Telling stories of authors, storytellers, and people and companies important to publishing. From historically important authors to modern best sellers, from editors and agents to publishers and the companies that make up book publishing, join us for the stories that shed light on the business of books.
Latest Episodes
#13: Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe was an instant bestseller in 1719, yet Daniel Defoe never became rich from it. Why not? In this episode, we look at how authors made (and failed to mak...
#12: Startup Publisher Piatkus Books
Piatkus Books started as a small U.K. publisher focused on supplying books to libraries. Judy Piatkus founded her second publishing company in 1978, while still in her...
#11: Publishing and Pillory (Daniel Defoe)
The author of Robinson Crusoe, started his professional life as the 1700s equivalent of a blogger and a hot-take merchant. Daniel Defoe’s satirical pamphlet The Shorte...
#10: Expansion of Ingram Books - Part 2
This episode tells the story of how Ingram transformed from a regional schoolbook depository into the go‑to wholesaler for U.S. trade books. Learn about how Harry Hoff...
#9: Birth of Ingram Books - Part 1
Learn about how a family owned oil company came to run one of the most important companies within book publishing. Here the story of the start of Ingram Books.People D...
