Welcome
to
SCBWI-WWA's 2015-16
First Evening of Monthly Programming
Wednesday, October 21, 7–9pm
Seattle Pacific University, Demaray Hall
featuring:
The One, The Only
BARRY GOLDBLATT
We had an opportunity to ask Barry some pertinent questions in advance of his arrival. Besides being the honcho of Barry Goldblatt Literary, LLC, there are other sides to him that are worth knowing about. Here's what he had to say:
Hi, Barry! Our SCBWI-Western WA chapter is just about to go bonkers
with your arrival. But I am just a wee bit curious: What do New Yorkers
REALLY think of Seattle right now? (Even those dozen or so folks not
actually
absorbed by the Amazon-Industrial Complex.)
I don't know what New Yorkers in general think of anything, since there
really isn't a general New Yorker. But this Brooklynite loves to visit
Seattle! It's a lovely city, the food and wine scene is excellent, and
it did birth some incredible music too, so what's not to like? I still
don't want to live there, though, because Brooklyn.
Do you own an umbrella? (Trick question: It doesn't rain here any more.)
Nope, I don't believe in umbrellas. If I carry one, it doesn't rain, or it breaks and is useless, so I just accept getting wet.
What's the last book you read for pleasure? Or grabbed out of
desperation at the airport? Outside of your clients' work and the
literary marketplace you keep up with, I mean....
It's hard, as an agent, to ever truly just read for pleasure, but the
last book I read that was not by a client or a friend was Zen Cho's
SORCERER TO THE CROWN, which is fantastic: smart, fun, exciting and
fresh!
I read in a
previous interview that you work from your home office. Do you own an
excellent coffee machine, or are you a run-to-the-corner-coffeehouse
kind of person? What's the beverage of choice?
I do not drink coffee. (Yes, I hear the gasps of horror...but think of
it as meaning more for the rest of you!) I do like the ritual of making
coffee, however, so I have both an excellent machine and a french press,
as well as a grinder. I love the smell, just hate the taste. My drink
of choice in a cafe setting is chai; in a bar, a Dark & Stormy; and
in general, I do love root beer (but I'm a snob about it).
Do you operate
under a current editorial mantra right now? Are there red flags that
change over time, like too much back story at the beginning or not
enough earned resolution at the end? Or, hey, let me ask you straight
out: If you could scare a Barry Goldblatt Pet Peeve out of all future
manuscripts RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, what would it be?
I don't know that I have a specific mantra, but bottom line is I need to
make a true emotional connection to a character pretty early on, or I'm
just going to lose interest. I wanna get inside a character's head and
live the story right along with them. In general, I think a lot of new
authors spend too much time focused on making a great first page,
instead of on a great manuscript (in much the same way I see too much
focus on query letters). Yes, I need the first page to grab me, but if
all the pages after that are a let down, who cares? As for a pet peeve, I (like most of my agent and editor colleagues) hate
the "waking from a dream/nightmare" opening and would be happy to never
see it again.
I'm sure I'm not the first to ask, but what's your superpower?
My superpower is my ability to find incredibly good things to eat no
matter where I am. Why, yes, I am food obsessed, why do you ask?
SPEED ROUND
Twinkies or Cronuts?
Of those two, Cronuts, but honestly, waiting in line for hours for a
pastry is not really my thing. Though on occasions it can be worth it.
Graphic novels or classic comics?
These aren't exactly opposites, but I love what's happening in graphic
novels right now. So many exciting authors and artists working in this
medium!
Netflix or network?
Netflix. More Daredevil and Sense8 now please!
Taylor or Miley?
Nicki.
The Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Anderson?
Grimm all the way! Dark is my bread and butter.
Please join us for what is sure to be a fabulous evening of wit and wisdom and, yes, SNACKS!!!
