More Words, Deeper Hole

Direct Brands/Bookspan is the company I do most of my freelancing for, whose imprints include the Science Fiction Book Club,the Mystery Guild, the Quality Paperback Club, the Book of the Month Club, the Literary Guild and many others.

Currently I deal on a daily basis with SFBC's Rome Quezada, Rebecca Brewer. Ms. Brewer is a recent addition to the SFBC; she was preceded by Diana Pho and Diana was preceded by Ashley Van Winkle. I get the mysteries I sometimes refer to obliquely from Jane Dentinger and although I don't think I've ever actually exchanged email with them, Quality's Michael Connor (preceded by Gary Jansen IIRC), Deborah Sinclaire of the Book of the Month Club and Christine Zika of the Literary Guild have sent me books as well.

It wouldn't do to assign me work if it didn't reach me; the person I have daily contact with in this matter is Angela Sanchirico; Janet Borg and Patricia Windsor also play important roles although I don't have much regular overt direct contact with them.

Nancy Ouellette and her co-workers make sure I get paid. I really like that part.

I am certain to have forgotten someone, for which I apologize.

To the people at Direct who make it possible for me to put "book reviewer" down as my job, thank you.

Ten years ago today, I wrote the very first review for which I was paid. The book was Ben Bova's Precipice, the company for which I reviewed it was Bookspan and the person who decided to give me a chance to review for Bookspan despite me falling outside the usual parameters of first readers was Andrew Wheeler. Ten years later, I've written something short of three thousand reviews for various organizations but it all began with that one review and it's all thanks to Andrew Wheeler.

Thank you, Andrew Wheeler.