Blind Submission A Novel by Debra Ginsberg

Author:Debra Ginsberg
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9780307351494
Publisher: Shaye Areheart Books
Published: 2006-11-07T08:00:00+00:00

Blind Submission, p. 68

Carol Moore held a staff meeting every morning. In addition to conducting the business of the day, she also liked to get caught up on the manuscripts that her staff was reading and allowed everyone the time to discuss whatever they thought was important. “Fresh ideas are crucial,” Carol said. “And I have hired all of you because you all have excellent ideas on how we can better serve our clients.” To make everyone feel comfortable and to encourage casual dialogue, Carol ordered muffins and coffee for every staff meeting. Alice noticed that Jewel ate at least three muffins every morning. It was starting to show, Alice thought. Those thighs of Jewel’s weren’t getting any slimmer.

Carol seemed especially excited for today’s staff meeting. “It’s easy to keep believing that this is just a business like any other,” Carol was saying, “but the truth is that this is art. What our authors do is incredibly important and influential. It means something and their books make a difference in the world. It’s so important for us to get them out there—to do what they can’t do themselves.”

Alice found herself drifting off as Carol spoke. Carol was right, of course, books were important, but it was too painful for Alice to listen to Carol’s adulation of other authors.

“Can you stay here for a moment please, Alice?”

Alice came to attention in time to notice that the meeting was breaking up.

“Of course, Carol,” Alice said, shutting the door behind Jewel and Ricardo.

“Vaughn Blue is very happy with the work you’ve been doing for him,” Carol said once Alice was sitting down again. Alice’s heart started beating a little faster and she searched Carol’s face for an indication that Carol might know the real nature of Alice’s “work” with Vaughn Blue. But Carol looked very happy and there was no sign that anything was amiss.

“For that matter,” Carol went on, “I’m very happy with the work you’ve been doing. You are a real asset to this agency, Alice.”

But not a good enough writer to be represented by you, Alice thought bitterly. What she said was, “Thank you, I appreciate that, Carol.”

“I’m giving you a raise,” Carol said, “and your own office. It’s the small one next to mine, but it will be your own office. I think you’ve earned it.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Alice said. “You’re too good to me, Carol.”

“Just carry on,” Carol said. “You’re doing a marvelous job.”

Alice left Carol’s office and prepared to move into her own. Yes, she was grateful to Carol, but not in the way Carol thought. And she would carry on, but not in the way Carol planned. She would carry on skimming the cream off the top of incoming proposals and manuscripts. She would carry on raping Carol’s files and slowly undermining the efforts of her staff. She would carry on sucking ideas from out of Carol’s clients’ heads and then convincing them that those very ideas were completely unmarketable. She would carry on playing Vaughn Blue as expertly as he played his own instrument.

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