I’ll Probably Delete This

In honor of All Hallows Eve (Halloween), learn about Mary Shelly, the mother of Frankenstein's monster.

Robinson Crusoe was an instant bestseller in 1719, yet Daniel Defoe never became rich from it. Why not? In this episode, we look at how authors made (and failed to make) money in the early 18th century, and how printers like William Taylor profited far more than the writers themselves.Books DiscussedRobinson Crusoe (1719) — Daniel Defoe The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1719) — Daniel Defoe Serious Reflections During the Life and Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1720) — Daniel DefoeJournal of the Plague Year (1722) — Daniel Defoe Moll Flanders (1722) — Daniel Defoe Frankenstein (1818) — Mary Shelley The Martian (2014) — Andy Weir People Referenced00:16 - Daniel Defoe — Author of Robinson Crusoe, pamphleteer, journalist, and one of the early writers of the novel 00:55 - William Taylor — London printer and bookseller who published Robinson Crusoe 01:25 - Nathaniel Mist — Printer and publisher of Mist’s Weekly Journal, for whom Defoe worked while secretly reporting to the government 13:15 - Mary Shelley — Author of Frankenstein 15:30 - Charles Dickens — 19th-century novelist who published many works as serials 15:35 - Louisa May Alcott — Author of Little Women, also serialized before book publication 15:20 - Rose Wilder Lane — Daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder, who targeted serialization markets in the 1930s 15:40 - Andy Weir — Author of The Martian, first published as a serialized story on his blogEpisode LinksEpisode 11: Defoe, the Pillory, and Seditious LibelEpisode 3: Laura Ingalls Wilder (part 1)Episode 4: Laura Ingalls Wilder (part 2)

Piatkus Books started as a small U.K. publisher focused on supplying books to libraries. Judy Piatkus founded her second publishing company in 1978, while still in her 20s. This episode tells the story of the company's founding and early days, up through its growth into fiction, international sales, and  £10M in revenue before selling in 2007, just ahead of the global financial crisis.People Discussed00:00 | Judy Piatkus — Founder of Piatkus Books; author of Ahead of Her Time 06:42 | Edwin Buckhalter — Co-founder with Piatkus of Severn House (sold to him in 1978) 13:14 | V. C. Andrews — Bestselling Gothic/romance novelist 13:19 | Danielle Steel — Prolific romance novelist and perennial bestseller 16:51 | Mary Berry — British baking icon; author of multiple Piatkus cookbooks 19:25 | Nora Roberts — American author and perennial bestseller 19:25 | J. D. Robb — Nora Roberts’s pen name for the “In Death” series 14:33 | James Patterson — Thriller writer, covered in Episode 7 and Episode 8BibliographyAhead of Her Time (2021) by Judy Piatkus: https://www.amazon.com/Ahead-Her-Time-Judy-Piatkus/dp/1786785315The Great Crash 1929 (Piatkus 2008 edition) by John Kenneth Galbraith: https://www.amazon.com/Great-Crash-Market-Plunged-Depression/dp/0749909870“Marketing James Patterson” (2002) — Harvard Business School case by John Deighton: https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/505029-PDF-ENGEpisodes ReferencedEpisode 9 - Covering Ingram Book's start as the Tennessee Book DepositoryEpisode 8 - Covering James Patterson's Marketing on Along Came a Spider, including Patterson's view of book clubs.

The author of Robinson Crusoe, started his professional life as the 1700s equivalent of a blogger and a hot-take merchant. Daniel Defoe’s satirical pamphlet The Shortest Way with the Dissenters landed him in the pillory. Listen to learn about the early career of the author of one of the great early English novels, why Queen Anne’s government treated political criticism as treason, and how a booming London led to a vibrant press despite political crackdowns. Books/Works DiscussedThe True-Born Englishman (1701) by Daniel Defoe:https://www.gutenberg.org/files/30159/30159-h/30159-h.htmThe Shortest Way with the Dissenters (1703) by Daniel Defoe: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?cc=ecco;idno=004844761.0001.000;node=004844761.0001.000:2;rgn=div1;view=textRobinson Crusoe (1719) by Daniel Defoe: https://www.amazon.com/Robinson-Crusoe-Wordsworth-Classics-Daniel/dp/1853260452Daniel Defoe: His Life (1989) by Paula R. Backscheider: https://www.amazon.com/Daniel-Defoe-Paula-R-Backscheider/dp/0801845122People Referenced00:48 | Daniel Defoe — Prolific English pamphleteer, satirist, and later author of Robinson Crusoe.02:56 | John Baker — London printer who paid Defoe per 500-copy pamphlet run, giving the author an unusually high royalty share.06:24 | Queen Anne — British monarch (1702-1714) whose ministers prosecuted Defoe for seditious libel.12:44 | William III (William of Orange) — Took the English throne after the 1688 Glorious Revolution, shaping the political landscape Defoe inherited.15:36 | Jonathan Swift — Tory-leaning contemporary satirist and author of Gulliver’s Travels.

