Categorized | About Us, General

About Us

Posted on 13 April 2005.

Slushpile.net brings you the latest in books-and-publishing news, interviews with authors and industry pros, and assorted rants and cheers about literature. Launched in April 2005, the site provides writing tips and war stories from new authors and established publishing veterans alike to that you, with luck and determination, can escape the slush pile.

Thomas Scott McKenzie
spacer Raised on a horse farm in Bourbon County, Kentucky, Scott McKenzie received a master’s degree in creative writing from the University of Mississippi. His work has appeared in Tin House, Premier Guitar, Stuff, Sync, Inked, Laptop, Articulate, The Daily Planet, Pen World, The Panhandler, the Wall Street Journal’s Managing Your Career publication, The Aethlon: Journal of Sport and Literature, and others.

He is a credited contributor to Neil Strauss’s #5 New York Times bestselling book Rules of the Game.

He is the co-author of The Man Behind the Nose: Assassins, Astronauts, Cannibals, and Other Stupendous Tales with Larry Harmon. He is also completing a forthcoming narrative nonfiction book. You can learn more about Scott’s background by visiting his personal website.

John Biggs
spacer Raised in Ohio, John Biggs received a bachelor degree in information systems from Carnegie Mellon. After spending four years as an IT programmer, he switched gears and completed an economic reporting master’s from New York University. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Laptop, PC Upgrade, Men’s Health, Popular Science, and many others.

Currently based in Brooklyn, New York, his online endeavors have included Gizmodo and The Stir. He is currently the Gadgets Editor for TechCrunch. He also runs the HourTime Podcast HourTime Podcast covering the world of fine wristwatches with Ariel Adams.

He is the author of Black Hat: Misfits, Criminals, and Scammers in the Internet Age and Blogger’s Boot Camp: Learning How to Build, Write, and Run a Successful Blog with Charlie White.

Legal Disclaimer and Assorted Dodging
Slushpile publishes both rumors and conjecture, in addition to accurately reported information. We strive to be undeniably clear about what is scuttlebutt versus what is verified fact. Information on this site may contain errors or inaccuracies; the site’s proprietors do not make warranty as to the correctness or reliability of the site’s content.

Links to content on and quotation of material from other sites are not the responsibility of Slushpile.

Editorial Policy
As a rule, if a book is mentioned on Slushpile.net, that’s generally because we like it. There is far too little media space devoted to literature to waste it on bad books. That’s not to say we won’t have a go at a particularly rancid piece of shit if necessary. But just so you know where we’re coming from, the majority of book references on this site are going to be positive.

In the interest of full disclosure, Scott’s books have been published by HarperCollins and he is currently under contract with the house. John’s books have been published by Apress and Focal Press.

Posts may contain links to Amazon or other online retailers. We trust that the readership of Slushpile.net is web savvy enough to understand the concept of affiliate programs and that if you click on a link and ultimately buy something, we might possibly receive a nickel or two from your purchase.


  • www.southernartistry.orgthenlookupJudySanders,Mississippi J. Sanders

    Well, glad I found you even if you are an Ole Miss grad. (MSU, here) I’ve been hawking novels for a while, getting nibbles here and there. G. F. just asked to see a partial, so I looked him up for some further research and found your site. Goody. I’ll stay tuned.

  • E.L.

    Thank you for taking the time to put up such a helpful and encouraging site. It has been a welcome source of news and encouragement for this currently discouraged writer.

  • chidder.livejournal.com/ chidder

    Excellent site. I’ve added a link to it on my blog.

  • Julie Mitchell

    Hey Slushpile. We’re publishing Ariel Gore’s novel, The Traveling Death and Resurrection Show. Where and to whom should I send a review copy and info about the author?

    Like what you do. Happy anniversary. Where’s the party?
    xo
    Julie

  • mike b

    great site .. just read review with george saunders … excellent …

  • www.diaryofaheretic.blogs.com/diary_of_a_heretic/ Kathleen Maher

    Great site but you need some women. No matter how well you think you can create or imagine a literary female, critic, heroine, villain, editor, writer, interviewer–why include someone that was born that way? Mix it up. Just for fun. grasshopper

  • www.backtoonebooks.com Joyce Wainwright

    Hi slushpile:

    If you’re interested, I can send you a review copy of our first launch, a comic novel by Bruce Hoppe. (See above website for details). It’s one of those gems that, every once in a while, makes it through the publishing maze via the small press route. And keep up the great work here!

