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Author Topic:   Ask Cyrus
CyrusWeinstein
Director

Posts: 244
From:New York, NY
Registered: Apr 2000

posted July 01, 2000 11:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for CyrusWeinstein   Click Here to Email CyrusWeinstein     Edit/Delete Message
Hi. I'm Cyrus Weinstein, President - Manka Publishing Group. It's a little late here in New York. 2:30 a.m. I can't sleep. Goddamned Mexican food again. I'm starting this topic so that I can answer any literary questions you may have here on the boards. I've been responding to individual e-mails since we started these boards a month ago or so but this might be a way to share information amongst many people at one time. So ask me anything you want and I promise to try and check back as often as I can. Summer time is usually a little slower than the rest of the year. Except for July 8th when Harry Potter mania takes over the world. But normally, summer is a lonely time here in the city. Unless you're married or like to go on holiday, it's just a lonely, hot time to be in New York. Not that I'm complaining. I've loved New York all my life. You hear about your friends taking a summer share out at the Hamptons and they would invite you but you're a 56 year old bachelor without any dating prospects on the horizon. It's tough. They love doing business with you but hate socializing with you. It's like I have old single man tattoed on my face. It's toughest late at night. On weekends especially when no one's at work at you can hear people coming home from bars, drunk, talking loudly, about to go have sex somewhere. The best time for me is Tuesday. After work drinks with colleagues, talking about books and magazines and hot writers and theater and films... But then all the younger copy editors and interns get drunk and want to get together for sex. Leaving us old guys with the check.

Anyway, ask me anything. I like to check my email and these message boards late at night. But leave your questions anytime.

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jollyjoe
A-List Writer

Posts: 1583
From:Los Angeles
Registered: Apr 2000

posted July 02, 2000 12:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for jollyjoe   Click Here to Email jollyjoe     Edit/Delete Message
You're sort of a sad son of a bitch. Here's a question. Why do some books suck and others rule? Don't you guys have an editorial policy to control the degree of suckiness?

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CyrusWeinstein
Director

Posts: 244
From:New York, NY
Registered: Apr 2000

posted July 02, 2000 12:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for CyrusWeinstein   Click Here to Email CyrusWeinstein     Edit/Delete Message
Don't worry about me. I'm not sad and I'm not a son of a bitch. Your question is a thorn in the side of all publishers. While we all want the next John Grisham book to help our bottom line, we loathe publishing it because we know it compromises everything we've ever stood for. That said, I'm proud as hell to have published Carrier Pigeons by Alison Fogle. She's popular AND one hell of a writer. That's a tough combination to find.

You can read an excerpt of her novel here:
http://www.mankabros.com/publishing/index.htm

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CyrusWeinstein
Director

Posts: 244
From:New York, NY
Registered: Apr 2000

posted July 03, 2000 12:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for CyrusWeinstein   Click Here to Email CyrusWeinstein     Edit/Delete Message
I understand. It's probably because of the holiday weekend that traffic on these boards is so light. I don't mind. I've got a stack of reading to do before Wednesday. I probably should have started this topic mid-week instead over the weekend. I was going to see The Perfect Storm - we bid on the book originally but lost it - but it was sold out nearly all day. Any questions at all? Send them along.

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CyrusWeinstein
Director

Posts: 244
From:New York, NY
Registered: Apr 2000

posted July 03, 2000 08:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for CyrusWeinstein   Click Here to Email CyrusWeinstein     Edit/Delete Message
The city seems empty of people this weekend (except for the tourists of course - I'm talking about real people). It's a strange feeling to long for the office. I need to go away on the next holiday. Some place where I don't ever want to go back to the office. I think that is considered a getaway. I saw The Perfect Storm - whatever. I've had a few cocktails - always. What now? It's only midnight. Happy July 4th eastern time people! So ask me anything. I'm here for you.

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lousydrunk
A-List Writer

Posts: 436
From:Richmond, VA
Registered: May 2000

posted July 05, 2000 11:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lousydrunk   Click Here to Email lousydrunk     Edit/Delete Message
Hey, Cyrus. What time is it?

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CyrusWeinstein
Director

Posts: 244
From:New York, NY
Registered: Apr 2000

posted July 06, 2000 11:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for CyrusWeinstein   Click Here to Email CyrusWeinstein     Edit/Delete Message
2:30 eastern, jerk!

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lousydrunk
A-List Writer

Posts: 436
From:Richmond, VA
Registered: May 2000

posted July 06, 2000 01:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for lousydrunk   Click Here to Email lousydrunk     Edit/Delete Message
Thanks.

