Publishing Disrupted

Exploring the ways in which book publishing is changing and how writers can best meet the challenge. A conversation between two publishing veterans and friends, editor Mick Silva and publisher and literary agent David Morris. MickSilva.com / DavidRMorris.me

Publishing Disrupted is a arts podcast hosted by Mick Silva and David Morris, with 29 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Mick Silva and David Morris hosts Publishing Disrupted, a arts show with 29 episodes published.

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  Episode #29

  What Editing Books Looks Like from My Summer Intern's Perspective

  Jul 31, 202655 minS2

  When David asked if my oldest daughter Ellie would like to come on and share her impressions of working to edit with me as her senior college internship this summer, I knew immediately this episode would be one of my favorites so far. We covered the gamut from the different stages of the editing process, to why rejecting queries can be such a challenge. I wish we'd filmed this one so you could see me smiling like a goob the whole time. But if you're curious what a Zoomer thinks about book editing and publishing in today's cultural climate--especially as she's gone no-contact with church as well--please tune in! Releasing Aug 4, 2026: The Future of an Illusion: Introduction and Annotations on Freud’s Enduring Critique of Religion by David R. Morris, PhD Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com , LakeDriveBooks.com , and Hyponymous.com .

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  Episode #28

  Facing the Disruption with Honesty and Healthy Skepticism

  Jul 15, 20261 hourS2

  We tried to distill some recent news and articles to see what's useful and what's not: Some tips for podcasts from Jane Friedman’s post about a publicists’ panel at the U.S. Book Show. A widely shared article in PW about an Authors Guild study on "average author incomes." And another hand-wringing article in The Atlantic about "The End of Reading." As usual, takeaways are summarized in our Substack, Publishing Disrupted: https://publishingdisrupted.substack.com/p/facing-the-disruption-with-honesty And links to articles mentioned below: Jane Friedman, “Podcast Publicity for Authors and Publishers: What’s Working”: https://janefriedman.com/whats-working-in-podcast-publicity-for-authors-and-publishers/ Publishers Weekly, “Authors Guild Looks at Why Author Incomes Are in Decline”: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/100605-authors-guild-survey-looks-at-why-author-incomes-are-in-decline.html The Atlantic, “The End of Reading Is Here”: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/08/reading-crisis-postliterate-age/687618/ Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com , LakeDriveBooks.com , and Hyponymous.com .

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  Publishing Disrupted

  Find Your Book’s Hidden Interest, with Audrey Clare Farley

  Jun 23, 20261h 4m

  How a multi-published, celebrated author, instructor, and literary agent finds her focus. Follow what genuinely surprises you. This is one big takeaway for writing (and maybe for life) in this episode of Publishing Disrupted with Audrey Clare Farley. We also discussed what makes nonfiction stand out today: a strong hook paired with real substance, the rise of “memoir plus,” how the publishing world seems to reward exposes and could do a better job bringing in nuance and deeper discussion. A thoughtful conversation about curiosity, craft, and writing the book only you can write. Beyond her role as a Hyponymous Literary agent, Audrey is a celebrated author, editor, and literary scholar with a PhD in English literature. Her two nonfiction books, The Unfit Heiress, and Girls and Their Monsters, are both standout stories of suffering, injustice, and betrayal, the latter of which became a New York Times Editors’ Pick. As an instructor for Mount St. Mary’s University and Narratively Academy, her niche is narrative nonfiction, especially memoir, biography, history, and cultural criticism. https://audreyclarefarley.substack.com/ https://www.hyponymous.com/team-1 https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/audrey-clare-farley/the-unfit-heiress/9781538753361/ https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/audrey-clare-farley/girls-and-their-monsters/9781538724484/ Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com , LakeDriveBooks.com , and Hyponymous.com .

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  Episode #27

  When the Anxiety Narrative Becomes a Trap

  Jun 5, 202644 minS2

  Following some professional and personal updates, we embrace the energy of the coming summer by digging into a recent Publisher's Weekly Religion article highlighting how "anxious readers" are apparently buying up Bibles. It felt like a suspiciously familiar trope, so we tried to unpack that assumption a bit. No mention of the widely publicized decreases in church attendance, or religious disaffiliation as a whole, but we an earlier article claimed some publishers, very different ones, are "saying Amen to resistance" with books from the progressive left (and the conservative right too, of course) responding to our overheated political climate. But even that framing feels shoehorned. We wonder where are the truly fresh takes? Where's the deeper dives beyond the stereotypes? (Again, is "mainstream audience" even a useful term anymore?) If you're tired of the tired tropes and assumptions, we hope you'll tag along for some rousing discussion. Specific articles mentioned can be found at publishersweekly.com, News > Religion section: "Religion Publishers Say Amen to Resistance," and "Anxious Readers Turn to God." Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com , LakeDriveBooks.com , and Hyponymous.com .

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  Episode #26

  Writing the Story that Chose You

  May 15, 202647 minS2

  In this episode, David and I talked about the difference between writing books that seem important or interesting, and writing the stories that you didn't choose, but must be told. That's a massive difference, and it's not often talked about enough. So we talked about it. I shared two quotes: one from Jeff Foster about being less prepared and more vulnerable, and another from Brené Brown on owning your story. Both fit nicely into what we're really trying to do in these conversations: to take time for a more honest response to the big disruptions in our lives, and to consider what we want to do about them. Relating, sharing, writing, and living, all ultimately working toward better integration. Jeff Foster's book is You Were Never Broken . Brené Brown's is The Gifts of Imperfection . Publishing Disrupted is at PublishingDisrupted.substack.com Mick Silva is at MickSilvaEditing.substack.com David Morris is at dvdmorris.substack.com , LakeDriveBooks.com , and Hyponymous.com .

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