Category: My Job in 5

James Carroll is a Literary Agent at Northbank Talent Management, he takes the helm of this week’s My Job in 5.

1) Describe your role
I’m an agent representing TV presenters and ‘book to screen’ rights. I manage Northbank’s select list of expert factual presenters and sell fiction and non-fiction books to drama producers to adapt. I also sell Film & TV Rights on behalf of other literary agencies, publishers and publications.

2) What do you like best about being a literary agent?
It’s varied and I meet a lot of clever, interesting people who are passionate about what they do. I love it when an idea, matched with the right conversations, becomes a real project and a creative success. It involves teamwork and solving a lot of tricky problems along the way.

3) Which new projects or titles are you working on at the moment?
An SVOD have just greenlit one of our book options which is always exciting, and we’ve 6 fiction series and 5 non-fiction books in active development. Also an inspiring series The Employables with Dr Nancy Doyle premiering on A&E in the U.S. which has been called ‘Queer Eye for neurodiversity’, and Dr Kevin Fong is presenting a 12-part BBC podcast 13 Minutes to the Moon on the Apollo 11 mission scored by Hans Zimmer (pretty cool).

4) What skills do you need to be a literary agent?
Every fiction series we’ve sold to a TV or Film producer has required a different approach, so being flexible in the way you develop projects, and the creative and business plan you make for each one is key. Diplomacy, communication, negotiation, digesting information quickly and spotting commercial opportunities.

5) What advice would you give to those looking to work in the industry?
Building trust quickly means delivering what you promise or having a great reason why you haven’t. Developing a sense of timing and judgement is possible if you are constantly curious about how things work. Set aside time for creative thoughts. Be kind and don’t put up with those who aren’t.

Discover roles in the book trade with Jobs in Books.

India Darsley is the focal point of My Job in 5 this week, take a look at what it’s like to be Managing Editor for Pushkin Press.

1. Describe your role
I am the Managing Editor at Pushkin Press, an independent publisher focusing on literature in translation. I work across all of our imprints (Pushkin Press, ONE, Pushkin Vertigo and Pushkin Children’s) and am responsible for managing the production cycle of Pushkin’s beautiful books from scheduling and receipt of manuscript to delivery of printed and digital content and stock management. The role at its core involves creating internal processes and schedules to ensure that everything delivers on time for publication. I work closely with the in-house team, authors, translators, sales teams, freelance copy editors, proofreaders, typesetters and cover designers.

2. What do you like best about being a managing editor?
I love working for a small independent press. You get to be involved in more aspects of the publishing process than you might at somewhere larger, so my role is incredibly varied, creative, and always changing. Working across all of our imprints means that my days are spent working on incredible translations, fresh English language voices, rediscovered crime and adventurous children’s titles. We have a wonderful team at Pushkin, and it’s inspiring to see everyone throwing all hands to the pumps and achieving fantastic results.

3. Which new projects or titles are you working on at the moment?
We’ve got a bumper crop of beauties in production for this Spring and I’m in love with them all! Two of my favourites are She Would Be King by Wayétu Moore, a blend of history and magic as three protagonists discover that the magical gifts which have plagued them since childhood are now vital in the fight for freedom in Liberia, and Crossing by Pajtim Statovci, a staggering second novel from the author of My Cat Yugoslavia, delving deep into the social constructs of personal identity via the crossing of borders, nationalities, gender and time.

4. What skills do you need to be a managing editor?
Publishing is a creative industry and plans can change at the last moment while a lot of other plates are spinning, so you need to be organised and efficient with your time, but flexibility and a positive attitude are also key. You should have a strong eye for detail and clear communication skills.

5. What advice would you give to those looking to work in the industry?
Do not automatically rule out jobs outside of editorial or fiction. My entry role was Production Assistant at Polity Press, an independent academic publisher. Production is the perfect fit for my set of skills and I might have missed out on it entirely if I hadn’t broadened my search. Even if you use it as a stepping stone on to something else, you are guaranteed to learn a lot about the industry and meet wonderful people along the way.

Discover managerial roles on Jobs in Books.

The Open Library of Humanities journal publishes internationally-leading, rigorous and peer-reviewed scholarship across the humanities disciplines: from classics, theology and philosophy, to modern languages and literatures, film and media studies, anthropology, political theory and sociology. Dr. Saunders, an academic journal publisher, describes a bit about their work and projects.

