Episode 80—Hedging Bets

This week, after swatting another terrible article about YA literature out of the sky, we talk about the perceived moral stands publishers are able with regard to “controversial” authors. Publishers often wait until the most obviously lucrative moment to support marginalized authors and their projects, and also refuse to cut bait with toxic authors until the last possible instant, when their hand becomes forced. How do morality clauses let publishers hedge their bets while still claiming a supposed high ground? To finish the show, we dip into our new advice mailbag, where we’ve got two terrific publishing questions to consider.