A while ago we got to interview the very lovely Maura Brickell who works for Headline Publishing, and I can’t believe it’s taken so long for us to post it up! Maura has been a fantastic help to us, keeping us afloat of upcoming titles, letting us run some fab comps as well as great interviews with some wonderful authors! So, enjoy the interview, I know I did!

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 am Publicity Manager at the very fabulous Headline Publishing Group. It’s tricky to describe exactly what it is I do, but in a nutshell: I am responsible for planning, creating and delivering PR campaigns for approx 6 books a month. This means that I make sure that the book and the author are promoted in the right interviews, features or reviews in magazines, online websites and blogs, in newspapers, on television and on the radio. I also organise events to promote the author and their book, so bookshop events, festivals and library talks. Every campaign is different because every author and book is. I work very closely with authors every day, which is definitely one of my favourite aspects of the job.

2. What was your road to working in publicity?

I got very lucky and wangled a job in the Editorial Department at Bloomsbury after completing a months work experience. I worked as Editorial Assistant to the Editor in Chief, Alexandra Pringle, so it was very much like jumping into the deep end whilst working out how to write rejection letters! The bright lights of the Publicity Department caught my attention early on, so I helped out at events with the Bloomsbury team and when a job came up at Headline I applied straight away. I started as an assistant to the Director, Georgina Moore, which meant I got the chance to work on so very big books, such as Bobby Charlton, Kathleen Turner and Penny Vincenzi, and I’ve worked my way up from there!

3. What would it take for a regular Jane to get into the publishing industry in the publicity sector? Are there any special degrees required?

I’m not sure there is any definite path to take to be honest. I would recommend doing work experience, as painful as that may be, but I think it’s the best way to be in the loop about what jobs are going and also gives you an idea of what kind of publishing house you would like to work in. Saying that, the way the media is changing I think it would be super clever to do a course in Social Media or Online PR.

4. You recently helped the publication of Sarah Duncan’s latest paperback release A Single To Rome, can you tell us what you did to help launch the book?

A SINGLE TO ROME was published at the end of November 2009, so in May last year Sarah and I met to discuss possible features ideas, which would be suitable for the monthly magazines and also planning the campaign as a whole. As a result, on publication a piece written by Sarah, My Marriage Gave Me Nightmares, was in Marie Claire. Sarah also wrote a piece which tied in with the Bad Sex Awards for the Guardian Book Blog and also contributed to The Sunday Telegraph, My Kind of Town feature by writing about her home city of Bath. These three features all carried a lovely credit for the book. To make sure everyone knew just how brilliant the book was I did a big mailing to magazines, newspapers, blogs and websites. Reviews are still coming in, but so far the following magazines have given A SINGLE TO ROME four stars or more: Closer, Marie Claire, Company, Inside Soap and Sainsbury’s Magazine.

Sarah is also very well connected in her home town of Bath, so the lifestyle magazine did a fantastic interview with her and credited the book. To mark the publication Sarah’s local Waterstone’s very kindly hosted a publication party. They completely sold out of all Sarah’s gorgeous books and I even had to do a last minute dash to get more wine! A complete success.

And, of course Sarah did a guest blog for chicklitreviews.com!!

5. I’m not sure how many fantastic authors you’ve worked with, but I can assume it’s been a fair few. Can you tell us who your favourite author to work with was?

I love working with each and every single author. I know, I know I have to say that, but really I do. Headline has an astounding commercial women’s fiction list and I am very lucky to work with some very talented and lovely writers. I’ve worked with a lot of non-fiction authors too, in fact, my first ever book signing was with David Cassidy! How funny?! It was in the atrium at Lakeside Shopping Centre with 500 or more women all declaring their love for him and only me to hold them back!

6. You also work on publicising the fantastic Little Black Dress imprint, how exciting is it working with multiple different authors all under one imprint?

Our Little Black Dress list is fantastic, isn’t it?! So exciting to work on such an innovative list. As it is a brand concept, I have much less one on one contact with individual authors, but it’s fantastic to see such support from blogs and websites for these authors. In fact, next year sees our first Little Black Dress author, Julie Cohen, cross over onto out main Headline list.

7. Who are some of your favourite authors/books to read?

Oooh so many! Obviously, I read mostly Headline books, which keeps me busy. I tend to read one Headline book and one non-Headline book at the same time. I’ve just read Maggie O’Farrell’s new book, The Hand That First Held Mine, which we are publishing this year. Completely stunning book! I’m about to start reading the latest Harriet Evans book, I Remember You, which I’m very excited about, it’s had some wonderful reviews.

I’d have to say that my favourite author EVER would be Charlotte Bronte and my favourite books of the last year or so are One Day by David Mitchell and Taste of Sorrow by Jude Morgan.

8. Tell us a random fact about working in the publishing industry.

Honey and mustard mini sausages are the best canapé ever. It’s true.

9. Finally, can you tell us what you’re currently working on publicising?

Right now, I’m working on Carole Matthews brilliant brand new book, It’s Now or Never, planning the next Sarah Duncan, Kissing Mr Wrong, and a stunning memoir by Amy Molloy called Wife Interrupted (and this month’s Little Black Dress books of course!) Looking ahead I have some fantastic books and authors this year, including two wonderful debut novels called Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn and a Young Adult novel, Wintercraft, by Jenna Burtenshaw.

Thanks so much Maura!

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