As long as there has been written word, there have been written feuds. And as long as there have been American news sources, there has been determination to steal market share from one another.

Just ask Benjamin Franklin, an OG publishing troll.

This week, we celebrate our belated Hybrid Pub Scout anniversary by having an Emily and Corinne only podcast. We discuss the new Barnes & Noble CEO and dig up a historical flame war that led to an urban legend that has given New Jersey a LOT of material.

2:33—

We discuss Corinne’s acting skills and the biggest high school drama role she ever had that she totally forgot. Also, Corinne’s high school drama teacher said she wasn’t bitchy enough! She’s grown so much.

If you have an iPhone, please review us on Apple podcasts, even if you don’t listen through that app. Pleeeeeaaaaaseee.

We believe in you!

5:37—

It’s been over a year since we embarked on a co-hosting adventure for this podcasting. Corinne basically invited herself in the middle of her interview, and I was SO glad she did. You can listen to that very episode right here.

Also Corinne talks about her podcast beefs, proving to her high school drama teacher how she has TRULY developed as a human being.

9:49—

We talk about how much we miss just shooting the shit. You all can now look forward to the return of the Emily/Corinne goofball podcasts. We’re thinking of doing some history-of-publishing-stories similar to what we’ve done in this episode? What do you think? Let us know on our social media accounts linked below!

11:11—

Buckle up, folks, Corinne’s got an article about Barnes & Noble’s recent changes through Elliot Advisors’ purchase. Someone is finally (probably!) replacing Len Riggio for good. Also I couldn’t find an applause sound effect because I didn’t look for an applause sound effect.

13:35—

When we say kitsch, we mean nostalgia. We admit to our embarrassing 90s Nostalgia Pinterest boards. Also, here is the Tumblr account of photocopied Delia’s pages. You’re welcome.

16:06—

Here’s a non-obituary postmortem on Len Riggio’s storied career from Shelf Awareness.

18:37—

Emily introduces the book she’s been reading and how it ties in to today’s theme. And almost completely informs it as well—The Secret History of the Jersey Devil by Brian Regal and Frank Esposito!

20:45—

We lay down the legendary story of Mother Leeds’s 13th child and its hooves, bleathery blat wings, and tail. It flew out the chimney and has haunted the New Jersey Pine Barrens ever since. Sounds like someone drew devil horns on her baby’s vision board.) Also we can’t be bothered to look up Atlantic City on a map, but here’s the book Emily read about it.

23:47—

Why are we talking about this? Turns out publishing and politics helped create this legend, specifically pamphlet feuds. These were the protracted versions of the modern flame war (sure it’s an antiquated term. Shut up.).

26:31—

Through pamphlet feuds, we learn about the trash print media of 1700s Pennsylvania. Corinne talks about her experiences having to look up the new slang that the kids are saying these days.

28:45—

The Leeds family was an actual family who lived at the mouth of the Delaware River in the late 1600s and early 1700s, and we’re introduced to a Quaker named Daniel Leeds. Quakers are a pretty progressive group when it comes to a lot of things, but not Leeds’s favorite subject: astrology. He created a pamphlet that had some occult explorations and the very people he was trying to impress were…nonplussed.

Daniel Leeds’s desired legacy as an intellectual didn’t quite pan out how he wanted it to.

33:11—

The pamphlet war between Daniel Leeds and the Quakers begins. The word “strumpet” comes into play. Could this possibly get any better? Spoiler alert: It does.

36:46—

“Satan’s Harbinger” passes along responsibility for the Leeds Almanac to his son Titan Leeds. And from there, we move on to the inexplicably lady-killing founding father Benjamin Franklin.

Btw, please enjoy this, this, this, this, and this cartoon from Kate Beaton featuring our naughty founding father.

40:00—

Hear ye the extremely Capricorn early history of Ben Franklin’s publishing career. This includes his too-cool-for-school attitude and the first nom de plume he ever used to get one over on someone, in this case his brother James. No, Corinne, it was not Frenjamin Branklin.

44:43—

Young Franklin strikes out on his own, illegally leaving his internship early and heading to Philadelphia, then London, then back. We’re also pretty sure he started going bald from stress.

46:56—

The boys are back in town! Franklin returns to Philadelphia to see what kind of trouble he can stir up. This includes a library, some questionable political pamphlets, printing the Bible (when it was against the law for anyone but the King’s Press to do so). Also, for further reading, here is what the Benjamin Franklin Historical Society has to say about Ben Franklin’s changing views on slavery.

49:47—

Poor Richard’s almanac debuts in 1733, and with it a brand new pseudonym. We circle back to Titan Leeds, who is currently running the most popular almanac in Pennsylvania. But not for long, if Ben Franklin has anything to do with it.

52:58—

Poor Titan Leeds takes Franklin’s trolling way too seriously, stirring up the feud even further. He takes the fight to his grave. And beyond, if Richard Saunders is to be believed.