  • Barbara Richards

    Has no. 5 of Slushpile been published?

  • Debbie Daniel

    I appreciate your comments on Kakutani’s unfailingly critical and negative reviews of Knopf writers. Richard Ford’s new novel is a great read and laugh out loud funny. Its wise and witty and a worthy sequel to the earlier Frank Bascomb books.
    Of course, I’m just an ordinary reader who appreciates good writing so what do I know compared to a Critic?! As far as I’m concerned, it ought to be a requirement of the job of reviewer that they have a well established history and track record of producing high quality work in the subject they are the supposed expert in.
    Thanks for producing this site. Its fun and interesting.

  • trajan picard

    I don’t know if this is one of the aims of slushpile, but you guys are funny. And the world’s greatest football team is Liverpool FC out of England. Like me saying that has anything to do with this site.

  • www.LiteratureIsNotDead.com Mike

    Scott it was a pleasure meeting you at the City Lit Festival. I’ve just checked out your Strauss review and the website in general. It’s pretty excellent. I’ll be sure you put you on my blogroll.

  • www.tianodesign.com Stephen Tiano

    Hey, I’m glad I found your blog, it’s literate, thoughtful, and amusing. I’d like it if you’d take a look at mine at www.tianodesign.com/blog and, in a best case, we’d exchange links.

    In any event, keep up the good work.

  • Gregory Crawford

    I want to contact John Grisham. Whats the best way to reach him. Please contact me at my e-mail address Gregory_Crawford@hotmail.com Thank you.

  • www.ronwulkan.com Ron Wulkan

    Like your attitude! Would you like a complimentary copy of my new novel? No obligation. Just want the story ‘out there.’

    I attended the “Rape of Nanking” Conference at Princeton’s Wilson Center of International Studies with the late best-selling author, Iris Chang when I researched my novel, “The Gook Lover.” She encouraged me to write my book even as she at the peak of her too-short brilliant career.

    “The Gook Lover” is pro-Asian, anti-Imperialist story of Tomi Tomigawa, a young Japanese officer who lost his soul at the Rape of Nanking and other war crimes he was forced to commit. He worked for the U.S. Army during the Occupation and steals for black market cash. Tomi builds a car manufacturing company that eventually becomes the world’s biggest. Acclaimed as “modern Japan’s Henry Ford,” Tomi barely obeyed the last third of the ancient Chinese adage: “Think. Organize. Do Good.”

    A casual glance in a Manhattan book store window ignites his latent shame and
    changes his life and possibly, that of Japan’s denial of its war crimes.

    For info: www.ronwulkan.com

    To receive the book, I’ll need a mailing address..

    The Gook Lover ISBN 978-0-615-15455-8
    Trade paperback US$12.95
    Putnam, St. Clair & Wyeth, publishers

  • www.anneleighton.com Anne Leighton

    Hey Scott,

    Very strong web site. I do disagree with you about the self-publishing movement. I think there are some fascinating parallels with indie bands, filmmakers, and more. There are fantastic independent books out there, some that found the light of day because we have the tools to express ourselves and make topics available. I recently bought a simple book about HOW TO NEGOTIATE ANYTHING that I got at THE BOOK EXPO. There was also a reader on SANTARIA, and I’d been looking for any kind of info on that topic forever.

  • thewriterscoin.wordpress.com Writers Coin

    Great site. I’ve been looking to add sites like this to my blogroll for quite some time.

