Why Editor Jen Gunnels Will Survive The Zombie Apocalypse

This is such a special episode! if you listen to just one (or if you need a pick-me-up after last week…) check this out.

Stream here: https://soundcloud.com/user-965795498/jen-gunnels

Jessica Sinsheimer went into the Tor/Macmillan offices to speak with the intrepid editor Jen Gunnels. We talk about why she never sends an editorial letter without a phone call, why authors need to trust their teams–and how writers can sometimes put too much of themselves into the work. Jen also talks about how some writers assume editors will be adversarial for sport–and why that serves no one. However, argument, if in an open and constructive context, can result in better work.Ultimately, “All art is about a certain level of inherent trust.”

Jen illustrates that with a wonderful story of a woman onstage with a flaming feather boa, tossing it to her team to be put out safely.

You’ll note that there are a lot of mentions of fire in this episode.

Jen has been a director, actor, dancer, theater critic, dramaturg, and musician. She can play piano, mandolin, recorder, violin, bodhrán, bouzouki–and she can sing, too. She’s been a professional belly dancer, and is a third-degree black belt. She owns (and operates) a rapier, stiletto, some swords, throwing knives, dirks, bo staffs, nunchucks, and a pair of sai.

She was voted by her doctoral cohort to be most likely to survive the apocalypse. Listen, and you’ll see why.

You can see Jen’s full #MSWL here: https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/jennifer-gunnels/