Missing Pages: An Investigative Podcast on the Book Publishing Industry

We take a look at the case of Hache Carrillo, who lied about his ethnicity, and put it in context with his contributions to the communities he worked in. We talk to former colleagues Luis Bayard and Lisa Page, and Bethanne reveals her first-hand experience working with Hache on the board of the PEN Faulkner Foundation. Website: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/missing-pages/ YouTube: https://w...

We cover the story behind Bad Art Friend. In this episode, we plan to observe how the publishing industry is built on trust and investigate what happens when that trust is broken. We speak with Rebecca Meacham, a fiction writer who wrote about literary theft and its consequences, and Becky Tuch, a former member of the now-infamous Chunky Monkeys writing group. Website: https://listen.podglomerate....

We’ve been talking a lot about ghost writing, because ghosting – that’s the industry term – is BIG business. This is a bonus episode of our series about ghostwriting. In this episode, you’ll hear from Madeleine Morel who is an agent for ghostwriters and Andrew Crofts, a successful ghostwriter. Website: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/missing-pages/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X...

How does a ghostwriter capture the subject’s voice when writing a cookbook? And for the ghostwriters behind the stories, how does ghostwriting cookbooks differ from non-fiction? We talk to JJ Goode, a Brooklyn-based food writer, to get inside the mind of a cookbook ghostwriter. Website: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/missing-pages/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xe_qmLMDvI Transc...

Today we’re looking at audiobooks. While the explosive growth of podcasting has dominated headlines in the audio world, the audiobooks market has slowly and steadily grown alongside it. Today, the international audiobook industry can claim $5 billion in revenue, while podcasting boasts around $2 billion. So how did this happen? What can we in podcastland learn from our colleagues in audiobooks? An...

We explore what ghostwriting looks like for fiction. For genres like spy novels and fantasy, how does book publishing capitalize on ghostwriters to unlock lucrative IP extensions on streaming? We talk to Jeff Rovin, who has written Tom Clancy novels, and Andrew Crofts, who wrote the memoir Confessions of a Ghostwriter, to get the scoop. Website: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/missing-pages/...

In this episode of Missing Pages we examine the lucrative culture of non-fiction ghostwriting and all its thorny edges, with a focus on what the elusive and often secretive practice means for a publishing industry ever on the brink of combustion. We talk to ghostwriting veterans like Daniel Paisner, Jon Sternfeld, Daniel Gerstein as well as cookbook author JJ Goode to get insight into how the worl...

This week we're excited to share an episode from Nerdette, a fun weekly interview show produced by our friends at WBEZ. In this episode, fellow professional book lovers Miwa Messer and Andrew Limbong joined Nerdette host Greta Johnsen to discuss their top picks for the year. Here are the books mentioned in the episode. For pictures, links and more details, head to their website! Learn more about y...

We look into the results of censorship in extreme cases, using Salman Rushdie as a case study. Does extreme censorship of books lead to violence? We spoke with Gaby Wood, the Chief Executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, to find out more. Website: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/missing-pages/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xe_qmLMDvI Transcript: https://listen.podglomerate.com/s...

If you listened to our episodes about the rise of book banning, you heard about the efforts around the U.S. to censor books on sexual or racial grounds. However it seems there's a lot more going on than that. One of the guests that we spoke with – NYTs Bestselling author Jodi Picoult – has firsthand experience with book banning. Picoult's book, 19 Minutes, has been banned in school boards across 2...

In episode 1 of this series, we looked at the history of banned books in America. Today, we look at its current state. Is there more nuance to book censorship than is at the surface? We speak with two people on opposite sides of the spectrum: A parent, who seeks to explain why she wants more control over the stories her children are exposed to, and best selling author Jodi Picoult, who has written...

When it comes to books, America has had the same cultural arguments since its founding. One group perpetually focused on the moral ramifications and societal threats a story poses, while another group argues that questioning morals and societal norms makes for a healthier individual, and democracy. Today, however, local has become national. Historically, what's taught in public schools has been by...