Describe your role.
On a day-to-day basis, I run an academic journal, the Open Library of Humanities. OLH is an open access scholarly publisher, meaning that we publish articles that are openly available and not hidden behind a paywall or institutional log-in. This is quite a new way of publishing within the academic humanities, which makes my role very exciting! Day to day as a managing editor, I sort submissions, arrange peer review, copyedit pieces and oversee the production process.

What do you like best about being an academic journal publisher?

I really enjoy working with an article all the way from initial submission to eventual publication: my relationship with authors is briefer than in book publishing, but I work much more closely with their manuscripts, which I enjoy. Having completed a PhD prior to this role, I enjoy using my writing and close editing skills to help authors shape their work. OLH has a really innovative funding model, set up by Martin Eve, so we don’t charge authors to publish with us (as some academic publishers do) and we don’t charge readers for the articles. Instead, we’re funded by an international library consortium. Thinking about new ways to make the economics of publishing work – which is an important conversation for any part of the industry to be having – is an aspect of my role I find fascinating.

Which new projects or titles are you working on at the moment?

Like everyone who works in publishing, I always have many, many projects on at once! In particular, we have some special collections of articles coming up which I’m excited about, which focus on topics including Indian literature and culture, social media and right-wing discourses, and working-class experimental art. We’re a very diverse publisher, which really keeps me on my toes.

What skills do you need to be an academic journal publisher?

Time management skills are so important. In my role as managing editor, I not only have to manage my own time, but other people’s too. Being able to meet deadlines is essential. Understanding authors is a huge part of my role too, so interpersonal skills are crucial: I like to give authors extensive feedback on the strengths of their work and give practical tips for how to improve it. Recognising that non-fiction writing is still extremely creative and, at times, emotionally invested, is a really vital part of this.

What advice would you give to those looking to work in the industry?

Read, read, read! But remember that publishing is more than just books: keep up with industry news, journals and events, and read the reviews and supplements. It’s worth remembering that the role of a publisher is changing rapidly and that looking at what other industries are doing might well give you some new ideas for how ours should function, too. Finally, be passionate!

Hilary Delamere is a Literary Agent of Children’s Books, at The Agency (London) Ltd., she takes over this week’s My Job in 5.

Describe your role: 
Representing authors and illustrators of children’s books; finding, nurturing and managing talent. Being their interface with the industry – helping to decode publishing decisions and helping in planning and advising on a programme of work over several years. Working creatively with clients but also dealing with the detail of contracts, and all the many problems which can crop up on that journey to first publication, and beyond.

What do you enjoy about being a literary agent:
There’s nothing quite like opening an attachment from an author or illustrator and reading or seeing their latest work and ideas which can make your heart sing. The wonderful range and variety of every day from the individuals I work with; from the talent of my authors and illustrators – immense and varied – to the talent within the publishing houses; working with a fantastic publisher, editor, designer, publicist, production or rights manager and sales department makes the whole process exciting and rewarding (and on the flipside frustrating and depressing, when the process doesn’t go so smoothly!)

Working on at the moment:
Many exciting projects at different stages of development. However it has been very special to be working with Raymond Briggs on his latest book, Time For Lights Out, which is being launched this November by Jonathan Cape; and to be finalising several deals with the PRH group for a number of new Malorie Blackman projects whilst looking forward to the broadcast of Malorie’s Noughts & Crosses from BBC/Mammoth.

What skills do you need to be a literary agent:
Coupled with knowledge of how the publishing process should work and an understanding of how it does work – I think you need energy, excitement, an ability to bounce back – and to be able to deal with the minutiae as well as the big picture – and always be determined to enjoy the ride.

Advice to those looking to work in the industry:
Acquire and consume as much knowledge about the industry from all angles so that as an agent you understand the process in its entirety. Also remember it is a small industry and people stay in it for the long term and move around. You end up coming across the same people in different places at different stages in your career – relationships are crucial!

Discover roles in the book trade with Jobs in Books.

Jennifer Bone is a Librarian at Southwestern Illinois College (and former colleague of your correspondent in his former life as an American), we are honored that is at the helm of this week’s My Job in 5.

1. Describe your role.

   I am a community college librarian located near St. Louis, Missouri. My role is to provide academic support services to students and teaching faculty members through instruction sessions and the management of an outstanding library facility.

2. What do you like best about your role?

   Introducing students, faculty, staff and community users to library resources – whether it’s in a classroom or one-on-one. My heart explodes with joy when I get to make the “A-HA” moments happen.

