Greetings, Seekers!
I'm thrilled to be back visiting Seekerville to give you a glimpse into a day in the life of a senior editor at Love Inspired Books. You might think publishing is a glamorous profession. I’m here to give you the hard truth. Being an editor is hard work!
In New York City, most people use public transportation to get to work, and I'm no different.
It takes me about 50 minutes on the subway to travel from my apartment in Queens to Lower Manhattan, where the Love Inspired offices are located. What do I do with my commuting time? Generally I listen to music on my Ipod (my taste runs from country to pop to classic rock to showtunes), but I've been known to write back cover copy or brainstorm titles while on the train. I always carry a pen and a little notebook in my bag for that reason. You never know when you might have to write something down.
It takes me about 50 minutes on the subway to travel from my apartment in Queens to Lower Manhattan, where the Love Inspired offices are located. What do I do with my commuting time? Generally I listen to music on my Ipod (my taste runs from country to pop to classic rock to showtunes), but I've been known to write back cover copy or brainstorm titles while on the train. I always carry a pen and a little notebook in my bag for that reason. You never know when you might have to write something down.
Once I enter the office (we are located in the gorgeous, historic Woolworth Building), I turn on my computer, put my bag away, water my plants. (my mini rosebush is doing very well; the African violet is on its last legs.), then fill up my water bottle (our office is really dry; must stay hydrated!). Now I'm ready to tackle the day.
My first hour at work is reserved for checking email, prioritizing projects, and chatting with my co-workers, especially on Monday morning. After 12 years working for Harlequin/Love Inspired, my fellow editors are not just colleagues, they’re friends, and there's always something juicy that happened over the weekend that I have to know about!
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| See the wall of books behind the reception area desk? We've had books there! ;) |
Ok, after I've checked email and chatted, I doublecheck my calendar: do I have any meetings today?
Yup, looks like at 11am I have an art meeting with my creative team, which is just a fancy way to say editorial, marketing and art meet to decide what scenes would make the best covers for the books in a specific month. We talk via conference call, because the marketing and art departments are located in our headquarters in Toronto, Canada. We look over the documents known as art fact sheets, which the authors have created, and talk. Is this book a western? I might suggest a cute cowboy standing next to his horse on the cover.
Yup, looks like at 11am I have an art meeting with my creative team, which is just a fancy way to say editorial, marketing and art meet to decide what scenes would make the best covers for the books in a specific month. We talk via conference call, because the marketing and art departments are located in our headquarters in Toronto, Canada. We look over the documents known as art fact sheets, which the authors have created, and talk. Is this book a western? I might suggest a cute cowboy standing next to his horse on the cover.
Is the book a family story? Let's put the hero and heroine along with two adorable little girls sitting at a picnic table. It's an amazing collaboration between editorial, marketing and art. And it starts with a detailed art fact sheet from our authors. We always ask for at least 3 scene suggestions, if not more, and lots of great pictures to help us visualize what you're thinking. Our authors do a great job creating these documents. We couldn’t do it without them.
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| (Ruthy note: The fact that Mended Hearts is pictured on this shelf had NO BEARING on my decision to use it. | :) |
After the meeting’s over, I walk down the hall to check in with Senior Editor Tina James. She runs the other two lines in the LI group, Love Inspired Suspense and Love Inspired Historical. I tell her how great the briefing went, talk about my weekend with her, ask her advice on some problem I'm having, etc. etc. Tina is yin to my yang, Bert to my Ernie. Sometimes I can be a bit emotional and quick to react to situations. Tina is cool as a cucumber. We make a great team.
Today, Tina mentions me that the Love Inspired Historical program could use some new authors. We have lots of room on the schedule, but not enough projects. I tell her Elizabeth Mazer and I got the word out at the recent American Christian Fiction Writers conference in St. Louis. Also, I remind her that Emily Rodmell is doing a blog tour in October and will be looking for historical writers. I tell her not to worry. I just know that the Lord will provide!
After chatting with Tina, I see it’s 12 noon. Time for lunch! I run downstairs to the Bits and Bites deli
to grab a turkey sandwich and a Diet Pepsi, then sit in the kitchen with some coworkers. This is my hour to get away from my desk and my emails and chat (In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a very chatty person. ;)
After lunch, I’ve hit the jackpot. No meetings.
So I decide to finish typing up some revision notes on a manuscript I read the other day, and approve some back cover copy. That’s just today. Every day is different, and I could have just as easily read a manuscript, called an agent to offer a new contract, called an author to talk about revisions, approved front matter or art fact sheets, read contracted proposals, and so on.
Come 5pm, I'm still here at my desk working hard on finishing up the revision letter. I don't usually leave the office until 6-ish. When I finally decide I’m done for the day, I pack up and take the train back home.
That’s it! The exciting life of a senior editor.
Got any questions for me about what I do? About Love Inspired or publishing in general? I’ll try to answer ‘em as best I can.
Ruthy here! Melissa, thank you so much for taking the time to celebrate our 4th Birthday of Seekerville!!! You rock! And lucky for us, Bits Bites and Baguettes has kindly offered to cater the day!
Okay, food's taken care of, let's get down to the brass tacks of important stuff:
1. Melissa will be popping in and out to answer questions!
2. We will be giving away over two dozen Love Inspired books today, so each time you comment, your name gets put in the hat. (there really isn't a "hat" per se, but I could wear one if you like. Let me know.)
4. AND.... Per the contest rules you'll see above (thank you, Tina!!!), Seekerville and Love Inspired are offering a QUERY LETTER CONTEST!!!! Yes, Melissa has graciously offered to judge a query letter contest for us! Read the rules located on the contest tab, make sure you COMMENT today (no drive-by contesting!!!!) and then send us your query letter and the last page of your manuscript targeted at Love Inspired!
No fee... Because we've got nothin' but love for ya'!!! ;)
And some awesome birthday cake!
