Frey's Agent Goes on the Record with 'PW'

-- Publishers Weekly, 1/31/2006

Brillstein-Grey literary manager Kassie Evashevski has represented James Frey for the last four and a half years, and has remained mum of the debate swirling around the publication of A Million Little Pieces. "I have purposefully chosen not to comment on the controversy until now because I felt it was important to let James speak for himself," Evashevski told PW editor-in-chief Sara Nelson in an exclusive interview. "I also needed to sort out for myself what was happening."While she declined to quote from private conversations in which she questioned Frey about the controversial events in the book, she says that she spoke to him many times about specific incidents inA Million Little Pieces.She also said she learned about Frey's deceptions in the papers and on TV "along with the rest of the world."

In light of recent questions about the roles of agent, editor and publisher, Evashevski said, "I now feel compelled to address the matter."

SN: HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO ALLEGATIONS THAT YOU SUBMITTED THE BOOK DIFFERENTLY (Fiction vs. Nonfiction) TO DIFFERENT PUBLISHERS?

KE: I told all the publishers that it was the true story of James's addiction and recovery, which is what he had told me. He did say he had changed the names and identifying characteristics of his fellow rehab patients, but, until recently, always maintained the veracity of his account.

I think the confusion over fiction vs. nonfiction may stem from the fact that early in the submission process, James raised the issue of whether he could publish it as an autobiographical novel--ONLY, he said, to spare his family undue embarrassment, NOT because it wasn't true. I told him I would bring it up with a few publishers, which I did, and the response was unanimous:if the book is true, it should be published as a memoir.

James personally explained to his editor that the events depicted in the book took place as described.Based on the information given us by the author, [editor] Sean McDonald and [publisher] Nan Talese believed in good faith they were buying a memoir, just as I believed I was selling them one.

SN: HOW DID FREY'S MANUSCRIPT GET TO YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE?

KE: It was sent to me by a mutual friend of James and mine who works in the film business.

SN: WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO REP IT?

KE: I thought the book was the most visceral and vivid description of drug addiction I had ever read.

SN: DO YOU BELIEVE FREY SET OUT TO "CON" YOU, NAN, ETC?

KE: No, I really don't, but I'm not going to speculate about what went on his mind.

SN: WHEN DID YOU FIRST LEARN ABOUT THE 'SMOKING GUN'S' FINDINGS?

KE: James called me a few days before the piece ran to say he had learned they were doing a negative story on him, but I didn't learn of the specifics until I read it on 'TSG' Web site along with everyone else.

SN: ARE YOU CONTINUING TO REP HIM?

KE: No, I am not. In the last week, it became impossible for me to maintain a relationship once the trust had been broken. He eventually did apologize, but I felt for many reasons I had to let him go as a client.

SN: WHAT DO YOU THINK HIS FUTURE IS AS A WRITER/SCREENWRITER?

KE: I still believe he's a very talented writer and suspect we haven't heard the last of James Frey.

SN: WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT TO VERIFY BOOKS?DO YOU THINK PUBLISHERS SHOULD HAVE FACT-CHECKERS?

KE: Certainly after this experience, I have to wonder if there is such a thing as a "nonfiction memoir." One can fact-check facts, but how do you fact-check memory and perception? I'm less clear on whether or not I think publishers have a responsibility to carefully check nonfiction works of a journalistic nature.Ultimately, I feel an author should be responsible for his or her own work, but I leave that to the legal minds.

SN: THERE ARE OFTEN QUESTIONS ABOUT EVENTS DEPICTED IN MEMOIRS. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS BOOK THAT SEEMS TO HAVE SET OFF SO MANY PEOPLE?

KE: I think the book's success and the tremendous interest in its subsequent controversy are because of its subject matter. Nearly everyone in this country seems to have been touched by addiction or knows someone who has. Still, I've never personally seen a media frenzy like this regarding a book before.It's been surreal.

SN: DO YOU THINK THIS SITUATION HAS CHANGED THE WAY YOU WILL DEAL WITH CLIENTS AND MANUSCRIPTS IN THE FUTURE?

KE: This experience will definitely make me more cautious. But, at the end of the day, I guess I hope I'll still be able to take people at their word--even while I'm checking out their stories.