Before I wrote my first novel, 'The Expats,' I spent nearly two decades at various arms of publishing houses such as Random House, Workman, and HarperCollins, mostly as an acquisitions editor. But a more accurate title for that job might be rejection editor: while I acquired maybe a dozen projects per year, I'd reject hundreds upon hundreds.

I'm concerned, as I guess all middle-aged people are, about the younger generations' level of literacy.

Whatever's good about your book should be good on page 1, or very few editors are going to get to page 2.

Chris Pavone Quotes