This episode tells the story of how Ingram transformed from a regional schoolbook depository into the go‑to wholesaler for U.S. trade books. Learn about how Harry Hoffman and Ingram expanded the company's reach in books and prepared the way for Amazon and its business model. Books DiscussedThe Family Business: How Ingram Transformed the World of Books (2021) by Keel Hunt https://www.amazon.com/Family-Business-Ingram-Transformed-World/dp/1682753124Big Fiction: How Conglomeration Changed the Publishing Industry (2023) by Dan Sinykin (Columbia University Press) https://cup.columbia.edu/book/big-fiction/9780231192958/People Referenced04:07 | Bronson Ingram — Ingram family leader who backed the book venture; introduced in Episode 9. 04:14 | Jack Stambaugh — Early partner in the Tennessee Book Depository; featured in Episode 9. 04:20 | Harry Hoffman — CEO who built Ingram’s trade wholesaling and spearheaded the microfiche program. 27:51 | Ben Thompson — Analyst and writer behind “Aggregation Theory” (Stratechery) 31:12 | Jeff Bezos — Founded Amazon in 1995; early operations benefited from proximity to Ingram’s Eugene, OR warehouse and deep title catalog.

Learn about how a family owned oil company came to run one of the most important companies within book publishing. Here the story of the start of Ingram Books.People Discussed03:32 | Laura Ingalls Wilder – Author of the Little House series; covered in Episodes 3 & 4 03:54 | Orrin Henry Ingram – Lumber-baron patriarch  (1850s-1890s) 04:24 | Orin “Hank” Ingram Sr. – Orrin’s grandson; shifted the family wealth into oil refining, barge transport, and textiles between the 1930s-60s 05:45 | E. Bronson Ingram II – Took control of the family firm at 31 (1963); bought half of the Tennessee Book Depository in 1964, seeding Ingram Book Company 11:22 | Jack Stambaugh – Former Eisenhower aide; co-owned the Tennessee Book Depository with Bronson Ingram 16:40 | Harry Hoffman – Publishing executive; CEO of Ingram Books and Walden Books 21:37 | Keel Hunt – Nashville journalist; author of The Family Business, the episode’s principal sourceBibliography The Family Business: How Ingram Transformed the World of Books (2021) by Keel Hunt: https://www.amazon.com/Family-Business-Ingram-Transformed-World/dp/1682753124Interview with Jack Stanbagh, Eisenhower Presidential Library:https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/research/oral-histories/oral-history-transcripts/stambaugh-john-372.pdf

James Patterson has built a publishing juggernaut. His publishing success all started with Little, Brown publishing Along Came a Spider in February 1993. In this episode we look at how he marketed his breakout hit.  From cover design to targeted TV advertising, Patterson brought his expertise as CEO of a major advertising firm to book publishing. Listen to Episode 7 to hear the begining of the story. BibliographyAlong Came a Spider (1993) by James Patterson: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/along-came-a-spider-james-patterson/1100307468?ean=9780316693646The Bridges of Madison County (1992) by Robert James Waller: https://www.amazon.com/Bridges-Madison-County-Robert-Waller/dp/0446364495The Client (1993) by John Grisham: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/72156/the-client-by-john-grisham/Jurassic Park (1990) by Michael Crichton: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jurassic-park-michael-crichton/1100400615Marketing James Patterson (2002) Harvard Business School case by John Deighton: https://hbsp.harvard.edu/product/505029-PDF-ENGJames Patterson by James Patterson (2022) by James Patterson: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/james-patterson/james-patterson-by-james-patterson/9780316397537/“The James Patterson Business” (2002) by Jeff Zaleski, Publishers Weekly: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20021104/21533-the-james-patterson-business.htmlPeople Discussed00:15 | James Patterson – Best-selling thriller author; also covered in Episode 7 01:16 | Bill Clinton – 42nd U.S. President; co-author with Patterson 13:21 | Robert Gottlieb – Famed book editor, former editor-in-chief at Knopf, covered in Episode 5 16:00 | John Grisham – Legal-thriller novelist, author of The Client16:30 | Michael Crichton - Scientific thriller writer, author of Jurassic Park, covered in Episode 6  17:47 | John Deighton – Harvard Business School professor; author of the HBS case on Patterson 21:20 | Burt Manning – Former CEO of J. Walter Thompson 22:31 | Jeff Zaleski – Publishers Weekly journalist; wrote “The James Patterson Business” article

