LitMinds Blog and Interviews

In his book "Tipping Point," Malcom Gladwell identified three archetypes: Connectors, Mavens and Salesmen -- each integral to igniting social phenomena.   Connectors know a lot of people, but more importantly they put people together that wouldn't otherwise have occasion to meet.

Sylvia Paull may be one of the closest representations of Gladwell's archetype "Connector" we've met.  She has amazing skill in working a room whether on a business or social occasion.  All you have to do is ask and she'll graciously offer you a handful of names.

We first met Syvlia at the monthly Berkeley Cybersalon -- where authors, tech entrepreneurs, thinkers, et al. meet up with Sylvia's instigation to discuss emerging technology and its impact on our everyday lives.  She's been a great friend and advisor to the LitMinds team. 

Recently she was featured in Fast Company magazine who called her a "Public Relations Icon... one of the most effective behind-the-scenes connectors in the Valley..." At any given time, she professionally represents one or two authors in addition to the start-ups in her portfolio of clients. 

LitMinds invited Sylvia to participate in this interview to share more about her writing, reading, and (very busy!) networking life...

1. You have a substantial background with technology, multimedia, and startup companies and are constantly keeping your finger on the pulse of new and emerging technologies, people, and publications.  Will you share your thoughts specifically on book publishing and where you see this industry going next?  What ventures or individuals have you discovered that excite you about the future potential for books and other publications?

More books than ever are being published and sold, thanks to the Internet. The Internet fosters reading, among other activities, and writing as well. Computers make it far easier physically to write books, and large print screens make it easier to read text as well.

Audio books delivered on devices like the iPod are making books ubiquitous, even among people who can no longer “read” with their eyes….only with their ears.

Books are being saved, thanks to the Internet Archive and other digital libraries, like those started by Google. No longer will fires like the one that took out the Library of Alexandria destroy the world’s knowledge.

Novels are only a couple of hundred years old. Computing and cultural changes are helping to change the style of what we know as the novel. We will have new styles and forms of literature and nonfiction in the near future, such as the mockumentary, which is now an emerging film format.

Large publishers – like record companies – will die. They might merge with media companies or toy companies or even retailers like Costco (which sells a lot of books), but don’t expect to see a publishing company 12 years from now. I’m hoping that in the future you’ll be able to buy and download books directly from the author.

2. Among your clientele as a strategist, you have advised a number of authors. Share with us a bit about your work with authors.  How do you help writers to market themselves and get the word out about their work?  How important is it for authors to think about how they promote themselves in addition to focusing on their work as writers?

I encourage writers to focus on target readers, not on book readers in general. If a book is about ecology and adventure, then the author could keynote a meeting of the Explorers Club, for example, rather than expend a lot of energy trying to get selected as book of the month by Oprah Winfrey. If a writer is a compelling speaker, it helps to get talks at conferences and other events. Giving readings in bookstores is a waste of time, however, except as leverage to get on a local radio or television show. I don’t think a good writer needs to think about self-promotion: they should just hire a publicist and stick to writing books.

3. From reading your blog, Who is Sylvia?, we can see how knowledgeable you are about a variety of subjects.  You are a prolific reader, attend and organize events through Berkeley Cybersalon and Last Friday Ladies Lunch, and engage in many opportunities to learn through your work.  Have you ever thought about sharing your knowledge and experiences by writing a book?  If you were to pursue this path of authorship, what would you write about?…the sky’s the limit!

If I wrote a book, it would be fiction and have nothing to do with my life. I mostly read fiction because it helps me understand reality better than reading about reality. Anyway, I do keep a blog at www.whoisylvia.com, and anyone who wants to know about some of my experiences can read that.

4. Two topics of strong interest of yours are women in technology and the environment.  Can you share some book recommendations for people to read about these topics?  Are there other publications you suggest for the LitMinds community in order to stay on top of the latest news and issues in these areas?

“Biomimicry” is an impassioned argument for nature written by Janine Benyus, who writes like a poet and thinks like the naturalist she is. “Greater Good” is a print and digital publication that explores the science behind benevolence, a much overlooked human attribute. Nothing beats “Walden Pond,” which is always by my bedside, and as crazy as it might seem, I find that Wired magazine offers the cutting edge on technology, culture, and the environment. I think technologists are like painters, sculptors and astronomers in the Renaissance.

5. You recently attended the LitMinds-hosted Alistair Horne event at the Berkeley Hillside Club, where the author was interviewed about his book, A Savage War of Peace, and drew parallels between the French-Algerian War and the current U.S.-led war in Iraq.  You had quite a strong response to Horne’s comments and wrote about it on your blog with the post, “Dr Kissinger’s Nurse.”  What do you think makes for successful author events?  Does an author’s provocative comments take away or contribute to the audience experience?

The event with Horne was enlightening, albeit because I disagreed with what he said, what he represents, and the lack of a serious challenge to his positions. I enjoy events of any kind that provide a fresh perspective on the way I think and feel. That casts a pretty wide net, I would presume, and that’s why some of my friends find me too easily pleased by life.

6. Optional: Ask yourself any question and answer it.

What’s the difference between mind and soul? I really don’t have the answer to this and that’s what keeps me intrigued about this process called living.

You can find Sylvia's LitMinds profile here.