I’ve led
a blessed life despite my shortcomings. I had a father (whose illustrations
grace our catalogs) who was the wisest, soft spoken, loving, funny and
supportive parent a son could ever have. I found a wonderful life-partner in
Judy, who brought her three kids to join my three 42 years ago after bad first
marriages, enriching the family circle. We started living year-round in the
Hampton 35 years ago, one of the most beautiful places in the world, still
surrounded by farms and water, fresh air and wildlife. And so many things
stemmed from all of this: not the least of which was starting a publishing
company with Judy which, by fate or accident, managed to survive and grow. And grow
and grow, while becoming friends with some amazing writers.
Very
disappointing events that happened—as they must in everyone’s life—have wound
up being transformed into better opportunities than we ever could have
imagined. It may be a cliché to say this, but it’s been true for us that “Every
door that closed allowed a new one to open.” Judy is six months younger than me,
and we are both in good health, but it’s hard not to be aware that life does
not go on forever and that the egg timer will eventually run out of sand. Using
a football analogy, we are surely playing in the fourth quarter and hoping
there will be a long overtime.
This has
led me to think of what plans we can make for The Permanent Press to insure its
continuation. Our German agent and good friend, Tom Schluck, has thought about
this as well over the past several years, bringing in family members and others
to continue his agency, and they have the taste and savvy to do just that,
running things without a dropped beat while Tom comes in to have his say on a
more limited basis. That, unfortunately, wouldn’t work here as none of our
kids, bright as they are, have the experience to run a publishing business.
I
suppose we could consider hiring a clever promoter or PR person in the book
industry and try to pass on our nearly 450 in-print titles to one of the Big
Five corporate Publishers. But I would never want to go down that path, since
our success is directly related to the failure of the Big Five and their
hundred odd imprints to encourage and find deserving writers and keep them in
print. In short, they would destroy what Judy and I already have in stock as
well as another 26 titles already signed up for 2014 and 2015.
There
is, frankly, no greater joy I have than finding and promoting good books. Nor
any need to sell our company to a firm or person ill-suited to run it. Working
often past 10 at night, in my office, inside my house, is not unusual. And I like
it, so it is not “WORK.”
I’ve
always been a communitarian—once called a Hippie and I suppose there’s some
truth in that—for I always placed joy over money and always pursued work that
interested me rather than enriched me. The magic is that this has been another
accidental blessing—working at something that gives us joy and has also been
able to run at a profit.
Considering
all these factors we've decided to give the company away, slowly passing the baton on as a gift to a gifted person who is also well read,
loves books, and has the proper business smarts to keep it going, just as Tom Schluck did with his agency in Germany.
More
about this in my next blog…
In the meantime, click on The Permanent Press's latest Newsletter.
Marty
In the meantime, click on The Permanent Press's latest Newsletter.
Marty
First congratulations on having the persistence to stay fit, healthy and engaged in business for so long. Although I'm yet to scale your heights, I feel as though I'm catching up rapidly as my own retirement keeps me busy.
ReplyDeleteComing from a European perspective, I'm an advocate for the co-operative model. Succession as applied to a business based on the individual enthusiasms and sensibilities of a husband and wife is a challenge. Where do you find one or two younger people with the same degree of commitment and time available to assume management of your "baby"? It may be easier to put together a group of like-minded individuals who bring the right combination of skills and can share the management roles.
It's true that it requires more than one person to direct a company like ours, and when we are able to disclose who it is we've chosen, I will do that. But I do agree that a collective model could work well.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't take much to get someone younger than us to pass our press on to., Anywhere from 15 years younger and down would work well, and I'm also in the process of finding others (as is the person we've chosen) to add to the crew. Not to mention that Judy and I have no desire to stop working, but we're just looking ahead.
A most elegant solution and a most elegant resolution to two most elegant lives. All Good Things.
ReplyDeleteIt's so comforting knowing you've found a steward for the Permanent Press. Knowing you both, it has always been clear that publishing literary fiction is a vocation, not a job or "work," as you said. Awaiting more news... love, Elise
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about why The Permanent Press has survived through the ups and downs of the publishing world it seems to boil down to taste in books. You and Judy balance each other in creating a list of highly skilled writers with diverse themes. You manage to hit the sweetspot between literary and commercial appeal. Your writers seem to arrive at their worldviews through real introspection and can create a uniquely personal expression that others can relate to. You two are a hard act to follow.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely response, Elise. Aside from our being privileged to publish your first novel, we were also blessed when you worked with us after moving from California to Easthampton and before you moved to Pittsburgh. You put your smarts--heart, soul, wit, and candor" at our disposal, setting the bar quite high for the other managing editors who followed.
ReplyDeleteWhen asked at conferences what were the most engaging opening lines I've ever read, I cite yours from "Licking Our Wounds," which we published in 1997: "I just had a pitiful orgasm. It doesn't even qualify as full-fledged. Let's just call it an org." WOW! How much more arresting than "It was the best of times. It was the Worst of times."
Have been on the road and am discovering this a bit belatedly, but I am glad to share this Thanksgiving news. Most heartening, on several levels!
ReplyDeleteI’m delighted to learn about these plans for Permanent and I wish you continued success. Keep up the good fight!
And, more personally, thanks for giving my work a home. I remember vividly that phone call when you were on the line to accept my first novel. Also, the way you went to bat for The Contractor. These examples (and they’re not the only ones) have meant a lot to me.
It’s no exaggeration to say that you and Judy have made a crucial difference in my life.
Best regards,
Charles
Hail to you, too, Haila, given all the support you've bestowed on our authors, including so many of them in Blackstone Audio recordings. It's extraordinary to find another publisher (you) who shares our vision of what good writing is all about.
ReplyDeleteMr. Charles Davis, how I appreciate your use of the words "elegant," because that's exactly how I would describe two of your novels--Walk On, Bright Boy, and Standing At The Crossroads--while adding the words "moving," "haunting,"and "passionate." .
ReplyDeleteCharles Holdefer. Each of your four novels we published were marked by what I would call "compassionate satire." But The Contractor went so far beyond this that it remains among the most memorable novels I've ever read--given its edge of balancing humor with the horrors of America at war, with clandestine interrogations, unbridled torture, no accountability. and woe to those who challenge it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this masterpiece.
Marty, you've gotten some great responses to your post!!! How exciting! Glad you were able to respond on this page. I always love when you tell the story of "great opening lines." I'm off to grade very long papers! Don't make us wait too much longer for the rest of your news! Love to Judith! Elise
ReplyDeleteI'm obliged for the blog article. Really Cool
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