Synopses & Reviews
Publishing is a personal story of a writer's hunger to be published, the pursuit of that goal, and then the long haul--for Gail Godwin, forty-five years of being a published writer and all that goes with it. A student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1958, Godwin met with Knopf scouts who came to campus every spring in search of new talent. Though her five pages of Windy Peaks were turned down and the novel never completed, she would go on to publish two story collections and fourteen novels, three of which were National Book Award finalists, five of which were New York Times bestsellers.
Publishing reflects on the influence of her mother's writing hopes and accomplishments, and recalls Godwin's experiences with teachers Kurt Vonnegut and Robert Coover at the Iowa Writers' Workshop; with John Hawkins, her literary agent for five decades; with John Irving and other luminaries; and with her editors and publishers. Recollecting her long and storied career, Godwin maps the publishing industry over the last fifty years, a time of great upheaval and ingenuity. Her eloquent memoir is illuminated by Frances Halsband's evocative black-and-white line drawings throughout. There have been memoirs about writing and memoirs about being an editor, but there is no other book quite like Publishing for aspiring writers and book lovers everywhere.
Review
"A three-time National Book Award finalist and
New York Times best-selling author, Godwin offers a valuable memoir for anyone interested in books . . . By allowing the personal to expand outward, she also gives us an overview of publishing in the last tumultuous 50 years." —
Library Journal "Engaging . . . captures [publishings] pleasures and pitfalls." —
Kirkus Reviews "Avid readers and aspiring writers will find Godwins generous and spirited ‘meditation on publishing illuminating and affecting." —
Booklist "As a long-time fan of Gail Godwins fiction—
The Odd Woman and
Violet Clay happen to be my two favorites—I loved following her insiders experiences with the world of New York publishing (agents, editors, publishing executives, and others) as she matured as a writer from her time at the Iowa Writers Workshop to the present. Reading
Publishing felt like having a long visit with a new friend whos telling you the story of her career. And I so wish that I could read her mothers novel
Otherwise Virgins!" —Nancy Pearl "This is a luminously written, heartbreaking book." —John Irving on
Flora"Flora is Godwin at her best, a compelling story about Helens growth of consciousness told with fearless candor and the poignant wisdom of hindsight." —Valerie Miner, The Boston Globe, on Flora
"Gail Godwin brings grace, honesty, and enormous intelligence to every page." —Ann Patchett on Flora
"Godwin creates memorable characters and conversations that carry us effortlessly toward a dark denouement." —People magazine on Flora "A superbly crafted, stunning novel . . . unforgettable, heartbreaking . . . Highly recommended." —Library Journal, starred review, on Flora
Synopsis
rom three-time National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author Gail Godwin, a vibrant portrait of her writing and publishing life.
About the Author
Gail Godwin is the author of fourteen critically acclaimed novels, including Flora, A Mother and Two Daughters, The Good Husband, Evensong, and Father Melancholy's Daughter, as well as The Making of a Writer, volumes one and two, edited by Rob Neufeld. She's received a Guggenheim Fellowship, National Endowment of the Arts grants for both fiction and libretto writing, and the Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She lives in Woodstock, N.Y. www.gailgodwin.com
Frances Halsband is a founding partner of Kliment Halsband Architects in New York City. The firm does master planning and design for schools and universities. They have received the Medal of Honor and the Architecture Firm Award from the American Institute of Architects. Frances has served as a commissioner of the New York City landmarks Preservation Commission and as dean of the School of Architecture at Pratt Institute. She did the drawings for Gail Godwin's Evenings at Five.
www.kliment-halsband.com