They’re still hiring at Starbucks
One thing you can say about the Brits: they’re nothing if not blunt. Anyone still doubting this truism need only read a recent opinion piece on the Independent site. Penned by U.K. literary agent Simon Trewin, the piece flatly states that most aspiring authors can expect a life of low pay and resounding indifference from the book-buying public. Trewin writes: “It is a sobering thought, but the majority of debut novels will be published to deafening silence, and without ringing tills and positive sales figures the publication of Book Two is likely to flounder and Book Three will probably remain on the hard-drive forever. Bookshops base their orders on precedent, and publishing can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.” On a related note, Q&Q is currently on the lookout for equally candid submissions from Canadian book publishing professionals for our opinion pages.
Related links:
Simon Trewin’s opinion piece in the Independent
