The Bookslut Transition Interview

A few months ago, Chicago Tech News interviewed Jessa Crispin, creator of the popular literary website Bookslut. At the end of the month, Jessa will be leaving Chicago and moving to Berlin. Now you might say, “big deal.” If you did, you’d be right. To illustrate Bookslut’s national stature, stories about Jessa’s move cropped up at Publisher’s Weekly, The National Book Critics Circle, and even the mighty New Yorker. Jessa was even summoned to Chicago Tonight to explain the situation. (Editor’s note: I shall be eternally disappointed she didn’t make good on her notion to do the interview while sitting on Phil Ponce’s lap.)

The upshot is, while Jessa is moving, Bookslut is remaining in Chicago. Jessa’s former assistant, Caroline Eick, has been promoted to editor and will be handling the day-to-day functions of the business, while Jessa will resume blogging once she’s settled in Berlin. Since you’re reading a tech news site, you might be thinking “what’s the bid deal about a telecommute?” Since the literary world is giving birth to cattle, and it isn’t everyday The New Yorker writes about Chicago new media, we put some questions about the transition to Caroline Eick.

Chicago Tech News: You’ve received a decent-sized promotion.  How did you first come to be involved with Bookslut?

Caroline Eick: I interviewed for an intern position with Jessa last year.

CTN: The blog is theoretically staying the same and Jessa is providing a form of executive oversight.  What’s actually changing besides a telecommute?

CE: Not much is going to change. There are a lot of day-to-day things that have to be maintained: finding new reviewers, sorting through the 20-40 books Bookslut receives a day and distributing them to the reviewers, editing the reviews and features, etc. The Bookslut Reading Series at the Hopleaf will continue under me.

It’s funny to me that Bookslut is continually referred to as a ‘blog.’ Yes, there is a blog component to the site but there are also reviews, features and columns. It’s more than just a blog.

CTN: One of the original points of differentiation for Bookslut was an openness to things like science fiction and comics, two thing frequently dear to my techie audience.  Your background seems to be a bit more “traditional literary.”  With the “Comicbookslut” column inactive for a bit over a year, “SpecFic Floozy” two years inactive and a dead link for “Science Fiction Skeptic,” should readers expect a different distribution in terms of what’s assigned for review?

CE: No, readers shouldn’t expect a redistribution based on my particular taste. I’m glad you mentioned those specific columns, though. We, at some point, had very talented people writing those columns and for whatever reason, they’re not writing them anymore. I know Jessa searched for replacements (and probably received hundreds of responses) but those positions are some of the most difficult to fill. Those columns need to appeal to the hardcore fan as well as the new reader. It’s tough to strike a balance. We have recently found someone new to write the Comicbookslut column. I don’t think he’s able to start until the August issue. We also found someone to write sci-fi reviews but I think he wants to dip his toe in before taking over the column.

CTN: Any changes to the actual website being planned?

CE: Maybe. We’ve talked about it. Mostly at the bar after a few drinks. I don’t think anything will happen immediately.

CTN: What are your feelings on the Kindle vs. Sony eReader war over eBooks and eBook formats?

CE: It is a war! People go nuts about this stuff. Sherman Alexie was in hot water over claiming he wanted to kick some dude in the balls for having a Kindle. Or something. I heard about this at some Future of Publishing event. My reaction was to slump down in my chair and start braiding my hair.

I’ve only seen two Kindles up close and I wasn’t that impressed. There is still a lot of work to be done on creating a user-friendly device for ebooks.

CTN: We’re nearing the roll-out of the “Espresso” Print On Demand book machine.  With an agreement already in place with Lightning Source for their catalog of POD titles, this could be a disruptive technology for both booksellers and publishers.  How do you see it affecting the traditional publishing system?

CE: I don’t, really. I hate to sound like a snot-nosed kid but I haven’t been able to engage myself in these discussions. I love to read. I have faith in readers. I wouldn’t sleep at night if I worried about publishers and distributors. I just want them to consider the readers. I hope they do.