{"id":29189,"date":"2025-07-22T17:32:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T17:32:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/29189\/"},"modified":"2025-07-22T17:32:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T17:32:08","slug":"the-columns-the-life-of-a-book-washington-and-lee-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/29189\/","title":{"rendered":"The Columns \u00bb The Life of a Book \u00bb Washington and Lee University"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Writer \u2013 Rebecca Makkai \u201999<\/p>\n

\"Makkai_Final2-150x150Author of five novels and numerous short stories; teacher of graduate fiction at Middlebury College, Northwestern University and the Bennington College Writing Seminars; artistic director of StoryStudio Chicago.<\/p>\n

One of the things Rebecca Makkai \u201999 enjoys most about being a fiction writer is the freedom of invention. She gets the opportunity to travel to any time and place and to experience them through her characters. And the required research is part of the fun. She recently ordered a slew of Vogue magazines from 1938 on eBay to ensure the outfits she chose for a character in her current novel are historically accurate.<\/p>\n

\u201cI get to live in whatever world I choose,\u201d Makkai says. \u201cWhen you write a short story, it\u2019s a place you\u2019re visiting for a little while. But when you write a novel, you\u2019re going to live in this world for years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Five years, in Makkai\u2019s case. The first year is spent marinating on the concept and turning over ideas in her head. That way, she\u2019s mentally worked through things before she commits anything to paper. After she\u2019s about one-third of the way done with the book, she\u2019ll write an outline to make sure she has a roadmap as she finishes writing, which takes about three years total. Surprisingly, she says her favorite part of the process is editing. She spends around a year copyediting what she\u2019s written and focusing on structure.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a writer, you get to ask yourself: \u2018What do I want to have happen? Do I want it to be funny? Do I want it to be sad? What do I feel today?\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of pure freedom and invention.\u201d<\/p>\n

Makkai says many of her works are preoccupied with the passage \u2014 and layering \u2014 of time. Her 2018 novel, \u201cThe Great Believers,\u201d which was named one of The New York Times\u2019 Best Books of the 21st Century and was a finalist for both the 2019 Pulitzer Prize and the 2018 National Book Award, jumps back and forth between contemporary Paris and 1980s and \u201990s Chicago, portraying love and loss during the AIDS epidemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that if I ever wrote a book that could not get you in a fight in your book club, I would have failed in some way,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

One of the great things about writing is its interiority, Makkai says \u2014 the ability to understand what another person is thinking.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe see again and again the failure of empathy in our society, in politics, in policy and in the world,\u201d she says. \u201cFiction is one of the only things that can really take you at great length into the thought process of someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Editor \u2013 Pranab Man Singh \u201905<\/p>\n

\"Singh_Final2-150x150Co-founder of Quixote\u2019s Cove bookshop and Satori Centre for the Arts; assistant editor and translator with La.Lit literary magazine; visiting professor at Kathmandu University Department of\u00a0 Art +Design.<\/p>\n

An accounting and philosophy double major from Kathmandu, Nepal, Pranab Man Singh \u201905 says his view of the United States had largely been shaped by Hollywood before he came to Washington and Lee University. He started college the same year as 9\/11, and conversations in and out of the classroom after the event helped him appreciate the rich and complex history of the U.S.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really made me realize how much our present lives are tied to the histories and past lives of other people and generations and how important it is for these stories to be shared,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

After graduating, Singh knew he wanted to return to Kathmandu to start his own business, just as the country was coming out of a decade-long civil insurgency and was in the process of writing a new constitution. He opened an independent bookstore, Quixote\u2019s Cove, and through the store he founded a literary magazine, La.Lit, which started publishing books from the community of writers with whom the store worked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a young population and educational levels were increasing, and there was a lot of curiosity among people to learn about the world and our role in it,\u201d Singh says. \u201cThe bookshop was an opportunity to engage in those conversations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quixote\u2019s Cove worked with the U.S. State Department during the Barack Obama administration to bring American artists, writers and poets to Nepal to share ideas and facilitate engagement through the arts. This resulted in the establishment of the nonprofit Satori Centre for the Arts, which managed the U.S. Embassy\u2019s Book Bus program until 2023, and ran mobile libraries across Nepal.<\/p>\n

