"[Jennifer] duBois is a brilliant writer."-Karen Russell, author of Vampires in the Lemon Grove  

 

The Book 

Talk show host Matthew Miller has made his fame by shining a spotlight on the most unlikely and bizarre secrets of society, exposing them on live television in front of millions of gawking viewers. However, the man behind The Mattie M Show remains a mystery--both to his enormous audience and to those who work alongside him every day. But when the high school students responsible for a mass shooting are found to be devoted fans, Mattie is thrust into the glare of public scrutiny, seen as the wry, detached herald of a culture going downhill and going way too far. Soon, the secrets of Mattie's past as a brilliant young politician in a crime-ridden New York City begin to push their way to the surface.

With wit, heart, and crackling intelligence, The Spectators examines the human capacity for reinvention-and forces us to ask ourselves what we choose to look at, and why. 

A well-known literary agent at Jankow & Nesbit Associates, Kirby Kim represents both literary and commercial authors. When it comes to literary work, he's alternatively drawn to rich, sweeping stories that try to encompass a time or a place or tightly written, narratively innovative stories that bridge genres. His commercial interests include thriller, horror, speculative and science fiction, young adult, and middle grade. He also represents a range of nonfiction working with leaders and journalists in the areas of science, culture and current affairs. He's also known for representing memoir and pop culture, in particular music and comedy. 

 

Kim will discuss the role a literary agent plays in the development of a writer's career, from book one to many subsequent books. He will be in conversation with WLT Executive Director Becka Oliver.