The nice thing about working with publishing is that it requires very little diplomacy (re: tact). Real controversy only arises with popularity, which 95% of publishers don’t get to experience, and with the pseudo-obsolescence of literacy, few will dispute any argument I or other publishing types make for The Cause (whereas for example I could give you ten good reasons to stop watching football, listening to Toby Keith, or participating in politics).
The nice thing about working with Japanese pop/culture is that it makes for easy entertaining blog fodder. In the last year, I’ve talked about an “unwanted baby” hospital drop-box, a life-sized Gundam statue, three political suicides and beer-flavored juice for kids.
And at the Vertical blog, I’ve been able to meet the two worlds in one to an effect some have described as “funny,” “inappropriate,” and “her boss obviously doesn’t read this thing.” That is, until today. Folks, this is my official sign-off from Vertical blog duty. It’s been a blast, but with my last day at Vertical Inc. approaching at T minus one week, I bid thee sayonara. As for where I’m going now…i.e. “does she think she’s too good for Vertical?” The answer is no. I am, like any good American, simply off to find a little more dough in a little less work, and will be posting my leaderboard plaque somewhere else soon, I promise.
For the time being, I highly suggest you keep this bookmark, where resident-editor/blogger Kerim Yasar takes over starting now (half my postings were direct links from him anyway). This will still be your one-stop shopping for all irreverence Japanese and publishing-minded.
If you’re looking for me specifically, please tentatively find me at Bookslut and then eventually at a bunch of other blogs guesting.
Anne Ishii