It took James Patterson seven attempts before he found the right formula for a successful thriller. In this episode, we focus on Patterson break out commercial success, Along Came a Spider and answer the question of how he changed his writing, to find commercial success in his seventh book. Bibliography:Along Came a Spider (1993) by James Patterson: https://www.amazon.com/Along-Came-Spider-Alex-Cross/dp/031606637X The Thomas Berryman Number (1976) by James Patterson: https://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Berryman-Number-James-Patterson/dp/0316473528 Season of the Machete (1977) by James Patterson: https://www.amazon.com/Season-Machete-James-Patterson/dp/0446600603The Day of the Jackal (1971) by Frederick Forsyth: https://www.amazon.com/Day-Jackal-Frederick-Forsyth/dp/0425276116 The Exorcist (1971) by William Peter Blatty: https://www.amazon.com/Exorcist-40th-Anniversary-William-Peter/dp/0061007226 The Silence of the Lambs (1988) by Thomas Harris: https://www.amazon.com/Silence-Lambs-Hannibal-Lecter/dp/0312924585 Mrs. Bridge (1959) by Evan S. Connell: https://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Bridge-Evan-S-Connell/dp/1619027349The Day America Told the Truth (1991) by James Patterson & Peter Kim: https://www.amazon.com/Day-America-Told-Truth-Shocking/dp/0446516383 James Patterson by James Patterson (2022) by James Patterson: https://www.amazon.com/James-Patterson/dp/0316274001People Discussed:00:35 | James Patterson – best-selling thriller author and focus of the episode 03:50 | Francis Greenburger – literary agent who sold Patterson’s debut novel 06:45 | Stephen King – horror writer who was once critical Patterson’s work 12:10 | Richard Pine – agent who negotiated the million-dollar Along Came a Spider deal 12:20 | Larry Kirshbaum – then head of Time Warner Book Group backing the acquisition 12:25 | Charles “Charlie” Hayward – publisher leading Little, Brown 12:40 | Fredi Friedman – Patterson’s editor on Along Came a Spider 15:50 | Peter Kim – co-author of The Day America Told the Truth and J. Walter Thompson colleague

Michael Crichton had his first hit book in 1969 when he was in his 20s. But 20-years later he was in a rut. Jurassic Park got him out of is rut, and his friend Michael Ovitz helped turn it into a Steven Spielberg directed Hollywood blockbuster.Hear the story of the creation of Jurassic Park, both the book and the movie that made Crichton one of the wealthiest writers in publishing and Hollywood. Bibliography:The Andromeda Strain (1969) by Michael Crichton: https://www.thriftbooks.com/browse/?b.search=crichton#b.s=mostPopular-desc&b.p=1&b.pp=50&b.oos&b.tileTravels (1988) by Michael Crichton: https://www.amazon.com/Travels-Vintage-Departures-Michael-Crichton/dp/0804171270Jurassic Park (1990) by Michael Crichton: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jurassic-park-michael-crichton/1100400615Who Is Michael Ovitz? (2018) by Michael Ovitz: https://www.amazon.com/Who-Michael-Ovitz/dp/1591845548People Discussed:00:37 | Michael Ovitz  - Hollywood super-agent, co-founder of Creative Artists Agency (CAA)00:52 | Michael Crichton - Novelist and screenwriter, author of Jurassic Park09:43 | Steven Spielberg -  Film director tapped to helm the Jurassic Park movie10:11 | Kate Capshaw - Actress and Spielberg’s wife13:50 | Charlie Rose - PBS interviewer

Robert Gottlieb started in publishing in 1955. Just 10 years later he became editor-in-chief at publishing house Simon & Schuster. Following that, he went to Alfred A. Knopf, where he was again editor-in-chief. Over the course of his more than 60 year career, he became the most important editor in publishing, and edited hundreds of books. By his estimate, he edited more than 700, including books from Michael Crichton, Toni Morrison, former President Bill Clinton, and biographer Robert Caro. Listen to hear advice from Gottlieb on editing, book design, marketing, and publishing.Bibliography:Avid Reader: A Life (2017) by Robert Gottlieb Gottlieb’s interview with Terry Gross/ Fresh Air People Discussed in the Episode: 00:54 | Robert Gottlieb | Legendary book editor and publishing executive01:57 | Robert Caro | Pulitzer-winning biographer of Robert Moses and Lyndon Johnson04:10 | Marion Fiery | Children’s book editor at Harper & Brothers09:31 | Lauren Bacall | Hollywood actress09:38 | Julia Child | American chef and television personality14:20 | Terry Gross | Host of NPR’s Fresh Air

