Five With Lauren Cerand

The photo really says it all. Our next "Five With..." guest is Lauren Cerand, a delightful woman I met at last year's (Downtown) Omaha Lit Fest who has more charm and style than just about anyone else I know. Truly, and she has the uncanny ability to make ease of even the most daunting. And, she's been an incredible supporter of Pilcrow since it was merely scribbles on a brunch cocktail napkin. She is an independent pr representative in NYC and blogs Lux Lotus. Please give her a warm welcome:

1. What are you working on now?

This spring, I am publicizing Janice Erlbaum's new memoir HAVE YOU FOUND HER, available now; Rudolph Wurlitzer's new novel, THE DROP EDGE OF YONDER, which will be out in days; Min Jin Lee's FREE FOOD FOR MILLIONAIRES, a debut novel that's now a national bestseller and will be out in paperback late next month; and Roxana Robinson's next novel, COST, coming in June. I also work on Barnes & Noble's "Upstairs at the Square" series of conversations pairing authors and musicians and the highest-profile cultural projects for the Goethe-Institut New York. Those are my main things right now.

2. What is your favorite part of literary festivals and why?

Getting out of New York, for obvious reasons.

3. Who are your favorite small presses mover/shaker types at the minute?

I am particularly fond of the small presses I have worked with-- Two Dollar Radio, Coffee House and Soft Skull are all particularly brilliant, as are the authors they've published: Rudy Wurlitzer, Laird Hunt, and David Breskin, respectively.

4. Which author do you wish was coming to Pilcrow Lit Fest this year that is not?

Selma Blair. I enjoyed her short story in the erotic anthology, 'Stirring Up a Storm.'

5. If you were in charge of picking a theme song for Pilcrow Lit Fest this year, what would it be?

"Feel the Love" by Cut Copy. It's just glittery enough!