LitKicks has asked a variety of book industry professionals (including publishers, authors, agents, editors, distributors, sales representatives, booksellers, librarians, critics and bloggers) a question: "Does literary fiction suffer from dysfunctional pricing?" Below is the record of a conversation that took place in September and October 2007.

Introduction and Project Goals

• Levi Asher

Phase One: Primary Sources

• Richard Nash (publisher, Soft Skull), Mark Sarvas (author, Harry, Revised), Scott Hoffman (agent, Folio)

• Simon Lipskar (agent, Writer's House), Keith Arsenault (sales, PGW/Perseus), Dave Weich (marketing director, Powell's)

• First Week Summary by Levi Asher

• David Poindexter (publisher, MacAdam/Cage), Danielle Marshall (marketing/promotion, Powells), Kelly Nagle (librarian)

• Alan Sorensen (Graduate School of Business, Stanford University), John Freeman (President, National Book Critics Circle), Ami Greko (marketing director, Folio Literary Management)

Phase Two: Debate and Discussion

• The Case for Change by Levi Asher

• Sarah Weinman (book critic, blogger), Tao Lin (author, Eeeee Eee Eeee, Bed), Ron Hogan (author, The Stewardess is Flying the Plane!, blogger)

• Simon Lipskar (literary agent, Writer's House), Kassia Krozser (blogger, Booksquare), Doug Seibold (publisher, Agate)

• The Pleasures of Paperbacks by Jamelah Earle

Phase Three: Statistics, Estimates and Models

• Figuring Out the Book Business by Levi Asher

• Fantasy Publisher League, Part One (A Hypothetical Fiction Frontlist) by Mary Delli Santi

• Fantasy Publisher League, Part Two (Simon Collins & Random Day's Typical Year) by Mary Delli Santi

• Fantasy Publisher League, Part Three (Ups and Downs in Simon Collins & Random Day's Third Year) by Mary Delli Santi

Conclusions

• On Critiquing the Industry by Levi Asher

• Finale: A Plea From Paperback Readers by Levi Asher