One of the most dynamic new publishing imprints to enter the stage recently is HarperStudio. They’re one of the more new media savvy imprints operating now, and I recommend bookmarking and following their 26th Story blog. Their staff covers what’s new and happening at the intersection where new media meets traditional publishing, and it’s always a good daily read.
HarperStudio has recently published some offbeat pop culture hits including Isabella Rosselini’s Green Porno, inspired by her series of film shorts about insect mating habits, and a book by wine guy and video blogging star, Gary Vaynerchuk
I had a chance to ask a few questions of HarperStudio’s very busy senior editor Julia Cheiffetz. She referred me to HarperStudio’s mission statement to get an idea of what the imprint is all about in a nutshell:
“HarperStudio is committed to partnering with authors to publish books in a way that is effective, creative, and sustainable. We believe books are a vital part of our culture. We believe traditional publishing models are broken and are experimenting with new ones. We believe in embracing technology. We believe the future is now.”
Here, Julia answers a few quick questions about HarperStudio’s new publishing model. And she also offers her best advice for writers who are trying to navigate the choppy publishing industry waters.
How do you find book projects that are a good fit for HarperStudio? Are you working exclusively with agents or scouting on your own?
Both. We acquire agented submissions but we also approach writers who pique our interest directly. Because we’re offering $100k or less for our books (with a 50/50 profit share) we don’t really participate in the who bought what game of high-stakes auctions. This forces us to be scrappy and entrepreneurial about our acquisitions which makes the job fun and, when you really build something meaningful from scratch with an author, deeply satisfying.
What are your thoughts about the future of e-books? Is that an important direction for HarperStudio?
Well, I love my Kindle. And the conversation about e-books and e-book pricing is hugely important but, as an editor, I spend my time worrying about the coffee, not the cup.
What is the one piece of advice you’d most like to give writers who are hoping to publish books today?
One of my favorite lines about writing comes from an anthology we published earlier in the year called Burn this Book.
Paul Auster wrote: “Surely it is an odd way to spend your life—sitting alone in a room with a pen in your hand, hour after hour, day after day, year after year, struggling to put words on pieces of paper in order to give birth to what does not exist, except in your head. Why on earth would anyone want to do such a thing? The only answer I have ever been able to come up with is: because you have to, because you have no choice.”
My advice would be to be clear about why you want to publish a book; if it’s to get rich and famous, I can think of easier ways.
For more on HarperStudio’s various happenings, go and check out their website.
-Maria Schneider
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice intreview, but that first answer is worthy of a politician with its oh so tantalising glimpse without substance. “we also approach writers who pique our interest directly” What does that mean? How do they pique interest? By subbing direct? By being seen in the right places? By performing literary stunts? Or is it a mysterious mix of all of these and more?
Interesting answer to the last question, too. So nearly doing yourself out of a job. If we look to get published for something other than money, we probably don’t need a publisher. I write because I want to start a conversation. Self-publishing does that fine for me. Having a publisher between me and my reader might actually get in the way.
I wil say this, though: I love the way Harper Studio comport themselves. I love the way they interact on twitter – even if their staff retweet the imprint as though they’re not connected ;-) And I love Burn This Book.
what a great reply to the e-book question
worry about the coffee and not the cup.
Just from their mission statement, it sounds like HarperStudio would be a fantastic match with my goals and eco-desires as a writer …
Great interview. I really like their imprint – and I really enjoyed Burn This Book. I loved her quote about worrying about the ocffee and not the cup. So true.
I do applaud HarperStudio for their aggressive and pro-active approach to publishing books in the way they should be published and promoted. When it comes to book acquisitions and their accessibility to authors as a publisher – yes, they connect – but, I suspect, it is at arms length and entirely on their terms and within their circle. Kind of like being at an exclusive Manhattan party with a literary wish list of people, but no one wants to talk to you.