Shinra Literature Editorial Office of Lee Joon-hwan.
When I opened the door and stepped inside, I was a bit surprised.
“Editor Park Jo-woon….”
“Lee Sang, it’s been a while.”
“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
It was a rare occasion to see Editor Park Jo-woon here.
Was it because the newspaper’s literary business was doing well?
His once fierce demeanor seemed to have softened a little.
“You look good.”
“Only my face looks good. My body is in pain everywhere. You’ve become a star while I haven’t been watching, huh? They keep playing your news endlessly.”
He must be talking about the Louvre.
At this point, I didn’t feel any pressure.
I could even laugh now when writer Kim Mi-so teased me as the “Man of the Louvre.”
“You’re flattering me. I heard you finished judging the anthology. When will the book be released?”
Lee Joon-hwan, the editorial committee member, replied.
“The cover is in now, so it should be out soon.”
He paused for a moment and then cautiously said,
“Ah… about , as I mentioned on the phone, we’ve decided to publish it.”
“Thank you. Editor.”
I said that, but he seemed to be hesitant about something.
Just when I was about to ask what was going on, Editor Park Jo-woon interrupted.
“Oh~ I really liked that novel. It’s intense, macho, and you can feel the genius's madness… and amidst that, there’s a delicate side.”
“…I’m relieved. I was a bit anxious since it wasn’t the final version.”
“What are you talking about? You can tell a good piece just by reading the first draft. By the way…”
Editor Park Jo-woon leaned in closer to me.
“There’s a proposal about from Shinra Literature.”
A proposal?
Lee Joon-hwan had mentioned during our call that there was something to discuss regarding .
“Don’t be too nervous. It’s a good thing. Actually, fans of Lee Sang have been voicing their dissatisfaction with Shinra Literature.”
“Excuse me?”
With the only publisher where I’m releasing my book?
I was getting more confused.
Lee Joon-hwan explained.
“Lee Sang is releasing a new book, and Shinra Literature is hoping for something in return.”
“Why beat around the bush? The French publisher held a reading event in front of the Louvre, so what has Shinra Literature done for Lee Sang? That’s what I’m saying. Hehe!”
Editor Park Jo-woon laughed heartily.
Hmm… should I apologize?
But Editor Park Jo-woon seemed rather pleased.
“It’s not wrong, but given the situation, it’s true we published the book without any notable event. So… since it’s the end of the year, it wouldn’t be bad to hold an event.”
“Are you suggesting we hold a launch party?”
Editor Park Jo-woon shook his head.
Then he said something unexpected.
“How about holding a book concert during the release season of ?”
A book concert.
A small party where the author invites friends and fans.
It’s not much different from a launch party, but it has the advantage of being more relaxed.
Sometimes they invite musicians or other artists as well.
“What do you think? Would you like to do it?”
I was definitely on board.
Like an end-of-year concert, it would be a celebration to wrap up the year.
“If Shinra Literature can help coordinate it with my manager, I’m very interested. In fact, it sounds like a lot of fun.”
If a launch party is an event for the media, then a book concert is for the fans.
It would be a great opportunity to meet Lee Sang’s fans.
“That’s great, isn’t it?”
Editor Park Jo-woon said to Lee Joon-hwan.
However, Lee Joon-hwan had a somewhat uneasy expression.
“You should tell him. It’s important.”
“Oh come on, don’t worry about that.”
“Is there something else I need to know?”
“Well, it’s nothing major.”
But Lee Joon-hwan’s face looked like it was something major.
“The publication of should ideally not extend past the end of the year… currently, Shinra Literature has only one day left available for an event before the year ends.”
“When is that?”
“Last Sunday of December. So, the 28th.”
…What’s the problem with that?
But I soon understood.
The last weekend of the year.
It’s the time when all the arts and culture circles are busy handing out awards.
The literary world is no exception…
“It coincides with the Korean Literature Award ceremony.”
Lee Joon-hwan nodded deeply.
That’s what he was worried about.
He was concerned about a commotion that might arise.
He carefully said,
“The reason we initially left that day open was to avoid overlapping with the Korean Literature Award ceremony…”
“But since we’re at it, let’s not worry about appearances. It would be good for Lee Sang to release the book and hold a concert at the end of the year, wouldn’t it? If you’d prefer to push it to early next year, we can do that.”
