Some books feel like they are written for a very specific moment in life. You come across them at the perfect moment, and they speak directly to the version of you that exists in that instant — gifting advice, comfort or simply the feeling of being seen. Other books are timeless.

These period pieces should be taken with a grain of salt. While the clothes and houses may look pretty, unethically using and enslaving people certainly is not.

Aspiring writers received advice in making an agent’s short list and navigating a book deal in a panel at WBUR’s CitySpace Tuesday, moderated by four-time author Courtney Maum. Based off of her newest book titled “Before and After the Book Deal,” Maum discussed how to navigate the world of publishing.