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Kevin Sampsell Biography

Kevin Sampsell (born March 17, 1967) is an American writer living in Portland, Oregon. He has worked at Powell's Book Store since 1998 as an events coordinator and the head of the small press section. His memoir, A Common Pornography, was published by Harper Perennial in January 2010. Tin House published his novel, This Is Between Us (2013), about a man and woman, both divorced, trying to start a life together.

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Kevin Sampsell Quotes

I wonder what the difference between love and control is, but I'm afraid to look those words up in a dictionary.

Control, Dictionary, Differences, Look, Looks, Wonder

I sometimes wonder if what I create as a writer will leave any sort of dent. There's really no way of knowing, so I just have to keep going.

Create, Knowing, Sometimes, Sort, Way

One thing I discovered is that the book world is vast. It's easy to walk around the store - even the room with literature and poetry, where I work most often - and feel overwhelmed.

Book, Easy, Literature, Overwhelmed, Thing, World

I think a lot of awesome stuff is coming out with smaller presses. Small presses don't have to have huge board meetings to talk about how to market their books or what to publish - they can take more chances. They can help new authors grow in a healthier, often more artistic way.

Board, Boards, Book, Chances, Stuff, Thinking

One thing that is sometimes forgotten in this "future of books" discussion is that there are all these awesome presses - big and small - that are producing and designing amazing books.

Book, Design, Designing, Small, Sometimes, Thing

I have a very positive outlook on things. It's hard to predict how actual books are going to do but I'm not freaked out about ebooks taking over. I think there are probably more active readers now because of computers and iPhones.

Active, Book, Iphone, Outlook, Predict, Thinking

I learned that you have to respect how much time and work a writer has put into their book. I always give the writer I'm publishing a good deal of control in shaping the book and figuring out how it looks, but I'll make suggestions on how to make it stronger.

Book, Giving, Make, Shaping, Stronger, Work

I feel like a lot has changed - ebooks are a much more valid format and bigger presses are taking less chances. As a bookseller, there are less real bookstores and more people buying on-line. As a writer, I think there are fewer paths to break through on a big press, but on the other hand there are more small presses doing awesome work now. Overall, artistically, I think it's a pretty exciting time in the literary world.

Big, Buying, Fewer, Hands, Real, Thinking

Read as much as you write. Go out and meet other writers. Look for stories in everything around you - music, movies, family, strangers, your bus ride to work, and of course the streets. Also - keep moving forward, keep creating new things. Leave evidence of yourself in this world. Imagine what your legacy could be and try to create it.

Creating, Everything, Leave, Moving Forward, Writing

I try to be a lot of things for the authors I work with - a careful reader, a helpful friend who also happens to be an experienced writer, a thoughtful editor, and a creative midwife.

Thoughtful, Editors, Creative, Careful, Work

There are definitely some tricks and techniques to a good reading. Rewarding the audience that shows up to your reading is very important and you can't be boring or ungrateful.

Boring, Good, Important, Reading, Rewarding, Ungrateful

I've heard a lot of great success stories from writers - how so many of them struggled to get where they are and how persistence pays off. I learned that some writers are good at doing readings and some are not so good at it.

Heard, Persistence, Reading, Stories, Success

Lore is my favorite kind of story. Because it's not only historical, it's a lie everyone knows is a lie but tells anyway. I love that. Of course every story I tell is true. Completely true. Completely and utterly at least five-eighths of the way to being true, which is truer than any piece of lore and truer than most truths you'll hear.

Completely, Historical, Kind, Love, Lying, Stories

The best art on a football field usually happens during kickoff returns.

Art, Field, Fields, Football, Returns

In Because, Joseph Riippi says he wants this book to be ‘a love letter, a prayer, a purge’ but it actually becomes even more than that. It’s a bursting-at-the-seams dream that cradles so many wishes and passions into its wide scope that it constantly surprises with unexpected turns and brilliant thoughts. It transcends its simple mantra-like structure and becomes a reverberating world of beauty and wonder.

Book, Cradles, Dream, Love, Prayer, Reverberating

I've always tried to keep my cover prices on the low side. I'm more interested in getting people to read the books we publish and less interested in the profit margin.

Book, Interested, People, Profit Margin, Publish, Side

I see a lot of writers who complain when their book doesn't sell and the reason that happens sometimes, is they don't know how to publicize or promote themselves. A writer is more successful when they're involved in their literary community somehow. It's very easy for an author's book to fade away if they don't get out in public and meet people.

Away, Book, Happens, People, See, Successful

Just like writers can have a lot of different styles, so can readers. It's hard to pigeonhole book buyers.

Book, Different, Pigeonhole, Readers, Style, Writers

I think one thing I've learned, as dorky and obvious as this sounds: People who like cool books are usually really cool people.

Book, Books, Cool, Dorky, People, Thinking