They’ll do anything to sell those almanacs.

56:18—

Once Leeds actually dies, Benjamin Franklin comes clean and behaves in a respectful manner regarding the death of his rival. Lol jk!

59:48—

Somehow this all got wrapped up in the lore of the Jersey Devil. And now. Here we are.

1:01:14—

Corinne stans New Jersey. Theoretically.

This week’s sources:

• The Secret History of the Jersey Devil by Brian Regal and Frank Esposito
• Last Podcast on the Left “The Jersey Devil” episode

What are we reading??

Corinne

Normal People by Sally Rooney of which Erin Pehlivan is a huge fan. We talked about it in Episode 21.

Emily

The Secret History of the Jersey Devil by Brian Regal and Frank Esposito

The post Episode 28: Ben Franklin and the Leeds Devil first appeared on Hybrid Pub Scout.

The post Episode 28: Ben Franklin and the Leeds Devil appeared first on Hybrid Pub Scout.

Some books Adam has worked on as lead editor:

• 8-Bit Apocalypse, the book that Adam is most excited about bringing to life.
• The Human Superorganism by Rodney Dietert, PhD
• Secret Service Dogs by Maria Goodavage

Books Adam has worked on under other editors:

• Wildflower by Drew Barrymore, who is everything you’ve hoped she is.
• We Do Things Differently: The Outsiders Rebooting Our World
• Nick Offerman’s (best-selling!) woodworking book: Good Clean Fun

Also, go ahead and take a gander at the books that Sterling Publishing produces.

At 34:17 we sound off on distributors

Tara Lehmann (interviewed in episode 8) also dropped by for some discussion of the fallout from Baker & Taylor’s exit from the indie book market. We review some of their terms, and Tara breaks down for us how they benefit the booksellers vs. the publishers (cue major side-eye). Also, we’ve said that monopolies suck, but Emily wants to point out that the game Monopoly ALSO sucks.

What we’re reading:

• Tara is reading Red, White, and Royal Blue
• Corinne is reading I Can Barely Take Care of Myself
• Emily is reading The Kiss Quotient

The post Episode 23: Editor Adam O’Brien of Sterling Publishing first appeared on Hybrid Pub Scout.

The post Episode 23: Editor Adam O’Brien of Sterling Publishing appeared first on Hybrid Pub Scout.

It’s the holiday season—so whoop-dee-doo!
We’ve got a wholesome interview!
And some magical gift ideas for you!
(Can you tell Corinne’s not writing this?)

After years of letting his storytelling dreams lie dormant, Brian Parker and his wife Josie started their own children’s book publishing company, Believe in Wonder Publishing. The couple focuses on writing and illustrating their own stories of magic and the power of imagination, putting their work out into the world with the help of Brian’s publishing experience and education. Brian talks with Emily about the magic of sharing stories with children in your own neighborhood, juggling family life with creating and selling books, and warrior hippos! We also hear about the crazy projects that can arise when creativity takes control (hint: it can lead to zebras in aviator goggles). Check out the links below for links to Believe in Wonder’s books, artwork, and online presence.

• Believe in Wonder’s Facebook page

Book links (buy these for your kids!!)

• The Pawsons Move In 
• You Can Rely on Platypi
• The Wonderous Science (that’s not a typo)
• Crow in the Hollow
• Fancy Dressed Animals

Santa Propaganda posters to up your Christmas decoration game:

• Emily got the “Buy Cookies” one

The post Episode 11: Independent Author and Publisher Brian W. Parker of Believe in Wonder Publishing first appeared on Hybrid Pub Scout.

The post Episode 11: Independent Author and Publisher Brian W. Parker of Believe in Wonder Publishing appeared first on Hybrid Pub Scout.

It all started, as it does for many book people, during childhood trips to the library. Since then, Corinne Kalasky’s publishing career has taken her all over the United States. She went from a “state school” in Seattle to working in New York amongst the East Coast Ivy League kids. She hob-nobbed her way into Harper, and then changed it up with a move to Nashville.  And after a stint in the Bay Area, she’s back in Portland, OR working as marketing coordinator with Beyond Words Publishing.

And she’s one of the only people I know who can actually pull off blunt bangs. (Please don’t go through my old Facebook photos for the love of God.)

In addition to being a coworker, Corinne is now also on board as Co-Host for the Hybrid Pub Scout podcast. Click play below to listen to us laughing into our microphones. I promise the compression will keep it from hurting your ears.

When you’re done listening, please subscribe to our newsletter for book recommendations and, saucy takes on publishing topics, and bonus material that nobody else gets!

Thank you, please!

The post Interview with Corinne Kalasky of Beyond Words Publishing first appeared on Hybrid Pub Scout.

The post Interview with Corinne Kalasky of Beyond Words Publishing appeared first on Hybrid Pub Scout.