Grossman was twenty-nine, then the youngest president of a publishing house, and she and Zacharius had no pretensions. Without deep pockets, they had to be smarter and faster. When other publishers went high, Zebra went low. They paid lower royalties (sometimes a mere 2 percent) and smaller advances (as little as $500), and they paid late. They kept a small staff (twenty-two people), but hired smart. Zebra’s door was open to talent from other publishers who’d been passed over for promotions or forced to retire. Lacking deep ties to the literary community, Grossman and Zacharius plunged into
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