Safu, which means \u201cbooks\u201d in Nepal Bhasa, is the publishing imprint for Quixote\u2019s Cove. As a small independent publisher, it works with writers, poets, illustrators, artists, editors and translators to produce books in multiple languages that capture diverse voices and experiences.<\/p>\n

Singh works as both an editor and translator and sees them as relationship-building opportunities. He\u2019s edited everything from reports to fiction novels to memoirs.<\/p>\n

\u201cNormally, as an editor, you get to know the writer through the editorial process and can build trust and familiarity with them,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is necessary for you to put on their shoes and see the world as they do and understand what they are trying to say. A good editor can help a writer come to clarity of thought. On the other hand, the act of translating something is to dwell in the mind of the writer \u2014 it requires empathy and an attempt to embody the writer. Since Nepal is a multilingual country \u2014 we have over 128 different languages \u2014 we have always been keen on bringing out the richness of ideas that this offers and placing them in conversation with the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Agent \u2013 Chandler Wickers \u201918<\/p>\n

\"Wickers_Final2-150x150Associate agent at the Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency Inc.; works with more than 100 authors in all stages of the publishing journey; freelance copywriter and marketing content writer; former freelance film and TV critic.<\/p>\n

By happenstance, Chandler Wickers \u201918\u00a0 assumed the role of literary agent during her final group simulation project for the Columbia Publishing Course. As a newly minted W&L grad hoping to pursue a writing career in New York City, she had enrolled in the six-week intensive course covering all aspects of book, magazine and digital media publishing. Through a random assignment in her group of 10, where each person played a different part in the industry, she found the job that captured the relationship to writing she wanted.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn editorial, you\u2019re reading and copyediting; you\u2019re really deep in the material all day. I wanted to be a little bit more zoomed out,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why an agency appealed to me; it\u2019s really the business side of publishing. You\u2019re not only working editorially with authors and helping them get their proposals ready for submission, but you\u2019re also handling their contracts. You\u2019re working on their film deals and publishing deals. I wanted something that\u2019s a little bit more business-oriented and less just editorial-minded.\u201d<\/p>\n

She achieved her hope of working with words in 2021 when she landed a gig at Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency Inc., after first getting a job in marketing at an advertising agency and then a financial planning startup. She immediately felt a connection to the Krichevsky agency because it represented one of her heroes, New York Times bestselling author Sebastian Junger and filmmaker, who also directed her favorite documentaries, \u201cRestrepo\u201d and \u201cKorengal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Based in San Fransisco, Wickers works with more than 100 authors, such as Ashlee Vance \u2014 who wrote \u201cWhen the Heavens Went on Sale\u201d and is currently writing a book on OpenAI \u2014 and Leander Schaerlaeckens, a sports reporter who\u2019s writing a book about the history of U.S. men\u2019s soccer. All the authors on her long list dwell in various stages of the literary journey \u2014 from manuscripts and proposals, to drafts in editors\u2019 hands, to published works, to screen adaptations, to new ideas haphazardly jotted down on paper. And as the life cycle of the book continues to evolve, Wickers\u2019 role as the agent remains steadfast.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re advocating for the author at every stage,\u201d she explains, \u201cand making sure that their work is valued. \u2026 I really like that \u2014 I like being the first touch point.<\/p>\n

\u201cBooks and reading offer a powerful way to exercise our imagination and critical thinking, which I believe are precious resources for understanding and connecting with each other. These skills feel more essential than ever in an age where technology risks eroding them. I was fortunate to study under incredible professors at W&L who instilled in me a deep love for storytelling, and I\u2019m truly grateful to work in an industry that preserves and celebrates the written word.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Publicist \u2013 Craig Burke \u201993<\/p>\n

\"Burke_Final3-150x150Vice president and associate publisher at Berkley\/Penguin Random House; oversees publicity campaigns for the entire Berkley list, including bestselling author Emily Henry, among others.<\/p>\n

