32
Jun162010
Guest Publisher: Donna Condon of Piatkus (Little Brown) (+ Giveaway – UK ONLY)
by Carolyn • Posted in Uncategorized
Today I have the pleasure in welcoming Donna Condon, Editor for Piatkus, a Little Brown imprint, who gives us a glimpse into the life on an Editor and what the job entails, and talks about some of the titles we can expect to see from Piatkus this year.
There’s also an amazing giveaway, so make sure you enter at the end of Donna’s post.
So please welcome, Donna…
A GLIMPSE INTO AN EDITOR’S (MAD) WORLD
I feel very honoured to be joining the ranks of people featured on Book Chick City as I’m a huge fan of the blog! When mulling over what to write, a question I’m often asked – be it on a night out when I meet new people, by fellow book lovers, and even by authors themselves – popped into mind: what exactly do you do as an editor?
For those who would like an insight into the (slightly chaotic) world of an editor please read on – though I warn, those of you who imagine such a role as one that involves plenty of time for leisurely reading and masses of glamour will soon be disappointed!
I work on the Piatkus imprint at Little, Brown for which I acquire commercial fiction. We publish across a broad range of genres including women’s fiction, crime, historical and paranormal romance, urban fantasy and horror. My authors include Sherrilyn Kenyon, Christine Feehan, J.R. Ward, Keri Arthur, Martin Millar, Julia Quinn and David Wellington, just to name a few.
In short, the answer to the question ‘what do you do’ is lots! The job of an editor is a very busy one, and definitely not for those looking to work 9-5 with weekends off! However, an editor becomes an editor because of a love of books and the thrill of being able to commission a book, work with the author to polish the content, direct the cover, and see the finished copy on a bookshelf, is an amazing one and far outweighs the overtime!
Without going into too much detail (I hope!) as follows is a brief summary of the main elements of my job:
• Reading submissions! While reading/editing contracted authors manuscripts, as well as reading widely other publishers’ novels to see what’s working in the marketplace, a huge chunk of time is taken up reading submissions from agents. (Most publishers don’t accept unsolicited submissions anymore, and Little, Brown is one of those.) We read submissions looking to answer three questions: 1) are they good, 2) do they have a market, 3) are they compatible with the type of fiction our list publishes. As the job is so demanding time-wise most editors have to read submissions (and indeed edit) out of work hours, but now that most of us have e-readers it means no lugging paper around like in the past!
• The next step, once I’ve found a manuscript that ticks all the boxes, is to convince my colleagues that we should publish the book. First it’s assessed and discussed by my editorial colleagues and, if it gets through that meeting, then goes to another where sales and marketing assess whether it has the potential to sell copies (a very important factor!).
• Once I get the thumbs up to offer, the next stage is negotiating contract terms with authors and agents. This can be a lengthy process but the feeling once you seal the deal is worth it!
• Once we have a new author, we then have to work hard to get a buzz going in-house, and subsequently out of house, while constantly keeping the buzz going for existing authors/series too.
• Editors also edit manuscripts (this often takes 3 or 4 drafts), brief cover design to our art department, come up with titles/shoutlines (harder than one would think!).
• Ensure authors/agents are and feel as involved as possible during all processes.
• Manage the list in the current market as well as identifying future markets and new products with commercial potential (to give you an idea of how far ahead we have to work, we’re currently commissioning for summer 2011 onwards).
• Deal with budgets and publishing strategy.
• Liaise with marketing, sales and publicity (while knowing what information to give them which will allow them to do their job most effectively).
• Attend book fairs/ relevant conferences.
The job is an incredibly rewarding and it’s fantastic having the opportunity to publish so many fantastic authors.
My own tastes are pretty eclectic – I have a degree in English and philosophy, and an MA Publishing, and you’ll as easily find me reading a literary novel as you will find me reading a mass-market horror. ‘Variety is the spice of life’ is definitely my motto when it comes to reading!