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CyrusWeinstein
Director

Posts: 244
From:New York, NY
Registered: Apr 2000

posted July 07, 2000 12:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for CyrusWeinstein   Click Here to Email CyrusWeinstein     Edit/Delete Message
This city is nuts sometimes. You know Cats is closing. Suddenly, it's the hottest show in town. People nearly killing themselves trying to get into Cats. A lot of brave Americans risked their lives over something a little more meaningful than singing Cats. I had acquaintances who died in Vietnam. We publish novels and histories of some of the most courageous humans ever to live on the planet. I'm writing this for the delirious theater goer who is about to step in front of cab trying to get to the box office before more Cats shows sell out. Before you die, think of all the good things you could with your life. It's 3:20 a.m. and my tranquilizers haven't kicked in yet.

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Lusch
Hack Writer

Posts: 9
From:Wherever I go
Registered: Jul 2000

posted July 07, 2000 10:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lusch     Edit/Delete Message
Cccccyrus, some of us LIKE Cats! Couldn't unerstand why people made such fun o f it. Yeah, all the music was ripped off, but still it was a wonerful show. Just becasue it's the freakin' fourth of July doesn't mean people can't enjoy a good show, especially since it's closing. Have you thought about starting to drink earlier in the day? Might help you pass out before you get lonely. works fo rme.

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CyrusWeinstein
Director

Posts: 244
From:New York, NY
Registered: Apr 2000

posted July 07, 2000 10:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for CyrusWeinstein   Click Here to Email CyrusWeinstein     Edit/Delete Message
Is that your question, Lusch? Yes, I have thought about drinking earlier in the day. But you can't really start BEFORE you wake up. Thanks. Keep those questions coming. I'm here all night. Publishing is my game. Manka didn't have shot really at Harry Potter. It's a phenomenon. Do you know that Downey in London got J.K. Rowling to write the first book on a 1,000 pound advance. That's like $1,500 bucks for something that'll bring in a few hundred million by the time she's done. We've got some good prospects. Carrier Pigeons is doing very well. Check out an excerpt:
http://www.mankabros.com/publishing/index.htm

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CyrusWeinstein
Director

Posts: 244
From:New York, NY
Registered: Apr 2000

posted July 08, 2000 01:12 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for CyrusWeinstein   Click Here to Email CyrusWeinstein     Edit/Delete Message
It's 4:10 a.m Just watching a little TV - and it is little. I try not to watch too much and to keep from doing that I only have a 9 inch black and white. Vonnegut does the same thing. He was scrunched trying to see the Super Bowl when he nearly burned down his apartment when he dropped a cigarette. Maybe this Q&A thing was a bad idea.

Do those Ronco food dehydrators really work? I mean, I'd love to make my own jerky.

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CyrusWeinstein
Director

Posts: 244
From:New York, NY
Registered: Apr 2000

posted July 10, 2000 11:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for CyrusWeinstein   Click Here to Email CyrusWeinstein     Edit/Delete Message
Nice to see Jenny Coates over there at Yeast putting out an effort on these boards. I'm not so sure about Buttermilk Oak bread or whatever the hell is was. Anybody care about the All Star Game this week? Me neither. I like the weekday nights. I had dinner with a couple of hot new writers we're interested in. We had drinks at the Four Seasons, appetizers. Middle of the week is good before everyone goes home to Connecticut or back to California to be with their families on the weekend. Goddamn weekends. Anything you want to ask. I'm going to keep putting out the effort because some things are worth fighting for.

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CyrusWeinstein
Director

Posts: 244
From:New York, NY
Registered: Apr 2000

posted July 12, 2000 12:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for CyrusWeinstein   Click Here to Email CyrusWeinstein     Edit/Delete Message
On my way home from work every night I go to this Italian deli on 56th & 6th and pick up a bottle of wine and occasionally something to eat. Every time, the owner says, "Hey, Mr. Weinstein, how come you no get married?" I tell him, "English, Mario. English." Then he says, "Hey, Mr. Weinstein, why is it you haven't found a woman that you would like to share the rest of your life with?" I say, "That's better and it's none of your business." And it's not. I don't see him offering up one of his attractive daughters. Sometimes I just want to find another deli to go to.

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CyrusWeinstein
Director

Posts: 244
From:New York, NY
Registered: Apr 2000

posted July 16, 2000 01:12 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for CyrusWeinstein   Click Here to Email CyrusWeinstein     Edit/Delete Message
It's 4:10 a.m. and if you watch Sex and the City, you would think that everyone is having sex on Saturday night. Not true.

Let's see what's in the news today. Middle East peace. Great. That will last. Hurray, Middle East peace. Jews and Arabs friend forever.

Fuck this. I'm going to flip around the television. The internet is boring.

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