BY KATHI KAMEN GOLDMARK AND SAM BARRY

The Author Enablers are here to answer your questions about writing and publishing. Together, Kathi and Sam have more than 25 years of experience in book publishing. Kathi is an author, radio producer and former publicist; Sam is a marketing manager at a major publishing company and a freelance editor. They are also proud members of the Rock Bottom Remainders, the all-author rock band founded by Kathi in 1992.

Minding your publishing manners

This month's column addresses issues of publishing etiquette, which is a bit outside our usual area of expertise. We invite BookPage readers to check in with any ideas and suggestions that might supplement our own.

Dear Author Enablers,

I run my library's writers group, where one writer is becoming a problem. She brings in large chapters and presses them onto anyone she can, rather than taking turns as the rest of us do. She also has repeatedly asked members of the group to edit her entire work for free—and she doesn't take criticism gracefully. Since this is a public library function, I don't have the option of asking her not to come. Is there anything I can do to keep this woman from dominating the group meetings?

Maria in Raleigh, North Carolina

Hmmm, all sorts of ideas come to mind. Perhaps you could change the meeting time and place, and "forget" to tell her? No, of course you can't do that. You are a responsible library employee. But there are some things you can do. You could prepare written guidelines that everyone has to sign, explaining it is for "insurance purposes"—a concept no one ever seems to question. Meanwhile, you'll have a signed agreement that you can use as a "follow the rules or else" document if this woman doesn't start behaving more graciously. Taking turns is a basic concept essential for writers group success, and you have every right to expect that, at the very least, of all members—even in a group sponsored by the library. As for editing this writer's work, you can all start charging for your services, or just say "no."

Dear Author Enablers,

I am going to a gala event in New York where I expect to meet Alicia Silverstone. I wrote a screenplay I want Alicia to be in and I would like to know if it's tacky to bring an envelope with a floppy disk of the story and a printout of the synopsis, along with a letter saying I was glad she attended the event. It's a pro-environmental story, and the letter proposes that maybe Robert Redford could produce and direct the story, since he is environmental.

David, en route to New York

First of all, we should admit that Sam would like Alicia Silverstone to act in his screenplay, too! But the serious answer is yes—it's tacky to approach her this way. First of all, at a gala event Ms. Silverstone will probably be wearing a really nice dress with a teensy little evening bag. Where is she going to stash the envelope and disk, not to mention your plans for Robert Redford? But more to the point, this tactic doesn't work. (Believe it or not, you are not the first person to have thought if it. We know this because we are in a rock band with Amy Tan and Stephen King, and people often ask us to give stuff to them.) Most of the proposals slipped to celebrities at events are discarded or accidentally left behind. If you end up having a charming conversation in which you find yourself trading witty bons mots with your new best friend Alicia, politely ask for the contact info for her manager or agent. Then send a package to the appropriate office accompanied by a handwritten note in which you remind the star how nice it was to meet her in person.

Dear Author Enablers,

After years of research my first nonfiction book will be published next month. I just discovered that another publisher is about to release a book on the same subject, by someone far more famous than I. I am devastated, worried that my book will get lost in the shuffle. What can I do?

John in Memphis

It often happens that a subject captures the zeitgeist and inspires several books at the same time. This circumstance may actually help you, as both books could get reviewed in publications that recognize your subject matter as a trend. Why not contact the other author, expressing congratulations and proposing ways in which you might work together to promote your books? Panel discussions at regional book festivals come to mind. Or you could suggest a mud wrestling match or swimsuit competition. Well, we're kidding about the swimsuit competition, but you get the idea. This doesn't have to be a disaster—if handled the right way it could end up being beneficial to both of you.

Thanks for writing,
THE AUTHOR ENABLERS