Craig Burke \u201993 had a clear idea of his career path until he fell in love \u2014 with book publishing. As a journalism and French double major, he thought his next step would likely be in broadcast journalism once he moved to New York City. But after someone at W&L\u2019s Career and Professional Development Office suggested Burke submit his resume to a job fair in New York that included book publishers, Burke realized what a perfect fit that field was. At W&L, he served as the publicity chair of the Generals Activities Board and helped bring bands like Blues Traveler to campus while also promoting events among the W&L community.<\/p>\n

Six weeks before graduation, a recruiter from the job fair told Burke he was perfect for a publicity assistant role at Random House and that there were two openings at different imprints: one at Ballantine and the other at Knopf. He ultimately chose Knopf, which had published one of his favorite books \u2014 Donna Tartt\u2019s \u201cThe Secret History.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burke worked his way up the publicity ladder and joined Berkley as an associate publicist after a few years at Knopf. Now serving as vice president and associate publisher at Berkley\/Penguin Random House, Burke oversees publicity campaigns for the company\u2019s entire roster, including bestselling authors Emily Henry, William Gibson, Grady Hendrix and Carley Fortune. Berkley\u2019s expertise centers on women\u2019s fiction, romance, science fiction\/fantasy and mystery\/suspense.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s not to love about a job that lets me read books and then spend most of my time trying to convince other people why they should read the books that I love or discover the authors that I really admire?\u201d Burke says.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat makes my job so fabulous is the people I interact with, from the authors, to their agents, to the media folks that I\u2019m pitching, to my colleagues. I work with intelligent, witty, sharp, fascinating people who are up for talking about books and pop culture and what\u2019s going on in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Depending on the book, Burke will get involved as early as the editing stage to start planning the publicity campaign. Sometimes he can tell from the title alone what the promotional hook will be, as with Henry\u2019s \u201cBeach Read.\u201d Beyond pitches and press releases, Burke has accompanied authors on press tours, including traveling with musician Ricky Martin for his appearance on \u201cThe Oprah Winfrey Show.\u201d<\/p>\n

When not reading for work, Burke is often drawn to commercial fiction, whether that means romance, thrillers or fantasy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the best escape money can buy,\u201d he says. \u201cI firmly believe that reading any kind of fiction, whether it\u2019s commercial or literary, improves your ability to be empathetic and understand where people are coming from.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Lawyer \u2013 Gray Coleman \u201979<\/p>\n

\"Coleman_Final2-150x150Partner at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP; named one of The Hollywood Reporter\u2019s 25 Most Powerful Entertainment Lawyers in New York; represents estates and heirs of Harper Lee, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lindsay and Crouse, Thomas Meehan and Agatha Christie, among others.<\/p>\n

Traditional artistic channels never unveiled hidden talent within Gray Coleman \u201979, so, he jokes, he set his sights on law school. After double majoring in history and English at Washington and Lee University, he arrived at the University of Virginia School of Law in 1980, hoping to benefit from the field\u2019s reputation of versatility. To his delight, he did.<\/p>\n

\u201cLawyers are the ultimate chameleons,\u201d says Coleman. \u201cThey take their color from the rocks you put them on, and I was looking for this real colorful rock to sit on.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a lifelong theater-lover, he moved to the artistic hotbed of New York City, and after working for Wall Street firm White & Case LLP for a couple years, Coleman found his colorful geode in entertainment law. As a partner at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, he represents producers for theatrical productions such as \u201cTootsie,\u201d \u201cMean Girls\u201d and \u201cThe Color Purple\u201d; he serves as outside general counsel for institutional theaters such as the Public Theater (New York), the Goodman Theatre (Chicago) and the National Theatre of Great Britain; and he works with authors and owners of literary and intellectual properties.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe lawyers are the historical memory,\u201d Coleman says. \u201cWe keep the agreements; we keep the history.\u201d<\/p>\n

