When I set out to learn about my mother's bridge club, the Jewish octogenarians behind the matching outfits and accessories, I never expected to fall in love with them. This is the story of the ladies, their game, their gen, and the ragged path that led me back to my mother.
Hey GUys: Here’s an interview I just did with LitStack. I have no idea who they are or what they believe. THe woman (man?) who sent the questions never identified her or himself. I think they might be some kind of rogue literary organization that doubles as a prostitution ring or puppy mill or kosher caterer or plus size dress shop on Boston Post Road. I tried to be clever and honest but real and slightly ironic and mysterious and powerful and fitful and fetching.
Any other questions?
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Betsy Lerner 
Wonderful interview Betsy. Yes, we are insane.
Kyler’s back!! WHere have you been — missed you! Betsy
Agreed!
(I’ve been hiding…) Love you guys.
AHEM…well, damn. You’ve found me out. For the record, I’m very female…and I mean, you know, by birth. And we aren’t a prostitution ring or puppy mill. But there is lots of pole dancing and stripping going on lately for which I shan’t apologize. Thanks for the interview and for linking us. You accomplished multiple layers of clever, fitful and fetching. Mystery and power were already assumed. 🙂
“No Bad Dogs” has been my road map to dog stewardship for 30 years (even though I now share a house with a Labrador named Bad Dog). Belatedly, but, thank you for bringing her wisdom to print. Was she as sweetly eccentric in person as she seemed on the TV series? I would have loved to have had her as a neighbor instead of the dopes who allow their mastiff to run though my front yard.
Interestingly, in 2010 she would have celebrated her 100th b-day.
Nice. My question is, if you could interview yourself, what question would you ask?
Today I discovered that an interview I did with a similar “who are you, again?” outfit was published while I was off traipsing the world. Not to be all, “enough about you…” but here’s the link: http://www.mourninggoats.blogspot.com/2012/07/42-suzy-vitello.html
I was really impressed (and freaked out) by the amount of stalk-digging they did before sending out the question. The Interwebs. Scary.
How much do you weigh?
I must say, you look pretty fucking svelte in your photo there, Ms. Lerner.
I want to know how Goat can tell what’s on your Kindle. Freaky.
This IS freaky. Can they read the damn thing or just know that you’ve sent it.
Okay, I posted this on the Mourning Goats site, too. HOW THE FUCK DO THEY KNOW WHAT YOU’RE SENDING TO YOUR KINDLE?
I asked them that too. I mean, stalk much? Apparently, all that stuff is out there. Like, can you see the text message pic of my tits that I sent to my husband, too? Jesus.
Out there WHERE? That’s fucking horrifying.
I’m getting a perm and changing my name to Malcolm Gladwell.
You made me laugh before coffee!
It’s a Turing test. You’ve been interviewed by a machine, either a Multiple Rebendable or a Maximal Sympathetic. Hard to tell which, but they’re everywhere these days. I hope you didn’t give it your account numbers.
This answer pasted below, regarding whether you consider yourself an editorial agent, is why you are a ‘legend’. By the way, I found it odd the interviewer didn’t know you primarily represent non-fiction.
Yes, I am an editor in agent’s clothing. I love to edit. I have confidence in my editorial work. But I learned working for publishers that you also had to be a great salesperson in order to acquire a book and then to get the publishing house behind it. A booster, an enthusiast, you had to create an aura around a book, get people to read it and hopefully love it and work hard on making it a success. As an agent, I have to bring all of this to bear as I sell books, as I help authors navigate their careers, and it is always renewed by finding wonderful new writers and seeing more seasoned writers get better and better
Did you ever read the Betsy – Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace?
Yes and I adored them.
Betsy’s Wedding was my favorite. It was the first book I read that was about the real after of a Happily Ever ending. But ‘fifties style, so you knew it would work out . . .
If I start a blog called StackedLit will you give me an interview? You won’t even have to be clever or honest (but fetching and mysterious, yes).
Have you ever been wrong about a client? Not just in terms of sales or reviews, but the client him/herself?
Great question. YES. A few have been sociopaths, a few couldn’t really write (or write well), a few were pathological liars, and the like. We all make mistakes.By the same token, I’m sure some writers thought they made a mistake coming with me. It’s like getting in bed with someone and realizing you’ve made a grave mistake.
I once made a grave mistake. She was a necrophiliac. Not only was it hard to just lay there, but I couldn’t use my hands. And I’m Italian and play guitar.
Mike D. hahahahaha, I never though I’d laugh at a dead sex joke but that was funnnn-e
Do writer’s conferences result in more acceptances for authors when compared to sending unsolicited queries or is it all a big rip off?
Never mind.
Ii wouldn’t mind hearing her opinion on this question.
I’ve been to two events. I thought I would be the oldest person there. Not even fucking close. I don’t remember seeing any oxygen bottles or walkers but neither would’ve looked out of place. Are they–like casinos–preying on us old farts who are taking our last shot at meaningful life? Doesn’t matter, I am not quitting.
Writers conferences are good for: finding other writers/readers, getting feedback on your work, dedicating time to yourself as a writer, and sometimes with a little luck successful networking with agents/authors/editors.
Great interview Betsy.
Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?
1. do you think of writing memoir as a form of self-destruction?
2. do you find it easy to shift from one project/client to another?
3. who is your mentor and why?
speak directly into the mic.
Just think of a phoenix.
memoir can be a form of self-destruction like anything else. I don’t shift easily between any two things excepts salt and sweet. I’ve been fortunate to have many mentors along the way.
Is Henry Dunow cute?
If you mean in a kind of literary hunk way, yes, very, especially when he puts on his bi-focals and peers over them at you with his warm brown eyes.
I knew I was right.
Who cares if he looks like Quasimoto just sign the damn contract.
OMG, I was such a Betsy/Carolyn Heywood fanatic between 3rd grade and fifth grades. Her books were on their own shelf in front of the window at the public library and I would perch there. And my name isn’t even Betsy.
Great interview–I would describe it as All You Ever Need to Know About Betsy in 200 words or less.
How do you relax? Do you relax?
Fun interview, says this whatthefuck basically insane person.
One question, which doesn’t fit very well with the question above(Sorry, Hope.): Will you write more books?
Yours is a much better question. We all know, after all, that Betsy likes to knock off a few holes on the links, then celebrate with a drinkee.
I’m relieved LitStack wasn’t doubling as a puppy mill, but being interviewed by a prostitute ring could have done wonders for anyone’s street cred. My question is: When are you going to get Neil Young and Patti Smith to write a book together?
I will immediately seize your rss as I can’t in finding your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve
any? Kindly allow me understand so that I could subscribe.
Thanks.