  • Geoff Hamilton

    Dear Slushpile.net,
    As editor of the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Fiction (forthcoming from Facts on File in 2009), I’m looking for contributors to write entries on a number of contemporary authors and their works. Would you happen to know any writers/academics/freelancers who might be up to the task? If so, please direct them to our site! Details about the project — available entries and general guidelines — can be found here:
    www.geoffhamilton.com/contemporaryencyclopedia/homeCONT.html
    There is no compensation, alas, but contributors do receive a (prestigious and deeply satisfying!) byline under their entry in the finished book.
    Yours,
    Geoff Hamilton,
    Visiting Assistant Prof., St. Olaf College

  • www.saaradutton.com Saara Dutton

    I just discovered your site. It’s both humorous and helpful. I’ll be linking to it on my blog–not that this is much of a compliment. I’ve also linked to Bigfoot Research, Dollywood and the Squirrel Circus. Still, you’ll be in interesting company.

  • www.jsuzannesanders.com Judy Sanders

    I’m the Aug. 12, 2005 commenter, J. Sanders. I’m within a hair of self-publishing. After many years of rejections plus prayer, I’ve decided not to feel that self-publishing will make me less of a person or less of a writer. Although I wasn’t a “called” librarian, I trained as one. One of the unchanging rules was: never buy self-published books. From my reading I see that the rule has changed for some libraries, but it was hard for me to erase what I believed for so long.

    From September 27, 2008, to January 9, 2009, I had a publisher. Small, but a publisher. I put my long-developed marketing plan into effect, including mailings to 120 folks in my target market. TESTING HASKELL was ready for the printer. For a reason I will probably never know, the publisher fired me.

    I will now happily self-publish. The money isn’t too bad, I’ve located an experienced printer, and I’ve developed the attitude that if I’m dedicated, honest, hard-working, etc., this will work out.

    Thank you for the clear article on self-publishing. It encouraged me.

    Judy

  • Nanette Rayman Rivera

    Hello. Please disregard the April 4, 2009 post on this site. I DID NOT WRITE IT. A cyber stalker named Jacob Walsh of Indianapolis wrote it. Please be advised that any stupid, racist, egomaniacal posts are NOT from me, Nanette Rayman Rivera – they are from the stalker.

    Sincerely,

    Nanette

  • kausap.wordpress.com jb

    I stumbled upon one of your posts on writing tips. I needed that because I’m struggling to write my first short story. I have the story more or less written but in revision, I saw many more that needed improvement. So one of the things I googled was how to avoid sentimentality. May I have a copy of your post on this point if you have a post on this issue alone (or if not, can you give me a link to a post about this issue?) Thank you for sharing your knowledge about writing. God bless you.

  • NE

    I read. I’ve been reading since 1935. I write. I’ve been writing for a few years. Right nor, I’m reading John Irving’s UNTIL I FIND YOU. All the time I’m reading, I’m thinking: Why bother? I’m always so blown away by glorious things of which I’m not capable… and have you read THE LITTLE BOOK or THE GIRL WITH THE GREEN LIZARD? You see what I mean. Sigh.

  • www.christiankiefer.com Christian Kiefer

    Hi all:

    The Fisketjon interview is coming up on my screen with a bunch of weird artifacts replacing the quote marks and apostrophes. I wondered if you could send me a clean copy I could quote from. I’m preparing a paper for a conference on Cormac McCarthy (next week!) and would like to use the interview as one of my sources.

    Best,
    Christian Kiefer

  • Vicky Sloan

    say what?

  • Mark Spradlin

    Nanette, how’s unemployment in Waco? Loser.

  • Phil

    Hi,

    I’d like to inquire about purchasing a simple text link – something like “Stein Diamonds – Rolex Watches” or a small banner (120×60) on your homepage on slushpile.net.com.

    We’ve been selling diamond jewelry and luxury watches for over 25 years and I thought our products might be a good fit for your readers.

    Our budget is around $40 per year. Is this something you’d be open to?

    Regards,

    Phil
    Stein Diamonds

  • Phil

    Hi,

    I’d like to inquire about purchasing a simple text link – something like “Stein Diamonds – Rolex Watches” or a small banner (120×60) on your homepage on slushpile.net.

    We’ve been selling diamond jewelry and luxury watches for over 25 years and I thought our products might be a good fit for your readers.

    Our budget is around $40 per year. Is this something you’d be open to?

    Regards,

    Phil
    Stein Diamonds


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