Publishing Editor Recommends Brian Evenson's Story Collection for October Reading

Sean deLone, an editor at Atria and author of the publishing industry newsletter Dear Head of Mine, has selected Brian Evenson's short story collection "Phantom Limb" as his pick for October readers. DeLone notes that after receiving a 2020 recommendation from a colleague, he finally read Evenson's work last year and found it compelling enough to share with a broader audience. The monthly column provides insight into what publishing professionals are currently reading and recommending within the industry.

Sean deLone serves as an editor at Atria Books while simultaneously maintaining a publishing industry newsletter called Dear Head of Mine, which explores trends affecting the book market. His dual role positions him to observe reading patterns across both publishing houses and the broader industry landscape. The October selection of "Phantom Limb," scheduled for release by Coffee House Press, represents DeLone's delayed discovery of author Brian Evenson's work—a recommendation that sat for several years before he prioritized reading it.

DeLone's delayed engagement with the recommended title humorously illustrates a common reality within the publishing world: professionals who handle manuscripts constantly may accumulate reading suggestions faster than they can process them. His eventual enthusiasm for Evenson's collection proved strong enough to warrant featuring the work in his monthly editorial column, suggesting the stories merit attention beyond typical industry circles.