-scenes peek. I love “to bravely protect the world from bad literature”! Can’t wait for the new Temeraire book, although I will wince at the shift to hardback .