I’ll Probably Delete This

Will Jauquet

Telling stories of authors, storytellers, and people and companies important to publishing. From historically important authors to modern best sellers, from editors and agents to publishers and the companies that make up book publishing, join us for the stories that shed light on the business of books.

Last refreshed: August 16th, 2025 at 5:26 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

#12: Startup Publisher Piatkus Books

Piatkus Books started as a small U.K. publisher focused on supplying books to libraries. Judy Piatkus founded her second publishing company in 1978, while still in her 20s. This episode tells the story of the company's founding and early days, up through its growth into fiction, international sales, and £10M in revenue before selling in 2007, just ahead of the global financial crisis. People Discussed 00:00 | Judy Piatkus — Founder of Piatkus Books; author of Ahead of Her Time 06:42 | Edwin Buck...

Aug 12, 2025•25 min

#11: Publishing and Pillory (Daniel Defoe)

The author of Robinson Crusoe, started his professional life as the 1700s equivalent of a blogger and a hot-take merchant. Daniel Defoe’s satirical pamphlet The Shortest Way with the Dissenters landed him in the pillory. Listen to learn about the early career of the author of one of the great early English novels, why Queen Anne’s government treated political criticism as treason, and how a booming London led to a vibrant press despite political crackdowns. Books/Works Discussed The True-Born En...

Aug 05, 2025•27 min

#10: Expansion of Ingram Books - Part 2

This episode tells the story of how Ingram transformed from a regional schoolbook depository into the go‑to wholesaler for U.S. trade books. Learn about how Harry Hoffman and Ingram expanded the company's reach in books and prepared the way for Amazon and its business model. Books Discussed The Family Business: How Ingram Transformed the World of Books (2021) by Keel Hunt https://www.amazon.com/Family-Business-Ingram-Transformed-World/dp/1682753124 Big Fiction: How Conglomeration Changed the Pub...

Jul 29, 2025•33 min

#9: Birth of Ingram Books - Part 1

Learn about how a family owned oil company came to run one of the most important companies within book publishing. Here the story of the start of Ingram Books. People Discussed 03:32 | Laura Ingalls Wilder – Author of the Little House series; covered in Episodes 3 & 4 03:54 | Orrin Henry Ingram – Lumber-baron patriarch (1850s-1890s) 04:24 | Orin “Hank” Ingram Sr . – Orrin’s grandson; shifted the family wealth into oil refining, barge transport, and textiles between the 1930s-60s 05:45 | E. B...

Jul 22, 2025•23 min

#8: James Patterson Markets a Bestseller

James Patterson has built a publishing juggernaut. His publishing success all started with Little, Brown publishing Along Came a Spider in February 1993. In this episode we look at how he marketed his breakout hit. From cover design to targeted TV advertising, Patterson brought his expertise as CEO of a major advertising firm to book publishing. Listen to Episode 7 to hear the begining of the story. Bibliography Along Came a Spider (1993) by James Patterson: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alon...

Jul 15, 2025•23 min

#7: James Patterson Writes a Better Thriller

It took James Patterson seven attempts before he found the right formula for a successful thriller. In this episode, we focus on Patterson break out commercial success, Along Came a Spider and answer the question of how he changed his writing, to find commercial success in his seventh book. Bibliography: Along Came a Spider (1993) by James Patterson: https://www.amazon.com/Along-Came-Spider-Alex-Cross/dp/031606637X The Thomas Berryman Number (1976) by James Patterson: https://www.amazon.com/Thom...

Jul 08, 2025•20 min

#6: Crichton's Jurassic Park

Michael Crichton had his first hit book in 1969 when he was in his 20s. But 20-years later he was in a rut. Jurassic Park got him out of is rut, and his friend Michael Ovitz helped turn it into a Steven Spielberg directed Hollywood blockbuster. Hear the story of the creation of Jurassic Park, both the book and the movie that made Crichton one of the wealthiest writers in publishing and Hollywood. Bibliography: The Andromeda Strain (1969) by Michael Crichton : https://www.thriftbooks.com/browse/?...

Jul 01, 2025•18 min

#5: Advice from Bob Gottlieb

Robert Gottlieb started in publishing in 1955. Just 10 years later he became editor-in-chief at publishing house Simon & Schuster. Following that, he went to Alfred A. Knopf, where he was again editor-in-chief. Over the course of his more than 60 year career, he became the most important editor in publishing, and edited hundreds of books. By his estimate, he edited more than 700, including books from Michael Crichton, Toni Morrison, former President Bill Clinton, and biographer Robert Caro. ...

Jun 24, 2025•17 min

#4: Publishing Little House in the Big Woods - Part 2 (Wilder, Fiery, & Kirkus)

Overview Follow Laura Ingalls Wilder’s journey from rejected memoir to successful first novel. To get there she needed the unsung help of editor Marion Fiery and then Virginia Kirkus. In this Part 2, finish the story of how Wilder wrote and got the first of the Little House books published. What You’ll Hear | Time | Topic | 00:00 | Cold‑open & Intro | 01:30 | PioneerGirl origins and rejections | 04:39 | Marion Fiery’s editorial revisions & Knopf contract | 11:52 | Knopf children’s divisi...

Jun 17, 2025•30 min

#3: Publishing Little House in the Big Woods - Part 1 (Laura Ingalls Wilder & Rose Wilder Lane)

Episode Overview At age 63, Laura Ingalls Wilder sat down with a No. 2 pencil and wrote a memoir she called Pioneer Girl . Following the stock market crash of 1929, it was her effort to preserve her stories and provide for her family. This episode tells the first part of the story of how, with the help of her daughter, she turned that rejected memoir into a seminal work in children’s literature Little House in the Big Woods . What You’ll Hear | Time | Topic | 00:00 | Cold‑open & Intro | 02:2...

Jun 10, 2025•19 min

#2: Cerf woos Seuss (Ted Geisel & Bennett Cerf)

Episode Overview The start of the partnership between Dr. Seuss and publisher Random House. CEO Bennett Cerf wooed little known children’s author Theodor “Ted” Geisel. Beginning with a lunch at the 21 Club in NYC, Cerf showed Ted unwavering publisher support despite early flops like The Seven Lady Godivas. Cerf’s long bet on Geisel illustrates the importance of recognizing creative talent and the economic value of a strong backlist. What You’ll Hear: Time | Topic 00:00 | Cold‑open 01:05 | Intro ...

Jun 02, 2025•15 min

#1: Promoting Mastering the Art of French Cooking (Julia Child & Judith Jones)

Judith Jones, long-time editor for Alfred A. Knopf, persuaded the publisher to take a chance on a French cookbook that no one knew they wanted. That book and TV made Julia Child a surprising star. Learn about three themes that helped make Mastering the Art of French Cooking a publishing success: counter positioning, fascination with the Kennedys, and the rise of TV. Bibliography For more on Judith Jones and her work with Julia Child, read The Editor: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Cul...

May 28, 2025•10 min

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