3. Which new projects or titles are you working on at the moment?

   Currently, we’ve acquired the product Libguides and we’re creating library resources pages for specific college courses. We’re also moving to a new library catalog in June 2020. Migrating data and training for a new computer software is a priority.

4. What skills do you need for your role?

   Flexibility and kindness. A community college librarian must know a little bit about a lot. We teach, manage staff, manage our technology, budget planning, committee work, etc. Our list is never-ending and our skills are always changing. But a smile of encouragement and flexibility goes a long way with everyone.

5. What advice would you give to those looking to work in the industry?

   Work in a library before you get a library degree. Learn about the different types of libraries and their environments. Meet with a librarian to see if the career would be a good fit for you.

Are you looking for roles within the book trade? Check out the Jobs in Books website to discover a range of roles including librarian and more!

Heather O’Connell tells us all about her role as a production consultant and trainer at Bluebird Consulting.

Describe your role.

I provide production expertise and advice, helping publishers review and streamline their production and ops process. These processes and workflows often evolve over time and it’s hard to review them while still doing the day-to-day business of making books. That’s when the external eye that I provide becomes invaluable. I also run Get into Book Publishing, a suite of introductory courses for those who’d like to get into the industry.

What do you like best about your role?

I’m really lucky. My role is rewarding in lots of ways. I know it’s a cliché but I really do love its variety. No two days are ever the same and I’m always learning, which is really important to me. I also get to work with lots of great people and businesses, making things easier for them and their teams. It’s really satisfying to work with a team and leave them happier and more efficient than when I arrived.

Which new projects or titles are you working on at the moment?

I’ve recently finished a structural and process review for a publisher. I looked at its whole supply chain, workflows and structure, made recommendations and helped it to create an implementation plan. This week, I’ve been working on some new courses for the Get into Book Publishing programme. We’re expanding to include courses in transferable skills, Photoshop, InDesign and coding.

What skills do you need for your role?

I think, above everything else, you need to be curious and willing to listen, learn and adapt. Publishing is a constantly evolving business, understanding the broader business landscape and how that affects what we do and how we do it is critical. Building strong relationships, both internally and externally, is also vital to getting things done in publishing.

What advice would you give to those looking to work in the industry?

Persevere. It’s tough to get into publishing but it’s a great industry to be part of. Once you’re in, say yes to everything—take every opportunity that comes your way. Even if you think it won’t help you now, it almost certainly will in the future.

Are you looking for roles in production? Check out Jobs in Books for a wide range of roles including production consultant and more.

Marketing Manager Jenn Thompson talks us through some of the ins and outs of her role at Turnaround publishing services.

1. Describe your role

I’m a marketing manager, but my role involves so many things! I manage an awesome team of five people and our core job is to produce a monthly sales kit for the 200+ publishers we distribute. This involves wrangling new title info from publishers, data work, writing blurbs and making Advance Information sheets. Then I put it all together into a kit for our sales reps and customers. We do marketing and publicity work for our US & overseas clients. I oversee our social media marketing, our newsletters, and our blog. Generally, I help our publishers in any way I can to make sure their books have a certain level of visibility in the UK.

2. What do you like best about being a marketing manager?

I like how varied it is. It’s never boring. I love working with our publishers, especially the indies who are putting out some really important books. With distribution you get an amazing insight into all kinds of publishing, from art to sci-fi to literary fiction to comics and everything in-between. I am a huge champion for/fan of LGBTQ literature, and I get to work with some really inspiring publishers like Arsenal Pulp Press and the Feminist Press who are putting out amazing books by some of my favourite queer authors.

3. Which new projects or titles are you working on at the moment?

At the moment I’m working on the sales kit for March 2019. After that’s wrapped up, we’ll be starting work on our Christmas lists and best-of-the-year lists. I’m also getting ready for Frankfurt Book Fair in October. In terms of titles, we have some exciting books coming up from Melville House, Europa, Myriad, Galley Beggar and Avery Hill.

4. What skills do you need to be a marketing manager ?

You need to be hugely organised and able to work quickly. The job is extremely deadline-driven. You need to be flexible too, as things can change from one minute to the next. Communication skills are essential, including good copywriting skills.

5. What advice would you give to those looking to work in the industry?

You don’t have to work for a publisher to work in publishing! There are loads of exciting jobs that allow you to work with excellent publishers without working for them. Be flexible and creative, and look beyond the big publishing houses. Also, apply for jobs even if you can’t tick every requirement in the job post. As long as you’re interested and willing, new skills can be learned. When I’m hiring I make my decisions more on what applicants have to say than what’s on their CV.

