Wednesday, May 6, 6-8 p.m. ET
WMG members only; Early Bird $25 through 4/17, $30 after 4/17; WMG Scholars $15
To be held in a private apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Address to be shared with program registration confirmation. Space is limited.
Join us for an exclusive members-only evening of book talk, socializing, and insider insight into the world of publishing—past, present, and future. We’re thrilled to welcome Gayle Feldman, longtime WMG member, Rise Fund winner, and journalist, in conversation with publishing leader Madeline McIntosh, co-founder of Authors Equity and former U.S. CEO of Penguin Random House.
At the heart of the evening is Gayle’s highly praised new biography, Nothing Random: Bennett Cerf and the Publishing House He Built—a compelling portrait of one of the co-founders of Random House. Lauded by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Publishers Weekly, the book doubles as a cultural history of twentieth-century book publishing, providing a rich backdrop for a fascinating discussion about the role of women in publishing.
Together, Gayle and Madeline will shed light on the often overlooked women who shaped the books Random House became known for—editors, copy editors, publicists, and groundbreaking authors like Gertrude Stein, Ayn Rand, and Toni Morrison. Blending historical knowledge with personal experience, they’ll also explore where publishing is today and what opportunities lie ahead for women in the field.
Come ready to be surprised, amused, enlightened, and inspired—and bring your questions and comments about the roles of women through time in the business of books.
Copies of Nothing Random will be for sale at the event.
Meet the speakers:
Gayle Feldman has written for Publishers Weekly for forty years, including as a senior staff editor. Since 1999, as U.S. correspondent for The Bookseller, she has analyzed the American book business for U.K. readers, and she has contributed features and reviews on books and culture to The New York Times, The Nation, The Daily Beast, and other publications. She is the author of You Don't Have to Be Your Mother and Best and Worst of Times. She received a Public Scholars award from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Madeline Mcintosh is co-founder, CEO, and publisher of Authors Equity, an independent publishing company reshaping the relationship between authors and publishers. Known as a digital publishing pioneer, she has played a key role in the strategic evolution of e-commerce, audiobooks, and ebooks. A former CEO of Penguin Random House U.S., Madeline is known for her commitment to nurturing creative talent during the age of Al. She is President of the Board of Poets & Writers and is the recipient of many accolades, including from Forbes (2021 50 Over 50: Vision list), Girls Write Now (2021 Agent of Change Award), and the UJA (2022 Publishing Titan Award).
Refunds available up to 48 hours before the event. No refunds for cancellations made within 48 hours of the event.
