How Literary Critic & Publishing Insider Bethanne Patrick (AKA TheBookMaven) Writes

#PodcastersForJustice

Longtime literary critic and publishing insider, Bethanne Patrick, spoke to me about how she became a famed reviewer, where she puts all the books, and her new investigative podcast “Missing Pages.”

Bethanne Patrick is a writer, author, and critic whose monthly column on hot books appears in The Washington Post. An influencer in the book world, Bethanne (@TheBookMaven) has over 200K Twitter followers and originated the popular #FridayReads tag.

She is also host to the all-new podcast Missing Pages, which investigates the good (rarely), the bad (frequently), and the messy (always) of the publishing industry.

Described as an investigative podcast, “Missing Pages uncovers the power struggles, mistaken identities, and unfathomably bad behavior within the secretive world of book publishing. Each episode brings in authors, experts, publishing insiders, and a circus of NYC media elites to tell the real story; unfit for print.”

Bethanne’s book reviews and author profiles have appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Poets & Writers magazine, NPR Books, Lit Hub and many others. She is the author of two books for National Geographic, an editor of an anthology for Regan Arts, and is currently writing a memoir for Counterpoint Press.

Stay calm and write on …

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In this file Bethanne Patrick and I discussed:

  • How she became a self-styled book “maven”
  • The logistical issues of receiving 20 books a week
  • What it’s like cracking the Cosa Nostra of publishing 
  • Why disruption in the publishing industry can’t come fast enough
  • How to start your career by writing reviews
  • And a lot more!

Show Notes:

bethannepatrick.com

Missing Pages on Apple Podcasts

Missing Pages on Spotify

Inside the Push to Diversify the Book Business – NY Times

DOJ v. PRH: Agents, Publishers Move Center Stage by Bethanne Patrick for PW

Bethanne Patrick for The Washington Post

Bethanne Patrick on Instagram

Bethanne Patrick on Facebook

Bethanne Patrick on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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