Katy Denny
Executive EditorExecutive Editor, Hamlyn Books (my role in any other company would be called commissioning editor).
Are you a graduate? If so, what did you study?
Yes, I studied English at Exeter College, Oxford.
Brief description of what you do.
Market research, contract negotiation, author support and liaison, book planning and structuring, design briefing, pulling teams of editorial, design and other departments together to see books through from manuscript to finished copies.
What is a standard day for you?
Answer email queries about ongoing projects, check page proofs, look at Bookscan sales figures for lifestyle books, write jacket copy, maybe attend a meeting or two.
What skills have you come to rely on most in your position?
Negotiation and relationship management – ‘people skills’ I suppose.
If you had to pick one positive and one negative aspect of your job what would they be?
Positive – there is a huge variety in what I do, which I love as it exercises every bit of my brain from number-crunching to design.
Negative – with so many people involved in decision-making processes it can be difficult and slow to move projects forwards.
How did you get into your role?
I did work experience with Bloomsbury in the Easter holidays before my finals, then found an assistant job for a vanity publisher as soon as I’d finished university, and progressed from there.
Do you do any type of networking? If so, what?
Over the years I’ve made a lot of contacts and am careful to keep people’s details on file – and to stay in touch.
Is there any advice that you would give students looking to get into your field?
Work experience is a great way to test the water in different departments within publishing.
Is there anything else you think we should know?
Don’t expect glamorous book launch parties and big salaries – there is hard work, a lot of photocopying, admin and plenty of hard work even after you progress from an assistant role!