OverviewFollow Laura Ingalls Wilder’s journey from rejected memoir to successful first novel. To get there she needed the unsung help of editor Marion Fiery and then Virginia Kirkus. In this Part 2, finish the story of how Wilder wrote and got the first of the Little House books published.What You’ll Hear| Time | Topic | 00:00 | Cold‑open & Intro | 01:30 | PioneerGirl origins and rejections | 04:39 | Marion Fiery’s editorial revisions & Knopf contract | 11:52 | Knopf children’s division shutters | 16:00 | Virginia Kirkus reads the manuscript | 18:00 | New title, illustrator Helen Sewell, book deal | 19:45 | April 1932 publication and early library buzz| 20:40 | Theme recap | 23:30 | Fiery’s unsung legacy & closing thoughts | 26:00 | Bibliography & sign‑offTimestamps are approximate.TakeawaysResponding to criticism and direction - Laura took criticism from, Rose, from Fiery, and from Kirkus. She dramatically changed her story into something totally different from what she first wrote. Laura was diligent in responding to suggestions and re worked her story to hit all of the points that Rose and Fiery though would make the book compelling for readers.Libraries Matter - One of the biggest drivers of sales for the first Little House book, was the interest and support of libraries and librarians.Quite Support Matters - To get her first book published, Laura needed the help of her daughter Rose, of Fiery, and or Kirkus. It was the quite support of Fiery that was essential to the book making it to publication. We should all look for opportunities to support excellence maybe especially when it comes in unexpected packages like a 65 year old trying to publish her debut novel.Books Mentioned:Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder (HarperCollins 1932)The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder (HarperCollins 1971) - Skip this oneLaura Ingalls Wilder,  A Writer's Life by Pamela Smith Hill (South Dakota Historical Society Press 2007)Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Frazier (Metropolitan Books 2017)People Discussed:Laura Ingalls Wilder | Author of the Little House series | 00:40Rose Wilder Lane | Novelist and journalist | 01:46Marion Fiery | Children’s book editor (Knop | 04:30Graham Lorimer | Fiction editor at The Saturday Evening Post | 04:06George Bye | Literary agent | 11:40Virginia Kirkus | Children’s editor at Harper & Brothers; founder of Kirkus Reviews | 16:07Helen Sewell | Illustrator of the first edition of Little House in the Big Woods | 19:05Garth Williams | Illustrator of the 1950s Little House reprint editions | 19:19Pamela Smith Hill | Biographer of Laura Ingalls Wilder | 27:12Caroline Fraser | Journalist and author of Prairie Fires | 27:35Support the Show:Follow I’ll Probably Delete This on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app. Also share the episode with anyone you think will like it.Credits Host / writer / editor: Will Jauquet Cover art: Wili Joel Productions© 2025 I’ll Probably Delete This. All rights reserved.

Episode OverviewAt age 63, Laura Ingalls Wilder sat down with a No. 2 pencil and wrote a memoir she called Pioneer Girl. Following the stock market crash of 1929, it was her effort to preserve her stories and provide for her family. This episode tells the first part of the story of how, with the help of her daughter, she turned that rejected memoir into a seminal work in children’s literature Little House in the Big Woods.What You’ll Hear| Time | Topic | 00:00 | Cold‑open & Intro | 02:29 | Stage Setting - Harper & Bro published Little House in the Big Woods | 03:45 | Motivation to write | 06:55 | Writing process and revision | 08:45 | State of children’s lit and agent Carl Brandt gets rejections | 09:51 | Revisions | 11:52  | Rose heads to NYC, fires her agent, and acts as agent for her mom | 14:02 | Extracting a 20‑page children’s story set in Wisconsin woods | 16:15  | Postscript: Pioneer Girl finally published in 2014 | 17:19  | Bibliography: Pioneer Girl | 18:25 | Sign‑off(Timestamps approximate)TakeawaysSometimes the market doesn’t want what you want to write – Wilder couldn’t sell her memoir, agent Carl Brandt couldn’t sell it, and her daughter couldn’t sell it. She had to write her story in a way that appealed to editors and readers.Help Needed – Lane’s efforts and her experience were central to her mother’s success. Late Start – Laura’s late start in life at book writing and publishing, while wildly successful was not smooth. If not for her dozens of years of prior writing experience, and her daughters efforts and experience, there would be no Little House series.Recommended ReadingPioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder, ed. Pamela Smith Hill (South Dakota Historical Society Press, 2014)Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder (HarperCollins 1932)People Discussed:Laura Ingalls Wilder | 00:00:39 Rose Wilder Lane | 00:03:55 Carl Brandt (literary agent) | 00:08:49 Pamela Smith Hill (editor of PioneerGirl) | 00:17:47Love the Show?Follow I’ll Probably Delete This on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app. Also share the episode with anyone you think will like it.Credits Host / writer / editor: Will Jauquet Cover art: Wili Joel Productions© 2025 I’ll Probably Delete This. All rights reserved.

