Dear Barbara, hugs to you and to Karen, she made a miracle happen with you and how much you are changing and making the face of publisher's weekly so warm and personable to us authors. We are greatful to you and to her. I sincerely hope that Publisher's weekly realizes their grave error in letting Karen go, or that some smart and lucrative business nabs her up fast to let her brilliance work for them. much love and hugs

Here's hoping Karen finds something even better that her job at PW. Here's hoping she finds something even more fulfilling. May she find a place where she inspires even more people like you, Barbara.

It is always a sad day when someone loses a job, but I can't thank Karen enough for finding you. I hope this doesn't affect what you do because I look forward to reading your thoughts daily. They're fresh, fun and good natured. Best of luck to Karen and a sad day for Publishers Weekly.

I have know Karen for a few years now - having met her when she came on board at Publishers Weekly. Not only did I admire her and respect her as a editor, writer and journalist, I am proud to say that she and I became friends. Her fierce dedication and eye for what made a story good is something that any publication should value and cherish. Not only was she a consumate professional, but an extremely funny and charming person who made the book world a better place. I would say she will be missed - but I am sure someone with Karen's talent, drive and ambition we will be hearing from her again quite soon.

Barbara, I am sorry to hear about Karen leaving. She was indeed an important person for you! I know how important those folks are in our lives who give us direction, confidence and turn our lives around. And you have past this forward and done this for others through your blog. So having not met Karen- but knowing her through you, I am sorry to hear she is leaving. But she will be back in a new capacity and doing good things in a new place and in a new way. I believe it!

Barbara, my friendship with you and blurbing for your blog are direct results of Karen’s vision and good taste. Had I not seen your picture on the PW page, I would not have introduced myself when I saw you at RT last April. This turn of events for Karen saddens me. It shouldn’t be long until someone as talented and discerning as she will find a position worthy of her. Thank you, Karen. I wish you well.

I'm more than a little annoyed to hear this-and for once I'm being serious-I never met Karen, but we occasionally had fun knocking badminton birdies back and forth over the blog fence and I think it sucks that the bean-counters bushwhacked her. Sic transit gloria, I guess...

I'm very sorry to hear about Karen, Barb. She certainly has an eye for talent, though. She "found" you! And from what you just wrote about her, I'm quite sure she will be back and better than ever - somewhere! How do you thank a mentor, someone who has impacted your life so positively, you ask...I think you just did it very eloquently!

Hearing news like this always makes my heart hurt. I hope Karen finds a dream job very soon. Something bigger and better than she ever expected.

Barbara, hugs to both you and Karen. My husband and I have a small business and we are seeing layoffs all around us and we have pared back to bare minimum staff, but it doesn't make it any easier to see/hear of someone's position being lost.

Thank you all for your kind words. They mean a lot to me. But I feel compelled to add some perspective. While I am tremendously proud of Barbara's work--I've never met anyone who so intuitively "gets it" as she does--as anyone who has met her knows, it didn't take a genius to recognize her talent. And as for that overloaded tray--gimme a break, it was a cruise!

Good-bye, Karen, and very best wishes for the future. I knew you just briefly, but while I blogged under your supervision at PW, you always were encouraging and let me and other writers speak their uppity minds. You said you didn't want just orthodoxy. And whether my topic was DRM, the Kindle or the mix of the two, you kept your word. May your successor be just as gutsy and professional! Anyone hiring you, whether in the news media, book-publishing or elsewhere, will be lucky. David Rothman - PW E-Book Report

Oh how awful - and how discouraging! I hope Karen lands a better position somewhere really good, and that your friendship continues. Thank you, Karen, for bringing us Barbara!

Barb I am so sorry that Karen was let go from a wonderful job, but I am sure you both will stay in touch and be friends. I know she will find a wonderful place, after all she must have great talent to have found you. And Karen, I know about those trays on cruises..what you eat on board, stays on board! Good luck to you.

Barb -- I'm so sorry! But obviously Karen is brilliant to have discovered you, so I've no doubt she'll land somewhere fabulous. Karen -- I echo the thanks to you for finding our darling Barb and wish you all the best in your next adventure. And Lynda -- I was on the 2nd Authors at Sea cruise, and boy do I WISH what I'd eaten on board stayed on board. Somehow it sneaked off the ship and came home attached to my hips!

I am sorry to hear this. She has done a marvellous job, and I believe she had a fresh approach that opened up your Blog. I much-needed voice that is pro-romance. Sad indeed.

Wow, that sucks. I'm sorry to hear it, Barbara. I'm glad Karen got you doing this, because I might not know you otherwise and you're a cool chick!

Sorry to hear this too, Barbara. Like the others, I hope she finds a better job.

Any magazine that would backhand Karen Holt AND David Nudo while paying freelancers* $30 per review and claiming to support the world of letters deserves to fold. Guys, maybe you got out early and beat the rush? * emphasis on the "free"...

Barb, I am very sorry to hear this news. This PW's loss. I know you will keep in touch with Karen. I wish her the best.

Oh, my. This is terrible news. That lunch on the cruise ship was the highlight from my trip, and it was one of those chance meetings that paved the way for so many good things, not the least of which was knowing the both of you. I wish Karen the absolute best, and hope we cross paths again. I hope, too, that this opportunity in disguise, however...wrong...it might be, leads to a great deal of adventure and happiness for her. You have my best, always, Karen.

Sorry to hear about Karen. Thanks to her for finding wonderful you. May her future be even brighter!