Iris Blasi

The legend goes like this: In a faraway time many years ago, I was lucky enough to sit next to @glynner85 in a classroom at NYU. We were there as masters students from different departments, but it didn’t take long for us to realize our shared love of literature and our mutual interest in the publishing world. Toward the end of the semester, John shared with me a novel he’d been working on. I was immediately astounded by his talent on the page and knew he was destined to be a novelist. Today, I feel even luckier still, after all these years of friendship, to get to wish him a very happy pub day for his debut novel, THE LOST BOOK OF LANCELOT, which is out from @grandcentralpub ! This queer retelling breathes new life into the Arthurian legends, reminding us all why these stories have endured across centuries. With his boundless imagination and keen intelligence, John tells a transporting and immersive tale that strikes at something so profoundly human at its core: our eternal desire for myth, meaning, and connection. Congratulations, John! (And if you’re in Portland on June 22, join me at @print.bookstore —where John will be in conversation with @jessicabergergross —to celebrate!)

One night in the Imperial. #chess

#indiebookstoreday haul from @backcovebooks .

For years, it has felt like nine times out of ten, whenever I read the acknowledgements in a book, I see one name again and again: @SariBotton . In addition to being the New York Times bestselling editor of the beloved anthologies “Never Can Say Goodbye: Writers on Their Unshakeable Love For New York” and “Goodbye to All That: Writers on Loving and Leaving New York” and the author of her own memoir, “And You May Find Yourself: Confessions of a Late-Blooming, Gen X Weirdo,” Sari is the consummate literary citizen—someone who has edited, encouraged, supported, and mentored more writers than anyone could possibly count. It has been a true honor and privilege to work with Sari on her forthcoming anthology on aging. And to get to do it with @RakeshSatyal —who is quite literally my “oldest” friend in publishing (I have known him since I was 18!) and who himself has been extraordinarily generous with his tremendous enthusiasm and expertise both to me and to so many others in the literary community over the years—is just the best possible icing on the most delicious cake. Lastly, my thanks to the one and only @RachelKramerBussel for the introduction. Rachel knew I loved @Oldster_Mag and put us in touch at exactly the right moment. And the rest is history!

There are books you work on, and then there are books that quietly work on you. I feel very lucky indeed when my life as an agent involves books that are both—and @shifferdiane ’s THE SMALLEST OF JOYS is exactly that. The last year and a half of working with Diane has truly been one of the greatest joys—not just professionally, but personally. I have learned so much from Diane and from her book, and, over the last week that it has been out, hearing from people—beloved friends and strangers alike— who are having the same experience as the result of reading it has meant more to me than I can quite put into words. Diane’s book was originally intended to be gentle lessons for tough days (that was actually one of the early titles: KIND LESSONS FOR HARD DAYS), but, over the last 18 months, it has blossomed into so much more. Yes, it’s about embracing individuality, finding pockets of peace, facing failure, developing resilience, coping with grief and heartbreak, and dealing with disappointment. But it is so much bigger than that. At a moment that is virtually defined by overload, when we so often feel stressed out, stretched thin, and overwhelmed by both personal and collective heaviness, Diane offers a simple but quietly radical idea: joy isn’t something we have to earn or chase, but something we can practice seeing. And learning to see it can transform our lives. THE SMALLEST OF JOYS is out now, and I’m so proud to have played a part in bringing this book into the world. I hope you love it as much as I do. ♥️

🙌

“Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it—every, every minute?”

Hoppy Easter: drinks, decorations, a walk to my favorite spot on the lake, and, of course, the Easter egg roll. (#iykyk)

Art in Bloom 2026

#nokings

I was immediately excited last summer when @lanikaps , the fabulously talented author of the bestselling book NORA EPHRON AT THE MOVIES, came to me and told me what she wanted to write next: an oral history of Dawson’s Creek. Ilana and I are both long-time fans of the show, and we knew we were hardly alone. For so many viewers like us, the show was a formative cultural touchstone—a time capsule of friendships and first loves, shifting social norms, and the awkward, exhilarating process of growing up. And I knew that Ilana, a brilliant journalist who has been writing about Dawson’s Creek for nearly a decade, was the absolute right person to capture the story of the making of the show and its enduring impact on culture. In December, we sold THE CREEK: A BEHIND-THE-SCENES HISTORY OF THE SHOW THAT TAUGHT US HOW TO FEEL to the fabulous Cindy Sipala at @hachetteus ’s @runningpressbooks . It was the very last deal I closed in 2025, and it felt like the perfect note on which to end the year. Formally announcing the book today in a world without James Van Der Beek—who was the very beating heart of the show—is incredibly bittersweet. We hope that the book will be a fitting tribute to James and to the show that has meant so much to so many. ♥️ #DawsonsCreek

I want ice in my coffee and my cocktails, not in my community. So proud to stand with my fellow Portlanders today in this place that, despite our freezing temperatures, is warm and welcoming to ALL. #portland #portlandmaine #maine #iceout