Episode OverviewThe start of the partnership between Dr. Seuss and publisher Random House. CEO  Bennett Cerf wooed little known children’s author Theodor “Ted” Geisel. Beginning with a lunch at the 21 Club in NYC, Cerf showed Ted unwavering publisher support despite early flops like The Seven Lady Godivas. Cerf’s long bet on Geisel illustrates the importance of recognizing creative talent and the economic value of a strong backlist.What You’ll Hear:Time  | Topic 00:00 | Cold‑open 01:05  | Intro 02:30 | Geisel’s first book And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, 1937 05:40 | Cerf promises to publish anything Geisel writes, including a book with “naked ladies” 07:15  | Early releases in 1939: The King’s Stilts & the spectacular flop The Seven Lady Godivas 10:05  | Long‑term contract and WWII 13:20  | Modest post‑war titles 15:05  | Breakthrough and backlist 19:30  | Random House buys Vanguard Press in 1989 because of Seuss  21:15   | Betting on talent 23:00 | Bibliography & sign‑off(Timestamps are approximate)People Discussed:Bennett Cerf | Publisher & co‑founder / long‑time CEO of Random House | 00:24Theodor “Ted” Geisel/Dr. Seuss | Children’s author and illustrator | 00:35Robert Bernstein | Publisher; CEO of Random House (1970‑1989) | 12:31Judith Morgan | Biographer, co‑author of Dr. Seuss and Mr. Geisel | 13:46Neil Morgan | Biographer, co‑author of Dr. Seuss and Mr. Geisel | 13:46Brian J. Jones | Biographer, author of Becoming Dr.Seuss | 14:00Some Takeaways:Commitment: Cerf’s “I’ll print anything you do” pledge shows how decisive belief in an author can change careers—and companies.Flops Aren’t Fatal: Even a disaster selling fewer than 50 copies didn’t shake Cerf’s confidence in Seuss.Backlist matters: Once Seuss became successful, every prior title turned into a perpetual revenue stream, for him and for Random House.It Can Take Time: Geisel’s real breakout books came 20 years after his debut.Recommended ReadingDr.Seuss & Mr.Geisel by Judith & Neil Morgan (Random House, 1995)Becoming Dr.Seuss by Brian Jay Jones (Dutton / Penguin Random House, 2019)Support the ShowFollow and Subscribe: Follow I’ll Probably Delete This on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite player.Rate & Review: A quick ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ helps fellow book‑lovers find us.Spread the Word: Share the episode link with a friend who appreciates good stories and good books.CreditsHost, writer, & editor: Will Jauquet Cover art: Designed by Wili Joel Productions©2025 I’ll Probably Delete This. All rights reserved.

Judith Jones, long-time editor for Alfred A. Knopf, persuaded the publisher to take a chance on a French cookbook that no one knew they wanted. That book and TV made Julia Child a surprising star. Learn about three themes that helped make Mastering the Art of French Cooking a publishing success: counter positioning, fascination with the Kennedys, and the rise of TV.Bibliography For more on Judith Jones and her work with Julia Child, read The Editor: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Culture in America by Sara B. FranklinPeople Discussed in the Episode:  Julia Child  | American chef, television personality, and co‑author of Mastering the Art of French Cooking | 00:19 Judith Jones  | American literary and cookbook editor at Alfred A. Knopf  | 01:17 Louisette Bertholle | French cook and co‑author of Mastering the Art of French Cooking  | 02:10 Simone Beck | French cook, cooking teacher, and co‑author of Mastering the Art of French Cooking  | 02:15 Sarah B. Franklin  | American writer and biographer of Judith Jones  | 08:58