Discover roles in marketing, including marketing manager roles on Jobs in Books.

Jean Lui tells us all about her role as head of product at Altmetric.

Describe your role

I’m head of product at Altmetric, a London-based data company that tracks and analyses online activity around scholarly research outputs. I serve as the bridge between the commercial and engineering parts of our business, and I am responsible for planning, setting and communicating our roadmap and product vision. I also manage a team of software engineers that focuses exclusively on new product development.

What do you like best about head of product?

The best thing about my role is the fact that Altmetric products are helping to change the way that the scholarly community thinks about the societal impact of research. Through user research sessions, I get to interact with and learn from many groups within the scholarly community, including publishers, academic institutions, funders, and more.

Which new projects or titles are you working on at the moment?

Currently, we’re adding the final touches to an update for our AltmetricExplorer platform. We’re also in the process of planning a new author alerting system that will let book publishers quickly generate and send informative Altmetric data reports to their authors and editors.

What skills do you need to be head of product?

As a product manager, having great written and verbal communication skills is a must. My role is very social—on any given day, I might need to present a compelling product pitch to our customers, train our sales team on technical aspects and product messaging, and then also talk extensively about user needs in an engineering planning session.

What advice would you give to those looking to work in the industry?

It’s a really exciting time to be in scholarly technology, as many companies in this space have been growing at a really fast pace and are doing some fantastic work. My biggest piece of advice for those looking to work in the industry is to be open-minded and engage with people at conferences, meet-ups, and other events—be ready to make connections and share ideas!

Find jobs in the book trade with Jobs in Books.

Jo Fenn is the HR Director of Imagine That Publishing and the star of this week’s My Job in 5.

1. Describe your role.

As HR director, my role is extremely varied and often changes on a daily basis! Alongside general office management, I work closely with the leadership team on projects and strategic business planning, as well as managing our recruitment process. Another important element of my role is developing our company culture and creating opportunities for both personal and professional development.

2. What do you like best about your role?

Working closely with recruitment agencies to find new talent for the business is particularly rewarding. It’s been amazing seeing the growth of individuals from their initial first interview to where they are currently within the company. I feel very privileged to work in such a creative and fun industry. Being surrounded by children’s books every day is definitely good for the soul!

3. Which new projects or titles are you working on at the moment?

I’m currently working on an employment engagement survey, which will provide regular opportunities for staff to give focused feedback and inform key business decisions. We have also just launched our brand new charity team, part of a new wave of opportunities for staff wellbeing and collaboration. The formation of our company running club, The Flying Elephants, has resulted in me running the London Marathon this year so I look forward to seeing what the charity initiative has in store for us!

4. What skills do you need for your role?

Flexibility is key in managing competing responsibilities, alongside a good amount of patience. The person-focused nature of HR means that empathy, and the capacity to listen and problem-solve is fundamental. I talk to a variety of people so being adaptive to different scenarios and communication styles is really important too.

5. What advice would you give to those looking to work in the industry?

Whatever role you are interested in, ensure that your passion for the industry shines through. Not only will it make you stand out at interview, but it will make you better at your role. Being invested in the company and understanding their values and vision makes for a positive working environment, which equals a positive employee!

Kay Farrell works as an Assistant Publisher for Sandstone Press and is our spotlight for this week’s My Job in 5.

1. Describe your role.

As Assistant Publisher I manage production processes for the whole list and work hard to keep production on schedule. I also edit five or six books a year and sit on the acquisition panel. It’s a great variety.

2. What do you like best about being an assistant publisher?

My job offers the best of both worlds in that I get to suggest a book for acquisition and see it all the way through until it is in my hands. I love book delivery day and seeing all the hard work of everyone involved come to life.

3. Which new projects or titles are you working on at the moment?

I’m developing the book craft for a narrative non-fiction entitled Gears for Queers about a queer couple taking a cycling tour in Europe. I’m also editing a debut novel called The Actuality which beautifully combines literary and speculative fiction. Both will be out next summer and both are really exciting!

4. What skills do you need to be an assistant publisher?

I think persistence and persuasion are key, whether negotiating with a printer or trying to get an edit in from an author. You also need an eye for the small details as they are what can elevate a book from good to great.

5. What advice would you give to those looking to work in the industry?

My first publishing job was in production and I almost turned it down because I wanted to work in editorial. I took it because I needed paid work and the experience turned out to be invaluable. Keep an open mind and always think transferable skills!

Find assistant roles on Jobs in Books.