Book Riot - The Podcast
Episode: The Long Odds of the Slushpile, Adaptation News, and Picking Vacation Reading
Release Date: March 24, 2025
Hosts: Jeff O’Neill and Rebecca Schinsky
1. Collaboration with Tracy Thomas
[01:05] Jeff O'Neill:
Jeff reflects on last week's engaging conversation with Tracy Thomas from The Stacks Podcast. He praises Tracy’s ability to manage her own show and Patreon, noting the challenges of running a podcast solo.
[02:10] Tracy Thomas:
Tracy admires Jeff's appreciation for the effort it takes to maintain a podcast, emphasizing the importance of community and communication with listeners.
2. Aardvark Book Club Giveaway
[03:54] Jeff O'Neill:
Book Riot announces a giveaway sponsored by Aardvark Book Club. Listeners can win either a literary box or a genre box by signing up on the Book Riot Substack.
[03:54] Tracy Thomas:
Tracy adds excitement about the carefully selected books in the membership and subscription boxes, encouraging listeners to participate.
3. Publisher Promotions
Bloom Books - Story of My Life by Lucy Score
[04:57] Bloom Books Promo:
Promotes Story of My Life, a romantic comedy by Lucy Score, highlighting its setting in Story Lake, Pennsylvania, and its appeal to fans of small-town comedies.
Brilliance Publishing - Missing Youg by Harlan Coban
[07:12] Brilliance Publishing Promo:
Introduces Missing Youg, a thriller adapted into a Netflix series, encouraging listeners to explore the audiobook benefits.
[07:17] Additional Brilliance Publishing Promo:
Promotes Compassion in the Court by Judge Frank Caprio, sharing heartfelt stories from his career and emphasizing themes of dignity and justice.
4. Reading Live with Stephen Graham Jones
[08:22] Jeff O'Neill:
Jeff shares his experience hosting a Reading Live segment with Stephen Graham Jones, praising his storytelling prowess and announcing a two-part episode featuring Jones and Jack Loohan’s Phosphorus.
[09:17] Tracy Thomas:
Tracy expresses excitement about Jeff's Reading Live recordings, mentioning the captivating stories shared by Stephen Graham Jones.
5. Slush Pile Statistics and Publishing Industry Insights
Guest: Laura McGrath
[16:01] Tracy Thomas:
Rebecca introduces Laura McGrath, an academic specializing in publishing statistics, who will discuss the daunting numbers behind the slush pile in the upcoming episode.
[17:00] Discussion Highlights:
Laura reveals that U.S. literary agents receive approximately 16.5 million unsolicited manuscripts annually, with only a 0.4% chance of representation. The conversation delves into genre preferences, highlighting high interest in Young Adult and LGBTQ genres, while areas like cyberpunk and steampunk receive less attention.
Notable Quote:
[19:18] Jeff O'Neill:
“The slush pile is not quite trash; it's just what you get. Most of the time, it's people trying to sell you something that you're not interested in right now.”
[21:21] Tracy Thomas:
“Publishing is a gatekept industry. Many more people wish to become authors than publishing has space and money to publish.”
6. Current Political Events Impacting Education and Libraries
[27:00] Jeff O'Neill:
Jeff discusses Donald Trump’s anticipated executive order to abolish the Department of Education, explaining its limited immediate impact but emphasizing the importance of public action to oppose such measures.
[28:42] Tracy Thomas:
Rebecca connects this issue to broader political actions, comparing it to Chuck Schumer’s canceled book tour due to political backlash, and urges listeners to engage with their representatives through apps like 5Calls.
Notable Quote:
[31:46] Jeff O'Neill:
“Action and information are the best antidotes to your political anxiety.”
7. Bestsellers Discussion: Onyx Storm vs. Others
[31:31] Jeff O'Neill:
Jeff analyzes current bestsellers, noting Onyx Storm's strong sales with 19,000 copies sold last week, compared to Careless People with 60,000 and James with 7,000.
[32:14] Tracy Thomas:
Tracy discusses the sales trajectories of highly anticipated books and the challenges of maintaining bestseller momentum beyond initial release weeks.
Notable Quote:
[34:33] Jeff O'Neill:
“This first story we have is also kind of a preview of coming attractions.”
8. Sponsor: Thriftbooks
[38:55] Tracy Thomas:
Rebecca highlights Thriftbooks’ extensive selection of new and used titles, competitive pricing, and rewards program. She shares her positive experiences with fast delivery and diverse inventory, encouraging listeners to support the sponsor.
9. Frontlist Foyer: Vacation Reading Picks
[40:21] Jeff O'Neill:
Jeff introduces Frontlist Foyer, discussing books he plans to take on his trip to Hawaii, including The Dream Hotel, Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaughey, and others. He invites listeners to guess which books he might actually read during his vacation.
[46:42] Tracy Thomas:
Rebecca shares her excitement about the book Hunchback by Sal, praising its compelling narrative and vivid character development. She compares it to Tony Tulamundie’s Rejection, noting its unique voice and engaging storyline.
Notable Quote:
[51:27] Tracy Thomas:
“I want you to read O Sinners, because I want to screen it.”
10. Audiobook Excerpt
[59:09] Rebecca Schinsky:
Rebecca concludes the episode with an excerpt from the audiobook Ragpicker King by Cassandra Clare, providing listeners with a taste of the book’s intriguing plot and richly developed characters.
Notable Quotes Included:
- Jeff O'Neill [19:18]: “The slush pile is not quite trash; it's just what you get. Most of the time, it's people trying to sell you something that you're not interested in right now.”
- Tracy Thomas [21:21]: “Publishing is a gatekept industry. Many more people wish to become authors than publishing has space and money to publish.”
- Jeff O'Neill [31:46]: “Action and information are the best antidotes to your political anxiety.”
For more details and to participate in giveaways, visit BookRiot.com or subscribe to their Substack. Don’t forget to check out their other media offerings, including podcasts, newsletters, and original content tailored for diverse readers across all genres.