Betsy Lerner

"As an editor Betsy Lerner is a writer's dream come true. The generosity and respect she shows for her
authors is unparalleled. She is unnervingly
intelligent, authoritative yet gentle in her judgments, has a keen sense of story and an equally keen sense of the myriad difficulties and delusions a writer faces. She is, furthermore, gifted with wit, originality, and just the right degree of wickedness."
(Rosemary Mahoney, author of Whoredom in Kimmage and A Likely Story)

"Betsy Lerner's style is economical and witty. The Forest for the Trees should become a permanent part of any writer's or editor's personal library."
(The Seattle Times)

Who knows the mind, the motives, and the mistakes of a writer better than his or her editor? Betsy Lerner-in addition to being a prize-winning poet and an author's agent-has spent years editing for major New York houses. In this unusual and compelling book, she shares the wisdom and insights she's gained from that work. Far more than a how-to manual, this book offers inspiration, inside views, and a colorful, anecdotal look at the publishing world-all delivered in the smart, funny, unpretentious voice that has helped to make Lerner one of the most prominent names in the business.