TODAY: Putnam editor Tara Singh Carlson
the first editor to have two books selected by Reese
Today I’m talking to Tara Singh Carlson, executive editor at Putnam, and the first editor to have two books selected by Reese Witherspoon’s book club.
Tara has edited a few books, including Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, which holds the record for most weeks at the #1 hardcover fiction spot on the New York Times bestseller list, The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison, The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo, The Family by Naomi Krupitsky, and Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan.
calls her “the bestseller whisperer.”Tara’s focus is on women’s fiction that hits that sweet spot between commercial and literary, including historical fiction and contemporary women’s stories that are either wildly entertaining or filled with heart. She loves strong female characters that inspire.
Join me today at 1pm EST, when I’ll be asking Tara:
What is she looking for? What’s on her wishlist today that she wasn’t looking for five years ago?
Does an author’s brand or platform mean anything to her when she’s looking at a submission?
In historical fiction, is there an era or a period that she wishes she saw more of? Is there an era that's overdone? Does she have any predictions for what readers will be looking to read under the new administration?
What does her editorial process with authors look like?
What should authors know, if their dream is to write a novel a year? What kinds of authors does this pace work for? What are the upsides and downsides of that kind of publishing schedule?
What has she learned about celebrity book clubs and what they’re looking for?
I will interview Tara for about 30 minutes and then open it up to your questions! This is an extremely rare opportunity to ask an editor your questions about writing and selling women’s fiction, historical fiction, or romance.
If you can’t attend live, there will be a recording available to watch for 7 days.
As a reminder, this is a private, off-the-record conversation, exclusively available to my diamond medallion members. You may not post quotes from the conversation anywhere on the internet, or create content out of my events. Keeping the Chat Room series private allows both me and my guests to speak candidly.