NYC Publisher Turned Bookstore Employee and Self-Published Author

By Jason Boog 

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Tonight former publishing executive Robert Wyatt concludes his stint as a bookstore employee, rediscovering the book business from the ground up at The Golden Notebook in Woodstock, New York.

Over his long career, Wyatt served as editorial director at Avon Books, EIC of the mass market division at Ballantine Books, editorial director Delacorte Books for Young Readers, and helmed the eponymous imprint A Wyatt Book at St. Martin’s Press. Most recently he self-published two books under the name of his old imprint: “Jam & the Box” and “The Fluffys & the Box.” Following his bookstore stint, he told GalleyCat he will “begin new commentary on the making of my books, as well as associated book publishing thoughts” on his blog.

Here’s an excerpt from his blog about the experience: “A gentleman asked if we had a book on fishing for his son-in-law; Darrell found just the right book that could fit in a pocket or creel. It was about fishes of the Catskills and the entire book was waterproof. Later a customer asked what we had on gems. Back in the gems and mushroom section (don’t ask; they are both products of nature) Barry found just the right over-size book, a perfect gift. The village idiot can find a novel if it is in stock, but it takes special skills, primarily found in smaller stores, to find a special edition in a special field.”