In 1980, most people in publishing thought the Consciousness Movement meant waking from a dream and getting out of bed. Words like Human Potential were science fiction terms used by wackos, food allergies weren't real, and alternative health care meant Tylenol rather than aspirin. But on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, in cozy offices in the shadow of the Roxy and the Whiskey a Go Go, a small group of young people just beginning their careers in publishing were immersed in a world of new ideas and experiences, working like crazy for a man who was destined to change the face of book publishing forever: Jeremy P. Tarcher.
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| Jeremy Tarcher | |
Jeremy had revolutionary ideas about what humans could accomplish, what the brain and mind were capable of, and was on a mission to publish books "those people in New York never would." In Jeremy's offices the record-setting, ground-breaking classic, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain was an idea being discussed over granola and yogurt. The Aquarian Conspiracy, which was blowing millions of people's minds, was frantically being packed and shipped. We were fresh from college, transplants from New York City (as was Jeremy), the Midwest and Texas, immersed in a world of new ideas and experiences, devoted to this guy who was married to Lamb Chop, the actress Shari Lewis.
We were not sure exactly what was happening but we knew that it was magical. Timothy Leary would run from office to office, cheering us on during the years he wrote his autobiography, Flashbacks. Other charismatic and influential writers who regaled us with their astonishing ideas were shaped and encouraged by Jeremy: Rupert Sheldrake, the renegade British biologist (I'll never forget Jeremy trying to explain Sheldrake's theory of Morphic Resonance: "Breathe, my dear, try to open your mind" he said, his hand on my shoulder, me in tears, as we peered down at my incomprehensible press release), Stephen La Berge and his fascinating Lucid Dreaming ("Step out of your dreams and watch as they happen, redirect them, change the outcome!")
Jeremy taught us countless things, from acquisitions to editing to publication, writing ad copy, flaps, back cover, selling books into stores and promoting them out of stores. Every day was a new crash course in how to stretch ourselves and successfully publish a book. Jeremy believed that anything was possible if you devoted your energy to figuring it out. Anything could be learned and understood.
These were the Tarcher pioneer days: 1980-1985. We were unaware how incredibly fortunate we were to be working for a bona fide visionary! The invaluable knowledge I learned about writers and writing, book publicity and the tedious moments it takes to make a book first readable and then possibly even great--even into a blockbuster bestseller like Women Who Love Too Much (a book Jeremy published because all the women in the office told him he had to publish it)--I learned from Jeremy Tarcher. His voice still resonates daily: every time I write an ad, edit a page of manuscript, write a press release, my mind darts back to the kinds of notes he would put in the margin of my work. Push yourself, he'd say to me when I was in my 20s. Don't be afraid. So what if no one else has ever done it this way before?
Jeremy taught so many of us about taking chances, believing in ourselves, and in going the distance. When he got frustrated in staff meetings, his mantra was: "Why can't I get what I want!?" I used to crack up every time he said that, though he wasn't being funny. One year, egged on by my co-workers, I went to the instant printer and had note pads printed for a holiday gift with the line WHY CAN'T I GET WHAT I WANT? boldly typeset across the top, and Jeremy P. Tarcher typeset on the bottom of the page. We all watched Jeremy open the box. At first he just stared at it with disgust, and then his face broke into that little half-smile we all knew so well. With his blue eyes twinkling and his dimples deep, he said: "Thank you, my dear, I will cherish this."
Here's to Jeremy Tarcher. We will all cherish his memory. --Kim Dower
Kim Dower is the founder of Kim-from-L.A., a literary publicity company, and a poet. Her third collection will be published by Red Hen Press in March 2016.