It’s also very much Piatkus’ motto and we’re always on the look out for new authors, especially those who write series as we find our readers love entering worlds, rather than just novels, and learning about the various characters’ back stories and what motivates them. Here’s a highlight of some of our books coming out in the next few months!
June: Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn – Quinn is the perfect tonic after a bad day and her light take on historical fiction will sweep you away!
July: Shades of Night by Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittredge – like Heroes and urban fantasy? Then this is definitely a series for you!
August: Curse of the Wolf Girl by Martin Millar – this is the sequel to Lonely Werewolf Girl and is perfect for those lovers of supernatural fiction with a twist.
November: Blood Trinity – the first book in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s new urban fantasy thriller series, The Belador Code!
September: Sister by Rosamund Lupton – this beautiful debut charts a woman’s journey to find her sister’s murder. Keep a tissue handy . . .
September: Crave by J.R. Ward – the next Fallen Angels novel by the author of the addictive Black Dagger Brotherhood vampire series.
Hope you enjoyed stopping by today. It was really fantastic to have the opportunity to be a guest on such a fab blog!
Donna Condon
Commissioning Editor: Piatkus Fiction – Little, Brown Book Group
Thanks so much Donna!
Okay, so now onto the fab giveaway courtesy of Piatkus!
Prize pack consists of all the books listed above – but just to clarify these are the books you could win:
Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn
Shades of Night by Jackie Kessler
Curse of the Wolf Girl by Martin Millar
Blood Trinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Sister by Rosamund Lupton
Crave by J.R. Ward
And, it’s not just one lucky winner but THREE!!
All you have to do to enter is leave a comment for my guest and then fill out this form!
This giveaway is for UK residents only (publisher’s request) and ends Sat 19th June!
GOOD LUCK!!
32 Comments
That was a really insightful look into the varied work that an editor gets up to. It sounds so busy, but equally sounds like my perfect job *dreams*. Some ace books coming out from Piatkus this year!
Reply
I had no idea that editors did so much!
Reply
Fantastic post and great insight into the life as a publisher. That is really interesting.
Reply
I had no idea that an editors job was so busy! Do you still manage to have a private life too?
Reply
I too always wondered what an editor actually did ! Work very hard is the answer obviously
Fascinating insight , thank you .
Reply
I too had no idea that editors were so busy – how do you manage life outside of work?
This is really interesting and you manage a lot of my favourite authors too. Lucky you!
Thanks it was really interesting
Reply
This was so interesting – they like to keep you busy!
Reply
I love these posts, I always wondered exactly what editors do and it's exciting to see just how many different aspects their job involves.
Reply
Do you still read when you go away on holiday? I should imagine you sometimes feel as if you never want to see another book
Reply
Hi everyone, thanks for the comments and glad you enjoyed the post! Yes, it's a busy job but an incredibly rewarding one. And I do still manage to have a lovely private life, thankfully!
In answer to the question, do I read when I go on holiday, the answer is yes, though being honest perhaps less than non-editors. Friends of mine who don’t work in publishing often choose 5+ novels, whereas I tend to choose one that I know I’ll really enjoy. I also always try to have one non-work book on the go as well as it’s really important to see what other publishers are doing/authors are writing etc. The book I finished this morning, for example, was ‘One Day’ by David Nicholls – a great book and I heartily recommend. I also attend a monthly book group to ensure I’m reading outside of my normal remit. Good thing I like reading I guess! Also great to hear you’re fans of my authors too – I’m incredibly lucky to be working with such a talented bunch!
Reply
Thanks for this very interesting and insightful post!
Reply
Thats pretty interesting! Thanks for the information, sounds more exciting than i first thought!
Reply
What is the best book you've ever read ??? I appreciate that will be very difficult to answer
@paulinepppp
Reply
Great post – it sound like you do a lot more than just reading/editing! Do you usually get the books published that you read and champion to the other editors or have there been some heartbreaks of books you love but can't get your house to publish?