With Simon & Schuster and Penguin Random House barred from merging, are publishers losing substantial power as gatekeepers to the industry? What is the current state of publishers, and did this decision take into account the readers or the authors? Website: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/missing-pages/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xe_qmLMDvI Transcript: https://listen.podglomera...

As an extension of our last episode on the paradigm shifts in the fanfiction community, we take a look at the complicated history of Dungeons and Dragons and how the game’s creators have had a rocky relationship with the game’s fans. We talk to Ben Riggs, author of Slaying the Dragon, about Dungeons and Dragons’ sordid fan history. Website: https://listen.podglomerate.com/show/missing-pages/ YouTu...

Are fanfiction communities becoming stronger than traditional publishers? In this episode, we’ll look at how fans, publishers, and creators are (or aren’t) working together, examining a fanfiction lawsuit between former fanfic writers Zoey Ellis and Addison Cain. We speak with Elizabeth Minkel, co-host of the Fansplaining podcast. Did we mention the fanfiction is about the highly specific subgenre...

Colleen Hoover created a book empire through self-publishing, in part due to the power of social media. Is her career a sign of a changing landscape where publishing gatekeepers are losing power while readers are gaining power? We speak with Laura Miller, Books and Culture columnist at Slate, Jim Milliot, Co-Editorial Director at Publishers Weekly, and Jennie Young, an Associate Professor of Human...

Book bans are on the rise across America. With the rise of social media, book publishers are losing their power as the industry gatekeepers. More and more celebrities and influencers are publishing books with ghostwriters. Writing communities are splintering because members are at cross purposes about their mission. An all-new season of the investigative podcast hosted by world-renowned literary c...

To get a better sense of the book world Caroline Calloway found herself in, we talked to Constance Grady, a senior correspondent and culture critic for Vox, who covers film, TV, and of course, book publishing. In this bonus episode, previously only available in our premium feed on Apple Podcasts, "Missing Pages Unabridged," Constance shares her wisdom about books, the publishing industry, and how...

In Kaavya Viswanathan: The Full Package, we looked back into "How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life," and the plagiarism scandal that brought everything down. As we unearthed new details about the fiasco, we thought it was important to talk to Viswanathan herself to find out what really happened. In this extended interview, previously only available in our premium feed on Apple Podca...

He enlightened millions with his writings and built dozens of schools in the Middle East. But despite his praiseworthy deeds, author-philanthropist Greg Mortenson suffered an immense fall from grace. Was Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, a manipulative scammer or an idealist in over his head? Bethanne delves into a story of good intentions and very bad bookkeeping. Missing Pages is an i...

In writers’ dreams, every published author is a millionaire, every title sells at auction, every editor is brilliant and attentive, and every book hits the bestseller list. Alas, writers’ dreams and the publishing industry’s reality don’t always mesh. Bethanne breaks down the lifespan of a book and the overworked and underpaid workers who make the industry (barely) run. Missing Pages is an investi...

Bethanne doesn’t just talk about scandals after the fact: Sometimes she’s embroiled in them as they happen. In this episode, Bethanne spills the tea on the story of “Anna March,” a notorious figure who racked up big bills in the service of literature — and left others to pay them. Missing Pages is an investigative podcast about the book publishing industry. The show is hosted by writer and literar...

In this short bonus episode, Bethanne chats with Missing Pages Executive Producer Jeff Umbro about a new Apple Books collection of books and authors featured in the podcast. You can explore the collection at apple.co/booksmissingpages. Missing Pages is an investigative podcast about the book publishing industry. The show is hosted by writer and literary critic Bethanne Patrick, and is produced by...

Some stories are too big, or at least too entertaining, to fit into a single episode. In part two, Bethanne speaks to authors, publishers, and NYC night life reporters to find out what Caroline Calloway might have up her sleeve next. Make sure to listen to part one if you haven't yet. Missing Pages is an investigative podcast about the book publishing industry. The show is hosted by writer and lit...

They say that being too online will mess with your head, and no one was more online than Caroline Calloway, the mega-influencer who is known for botching not one but two books deals. Bethanne follows her trail of obsessed superfans, betrayed friends, and abandoned book deals across Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, and even OnlyFans. Find a full transcript of this episode here. Missing Pages is an inves...