Several outlets are carrying this wire story on Because She Can, a novel based on the scuzzy adventures of Judas Regan. It’s a horror story/social satire with elements of a Greek tragedy. I particularly like the part where she loses her eyes to OJ’s ice cream spoon-wielding children. It’s the latest in a run of books exposing the seemy underbelly of the publishing world. And by “underbelly” I mean “entire body”. (No, no. I know most of you are hard-working honest folk who are too tired from the battle to even think about stabbing your coworkers in the back, much less use the limited edition Rambo II survival knife with compass and matches in the hilt that you bought on eBay specifically for that task…)

Clark, 29, worked for 11 months as an editor at ReganBooks before leaving at the end of 2004. She quickly put together a manuscript about the publishing business; what she calls a “coming of age novel disguised as a ‘boss from hell’ story”.

In Because She Can, Iowa native Claire Truman is an idealistic young editor who leaves the old-fashioned confines of Peters & Pomfret for better pay and more responsibility at Mather-Hollinger, where she will work under the notorious Vivian Grant. Claire’s professional and personal life are soon ravaged by Vivian, who harasses her at all hours, at all volumes.

But, of course, Vivian is not Judith Regan. “The character from Vivian Grant really is a composite,” Clark said. “There is nothing directly lifted from life in the book.”

Then again, Claire and Clark would have a lot to talk about.

Opposing viewpoint on the value of bitchiness to be found here. Though I would like to point out a distinct divide between bitchiness and immorality.