For close to 10 years, he\u2019s represented the estate of Harper Lee, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist of \u201cTo Kill a Mockingbird.\u201d He has served as outside general counsel for the Rodgers and Hammerstein estate for over two decades and has worked on behalf of Agatha Christie\u2019s heirs. He also acts as trustee for the estates of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, one of American theater\u2019s most durable partnerships (the pair wrote the libretto for \u201cAnything Goes\u201d in 1934 and then \u201cThe Sound of Music\u201d 25 years later), and Thomas Meehan, book writer for \u201cAnnie\u201d and co-book writer of \u201cThe Producers\u201d and \u201cHairspray.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe star of the show in my world is the property itself,\u201d Coleman says. \u201cI\u2019m acting for clients, or, if I\u2019m the trustee, my job is to look after the property and try to maximize income and avoid tarnishment for the benefit of the beneficiaries. But, in a way, I think of \u2018The Sound of Music\u2019 as my client. I think of \u2018Annie\u2019 as my client. When I make decisions, I make them for the welfare of those children.\u201d<\/p>\n

From working on the legalities of turning literary works into stage productions to handling the licensing of famed properties to representing theater houses, Coleman has relished a life in the arts.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I had had some creative talent, maybe I would have taken a different path,\u201d Coleman says. \u201cBut I wanted proximity to the creative arts, and I found a way into it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Teacher \u2013 Marshall Boswell \u201988<\/p>\n

\"Boswell_Final2-150x150Professor of English at Rhodes College teaching 20th- and 21st-century American literature and fiction writing; author of literary studies, articles and two works of fiction; 2002 winner of the Clarence Day Award for Outstanding Teaching.<\/p>\n

When Marshall Boswell \u201988 was considering colleges, his father, James M. Boswell Sr. \u201957, tried to nudge him toward W&L. But the university\u2019s all-male student body made it a no-go. Once his dad showed him a Ring-Tum Phi article that reported the W&L Board of Trustees had voted to admit women, Boswell did an about-face.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went to W&L and had a life-changing experience,\u201d he says. \u201cThey are still the four years of my life I would relive if I had a time machine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Boswell found a litany of mentors in the English Department, but it was professor of English Jim Boatwright who made one of the earliest impacts. In Boatwright\u2019s Introduction to Fiction Writing class, they read \u201cA&P,\u201d a short story by John Updike about a young man working at a grocery store. Boswell\u2019s father worked his entire career for Kroger, and Boswell spent the summers delivering Pepsi to grocery stores and other shops.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that a famous writer from New York would write so eloquently about the grocery store, which was a place of such significance to me, was a revelation,\u201d Boswell says. \u201cIt felt like my brain had been hacked in a really wonderful way.\u201d<\/p>\n

After getting his bachelor\u2019s degree in English with a concentration in creative writing, he went on to get his master\u2019s in English from Washington University and his Ph.D. in 20th-century American literature from Emory University. A professor of English at Rhodes since 1996, he teaches courses in 20th- and 21st-century American literature and fiction writing. He encourages his students to \u201cget under the hood\u201d of a story, to really understand what the writer is trying to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a kind of playful creativity to the way I approach teaching literature and a scholarly expertise that I bring to creative writing,\u201d he says. Although his path ultimately led to teaching, Boswell is an author in his own right; he\u2019s published full-length studies of Updike and David Foster Wallace, as well as short stories and a novel. And he still remembers the moment he realized he was a first-time published author \u2014 in a short story collection. He was so proud he didn\u2019t want to put the book down and laid it on the passenger seat of his 1988 green Saab 900 and drove to the grocery store. After shopping, there was his book, waiting for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWriting is the best way that we can take the mess in our brains and give it shape and form,\u201d Boswell says. \u201cIt\u2019s not a reflection of what we think, it\u2019s the product of thinking. When you\u2019re writing something down, you\u2019re discovering what it is that was there. Writing brings it into existence.\u201d<\/p>\n

This article first appeared in the\u00a0Spring 2025 issue of W&L: The Washington and Lee Magazine<\/a>. Contact us at\u00a0magazine@wlu.edu<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Writer \u2013 Rebecca Makkai \u201999 Author of five novels and numerous short stories; teacher of graduate fiction…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":29190,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[223,88],"class_list":{"0":"post-29189","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-books","8":"tag-books","9":"tag-entertainment"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29189"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29189\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}