were all well aware of the clout a celebrity could bring to the sales of a book.
Maurice shook his head. ‘No. Up to this point, this author has only published in small literary magazines. But circumstances conspire to make this a very interesting property. I must tell you that the situation is a little delicate, though.’
Any book which was being fronted by Gideon Lendl himself was bound to be an important property. What does this have to do with me? she wondered. She had worked closely on big books with various editors in the company, but had not handled any major projects herself.
As if he had read her mind, Maurice addressed her. ‘Eden, this particular book has … personal implications for you.’
‘For me?’ she queried.
Maurice pressed his lips together and leaned forward. ‘Eden, the author wants you to be the editor of this book.’
‘Me? Why in the world? Do I know the author?’
Maurice nodded. ‘In fact, you do. His name is Flynn Darby. I believe he was married to your late mother.’
If Maurice DeLaurier had smacked her across the face, he could not have stunned her more effectively. Eden blinked at him, as if trying to summon her senses after a knockout punch.
‘Mr Darby is a very talented writer, and the novel he has written makes for compelling reading. But, I feel I must warn you that it’s … somewhat grim, and very clearly about his life with your mother. There’s a great deal in there about their … marriage, and their struggles with a disabled child. Apparently, Mr Darby had been working on it for several years, and it was nearly finished when this terrible tragedy occurred.’
Eden stared at Maurice DeLaurier. The publisher was about to offer her a chance to instantly gain status in the company. In the publishing world in general. All she had to do was betray her family. She felt the old familiar hatred for Flynn Darby wash over her, and she began to shake all over. ‘And now, my mother’s suicide, my half-brother’s …’ She couldn’t bring herself to say ‘murder’. ‘It would be good for sales,’ she said bluntly.
‘Eden,’ Rob said in a warning voice.
‘Sorry,’ she mumbled.
‘Eden,’ Maurice said kindly, ‘I’m the one who’s sorry. I realize how difficult this must be for you. I don’t have to tell you that authors cannibalize their lives rather shamelessly. Frankly, it can be a little … repulsive from time to time. Your stepfather is far from the only writer who has chosen to do this. No sooner does a personal tragedy occur than many an author is trying to use it to advance his or her career. Mr Darby is not unusual in that regard.’
Eden was not able to look him in the eye.
‘But I have to be very honest with you,’ said Maurice. ‘The timing on this, while unfortunate in some ways, is very significant for us. It makes his book very topical. This book has the potential to be a major best-seller. First of all, it’s very well written. I want you to know that. This isn’t some hack job. Then, there is the disability angle, which he handles sympathetically. And then, undeniably your mother’s tragic death and the death of their son—’
‘Gives it currency,’ said Eden in a dull voice.
‘It’s an important opportunity,’ said Maurice.
She shuddered and turned to Rob. ‘Did you know about this?’ she asked him.
‘Maurice emailed me the book last night,’ Rob said evenly. ‘He wanted me to know what we were wading into here. Obviously, if you choose to do it, I would be advising you. It’s a lot to take on.’
‘And me being the editor would also be a talking point, I suppose,’ she said, trying to sound matter-of-fact.
‘Eden, this is a business,’ said Rob. ‘Of course it would beneficial for publicity purposes to have you as an editor.’
‘I’m sure that’s why Flynn asked for me,’ she said.
‘Well, I asked Gideon about this,’ said Maurice. ‘He feels that Mr Darby sincerely wants your input on this. You
Maurice shook his head. ‘No. Up to this point, this author has only published in small literary magazines. But circumstances conspire to make this a very interesting property. I must tell you that the situation is a little delicate, though.’
Any book which was being fronted by Gideon Lendl himself was bound to be an important property. What does this have to do with me? she wondered. She had worked closely on big books with various editors in the company, but had not handled any major projects herself.
As if he had read her mind, Maurice addressed her. ‘Eden, this particular book has … personal implications for you.’
‘For me?’ she queried.
Maurice pressed his lips together and leaned forward. ‘Eden, the author wants you to be the editor of this book.’
‘Me? Why in the world? Do I know the author?’
Maurice nodded. ‘In fact, you do. His name is Flynn Darby. I believe he was married to your late mother.’
If Maurice DeLaurier had smacked her across the face, he could not have stunned her more effectively. Eden blinked at him, as if trying to summon her senses after a knockout punch.
‘Mr Darby is a very talented writer, and the novel he has written makes for compelling reading. But, I feel I must warn you that it’s … somewhat grim, and very clearly about his life with your mother. There’s a great deal in there about their … marriage, and their struggles with a disabled child. Apparently, Mr Darby had been working on it for several years, and it was nearly finished when this terrible tragedy occurred.’
Eden stared at Maurice DeLaurier. The publisher was about to offer her a chance to instantly gain status in the company. In the publishing world in general. All she had to do was betray her family. She felt the old familiar hatred for Flynn Darby wash over her, and she began to shake all over. ‘And now, my mother’s suicide, my half-brother’s …’ She couldn’t bring herself to say ‘murder’. ‘It would be good for sales,’ she said bluntly.
‘Eden,’ Rob said in a warning voice.
‘Sorry,’ she mumbled.
‘Eden,’ Maurice said kindly, ‘I’m the one who’s sorry. I realize how difficult this must be for you. I don’t have to tell you that authors cannibalize their lives rather shamelessly. Frankly, it can be a little … repulsive from time to time. Your stepfather is far from the only writer who has chosen to do this. No sooner does a personal tragedy occur than many an author is trying to use it to advance his or her career. Mr Darby is not unusual in that regard.’
Eden was not able to look him in the eye.
‘But I have to be very honest with you,’ said Maurice. ‘The timing on this, while unfortunate in some ways, is very significant for us. It makes his book very topical. This book has the potential to be a major best-seller. First of all, it’s very well written. I want you to know that. This isn’t some hack job. Then, there is the disability angle, which he handles sympathetically. And then, undeniably your mother’s tragic death and the death of their son—’
‘Gives it currency,’ said Eden in a dull voice.
‘It’s an important opportunity,’ said Maurice.
She shuddered and turned to Rob. ‘Did you know about this?’ she asked him.
‘Maurice emailed me the book last night,’ Rob said evenly. ‘He wanted me to know what we were wading into here. Obviously, if you choose to do it, I would be advising you. It’s a lot to take on.’
‘And me being the editor would also be a talking point, I suppose,’ she said, trying to sound matter-of-fact.
‘Eden, this is a business,’ said Rob. ‘Of course it would beneficial for publicity purposes to have you as an editor.’
‘I’m sure that’s why Flynn asked for me,’ she said.
‘Well, I asked Gideon about this,’ said Maurice. ‘He feels that Mr Darby sincerely wants your input on this. You
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