Reply
Best book I’ve ever read? Impossible answer as you can imagine (!) though I can give you a brief list of the books I love which I’ve read more than once (high praise from me!) that immediately spring to mind at this moment in time: The Secret Garden, Charlotte’s Web, The Red Pony, The Secret History, The World According to Garp, Atonement, Stephen King’s Dark Tower series – and pretty much most things by Stephen King, Wuthering Heights, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Lord of the Rings, High Fidelity, anything by Roddy Doyle, Lovely Bones…as you can tell I could go on!
In terms of getting books through there have indeed been books I’ve tried to get through and failed, which is the case for every editor. My biggest heartbreak was when one then went on to become a publishing phenomenon – but at least it proved that I have an eye for what will work!
Reply
DONNA – I have also read and loved many of the books you listed: Wuthering Heights, Picture of Dorian Gray, Lovely Bones, most books by Stephen King… I must say I am intrigued as to which book you didn't managed to acquire but went on to become a huge success… I know you can't say, but still, very intrigued
Thanks so much for your post today – it was really interesting to read about what editors do! It was a pleasure to have you
Reply
i loved some of those books thank you for the post!!
Reply
And thank you so much for having me, Book Chick. You never know…I might let you in on the secret some day.
Reply
It was really interesting reading about the process that goes on when bringing a book to print. And I am glad to hear that you still read on holiday. I studied publishing and stopped reading for a while during my course as I was sick of books! Luckily it didn't last!
Reply
I really enjoyed this post!! I didn't realise how many different roles an editor had! I am really looking forward to the Blood Trinity Series.
Donna – what was the first book you ever read? Mine were the Famous Five books.
Thank you!
Reply
Really insightful post & it was nice to find out what an editor does! Sounds like a lot of hardwork, but rewarding & fun too!
Reply
What a wonderful post. Loved having a peek into the world of an editor.
*sniffle* I can't enter the contest
I am looking forward to Crave, enjoyed Covet.
Paula
Tomes Devotee
Reply
Thank you for having Donna over BCC, this was really a great little glimpse into the life of how a book comes to end up being in my hand..
I have been buying from Piatkus for a while and they are really great..
My lastet was As Darkness Falls -
Bronwyn Parry..
Keep the good work Donna – Much appreciated..
E.H>
Reply
Great post. I always wanted to know exactly what editors do and those upcoming books sound great!
Reply
So delighted that you all enjoyed the post!
@ Claire: The first books I remember reading are The Faraway Tree books. Still have some of them, though they’re now somewhat battered!
@ Erotic Horizon: fantastic to hear you’re a Piatkus fan. Bronwyn Parry is great, isn’t she? Love the suspence element in her novels.
Reply
What a great guest post – I'd love to be an editor. It must be so frustrating to have something fail with you but then succeed elsewhere – but then I suppose it's oddly satisfying to at least be able to think 'I was right, I told you so!'.
Reply
I think the problem (but also the fun element!) is that it’s not a black and white situation. A book that may seem to have bags of promise can get through, end up on the bookshelves and not sell any copies though everyone has really believed in it – in the current market this happens a lot more often than losing one that then does go on to sell lots! It is frustrating when you really believe in a book but if it doesn’t get through there’s always a very valid reason. And for every frustration there are a lot of victories so it’s all good!
Reply
*sobs* Nooooo! Why must I live in the states!? You lucky UK people you. *sniffles* I like that cover for "Crave" though. Good luck to you all.
Reply
Wow! Even reading that was a bit overwhelming, I can't even imagine a day in your shoes Donna!
On a side note, I just finished a book today and this prize would make it much easier for me to choose which book I read next! Cheers
Reply
What an interesting post! Until I met some editors recently, I had no idea what went into their job either. It all sounds very varied and rewarding, especially when you find that one book that makes it all worth it.
And that motto… yes… when it comes to books, variety is so important!
Thanks for the post
Reply
A interesting article,very busy and varied work. Does Donna Condon read for pleasure or is it always for work?
Reply
always vaguely wondered what an editor did (I now know, its a lot lol) very interesting thank you
Reply