Over at Authorlink, they have been running a monthly feature on the "likes, dislikes, preferences, prejudices, writing preferences, and editorial choices" of various top editors in NY Publishing. And this month, the focus is on Mark Tavani, a senior editor at Ballantine Books since 2000 who has just begun his newest project: spearheading Mortalis, Random House's brand-new trade paperback imprint for mysteries and thrillers, which will launch in Spring 2007 with new titles by David Corbett, Alex Carr & Boris Akunin as well as choice reprints, and grow to a total of 12 titles per year.

"Many worthwhile books get lost in the shuffle," Tavani told Authorlink. "We believe that by grouping together high quality classics and trade originals that have common elements of suspense and presenting them in a fresh way we can gain greater visibility for both. Mortalis gives us an ideal way to introduce the best new writers as well as to celebrate the masters in these genres."

As long as the works are "emotional, intelligent, contemporary stories in an amazing setting," Tavani will consider them - provided they are sent his way via an agent. "They should tell me the specific reasons why I should spend time reading their project," he said. "If a work doesn’t really excite the agent, chances are it won't excite me either."