When Chloe and I first mooted the point about interviewing those that work within the publishing industry, we didn’t really know what the response was going to be. We know that those who work in the publishing industry are incredibly busy so we were thrilled when we got such a great response. Here is our first Industry Interview with the fab Sherise Hobbs who works at Headline.

1. Can you tell us, in as little detail or as much detail as you wish, what exactly it is you do within the publishing industry?

I’m an Associate Publisher in the Fiction department at Headline Publishing Group. This means I get to look after a number of fantastic authors and I’m also one of the editors responsible for acquiring exciting new authors.

2. How did you come to work as a book editor?

After my English degree, I floundered around for a little while trying to work out what I wanted to do. A spell doing work experience in the Fiction department of a large trade publisher made me realise that my dream job did indeed exist – all I then had to do was persuade someone to employ me! Luckily, soon after that, I got a job as an Editorial Assistant at Headline, and I’ve been with this brilliant company ever since.

3. If I (or anybody interested in books) wanted to become a book editor, would I need any special degrees or anything? Where would we have to start out in the publishing industry?

You don’t need any special kind of degree or qualification to become an editor. Most editors I know have started in publishing as an assistant, usually in editorial but not always, and there is the occasional editor who has entered the industry from a completely different route, such as bookselling, for example. My advice to anyone wanting a job in publishing would always be to try to get some work experience at a publishing house. You’ll be able to get a fantastic perspective on the actual publishing process and you’ll see how a publishing company really works. It will also look great on your CV as it speaks volumes to a potential employer that you are so determined to pursue your dream you have even been willing to work for free! With regards to getting a job in the editorial department, I would say that the most important thing to remember is that you need to have an enormous passion for reading, and be able to demonstrate this during an interview. Practise talking about books you’ve recently read and explaining why you’ve loved/hated them, and keep reading as much as you can. Most importantly, persevere – if you want it badly enough, you will get it!

4. You edit many authors including Emily Barr and Linda Green. What’s it like editing so many different writing styles?

A joy! The beauty of my job is that my authors are all unique and so working with each of them is a completely different experience. I get so excited when one of my authors delivers her new novel as I know I have a massive treat in store (plus I get to read the new book before anyone else does!).

5. How many books do you edit at any given time? Do you edit one book (say Emily Barr’s new one) and then edit another (Linda Green’s new one) or is it possible to edit both at the same time? How do you manage to differentiate between both if so?

Depending on our publishing schedule, I could be editing several different books at the same time. I always prefer to finish one edit before I start another, just to keep some order, but switching from one novel to another isn’t a problem. It’s the same as reading a novel; most readers have more than one book on the go at once and somehow the brain manages to keep everything neatly compartmentalised.

6. Are you in constant contact with the authors as you edit their books or do you separate yourself to edit the book before handing it back?

I would always prefer to shut myself away when reading and editing an author’s newly delivered novel, as this gives me the time and space to concentrate on what editorial work might need to be done. Once I’ve got my thoughts together, I’ll have a chat with the author and usually write some notes, outlining my suggestions. It’s very much a two-way discussion at this point, and I love hearing from the author what ideas they have to strengthen the novel – their solutions are always much cleverer than mine!

7. Do you only edit each book once or is it a constant backwards and forwards thing until both you and the author are happy?

I would usually write one pretty comprehensive set of editorial notes, but it’s not unusual to do a few rounds of edits before both author and editor are happy with the text.

8. Is there a book you’ve edited that you’re most proud of or are all of the books you edit just as good as the last?

I can’t pick one – they’re all fabulous!

9. Would you ever write a book yourself or do you prefer to just edit other people’s books?

I would love to be talented enough to write a novel, but sadly my creativity does not stretch that far! One of my favourite authors is Harriet Evans, who also happened be my boss at Headline till last year. I am always amazed at how she comes up with so many wonderful ideas. I absolutely love editing though, and am lucky enough to say that I’m doing my dream job.

10. Can you tell us something about working in the publishing industry that we might not already know?

Ooo, I wish I could give you a really good bit of gossip, but sadly, my mind has gone blank! All I would say is that the people in publishing are fantastic fun to work with and I think it’s one of the most enjoyable industries to be a part of.

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