“No.”
I cut him off.
“I want to do it at the end of the year. Both the release and the concert.”
Unless the schedule was set to be released at the beginning of the year, there was no reason to postpone it to avoid the Korean Literature Award ceremony.
“Hmm… Park Jo-woon may not mind, but I would advise against it.”
Lee Joon-hwan said.
“You might think we’re just being cautious to avoid putting ourselves in a difficult position, but it’s not entirely like that. Shinra Literature has long since walked its independent path and hasn’t participated in the judging of the Korean Literature Award for a while.”
“You’re worried about the concert.”
“Exactly. Even if the authority of the Korean Literature Award isn’t what it used to be, most people in the literary world will be gathered there that day. To put it bluntly, the concert might seem less significant than you expect.”
I thought I understood what he meant.
No matter how much it’s a book concert with fans, inviting acquaintances from the literary world is the custom.
The discomfort and tension that would come with that process.
The meaningless comparisons between the Daehan Literary Prize and the book concert.
Editor Lee Jun-hwan is worried about just that.
But that’s not a reason for me to change my schedule.
“It doesn’t matter if fewer people come. I have no intention of proving anything by having a lot of people in the venue.”
“…”
“I’ll do it. On the 28th.”
Lee Sang-yi left the Shinra Literary office.
In the office were Editor Park Jo-woon and Editor Lee Jun-hwan.
Editor Lee Jun-hwan opened up worriedly.
“Is it really okay?”
“What does it matter? What’s there to be afraid of?”
“It’s better to have less noise if possible. For us and for the author.”
It’s easy to create noise, but hard to get rid of it.
It’s better to avoid conflicts if possible.
Especially in this narrow publishing industry and literary circle.
But Editor Park Jo-woon had a different perspective.
“Is this the first time the Daehan Literary Prize has done something ridiculous? They give awards favoring their close friends, pressuring the preliminary judging committee…”
Whether you want to hear it or not, rumors tend to spread.
That’s just how things are with the so-called elders.
Editor Park Jo-woon clicked his tongue.
“I can’t stand that bastard Gasa, who plays around with the awards every year. They should just disappear. An award like that.”
“That’s a bit extreme.”
“Picking writers that suit their taste and giving them awards is not what a literary prize is about. It’s just for show.”
“I know. That’s a hundred percent right.”
Editor Lee Jun-hwan said quietly.
“However, having the first book concert in this format… And even though the author says it doesn’t bother him, people’s feelings can be hurt…”
“He’s prepared to handle that. Teacher Lee Sang-yi.”
“…”
“He’s willing to keep his pace even if he’s going to be hurt.”
Editor Park Jo-woon patted Editor Lee Jun-hwan on the shoulder.
“Anyway, let’s just focus on getting the book out and preparing for the book concert.”
After Editor Park Jo-woon left.
Editor Lee Jun-hwan supported his head with both hands and thought.
‘The Daehan Literary Prize… At one time, there was no literary prize that could match its authority.’
It felt like a sense of generational change.
How did the award all writers dreamed of end up in this state?
In his youth, he too had admired that award.
…It was bittersweet.
But he decided to accept it.
No, he had to accept it.
That ‘literary award’ is just a worthless show if it loses its essence.
Editor Lee Jun-hwan steadied his mind.
At the Tomak Publishing Company in Japan.
Editor Mitsuharu was busy working.
There were many authors wanting to publish books by year-end.
With that comes an inevitable accumulation of work for the editor.
Still, he was getting through this year-end well.
It was the tenacity of a twenty-year veteran ‘salaryman.’
Knock!
“Come in.”
“Editor!”
A staff member entered with a book in hand.
Editor Mitsuharu gazed at the book for a moment.
“What’s new?”
“The year-end anthology has been published.”
“Oh, is that so?!”
Editor Mitsuharu jumped up from his seat.
Then he approached and received the book as if welcoming a precious guest.
“This is what makes me feel like the year has passed. The cover is well done. Very classy.”
A muted purple background with a clean silver logo.
[Tomak Year-End Anthology - Family] The striking letters caught his eye.
“Release it to the market right away. There’s no need to hesitate.”
“Yes, I will do that.”
Knock!
Someone knocked again.