Friday Five: Louise Cullen from Canelo

This week Canelo editor Louise Cullen answered our Friday Five questions. Louise is publishing the Scottish-set crime series by Northbank author Marion Todd.

What does a normal day look like for you?

It may involve discussions with colleagues about schedules, marketing plans, cover designs and potential acquisitions. Meetings with agents or authors too. Also lots of communication with authors about forthcoming books or sharing updates. Frequently I’ll need some quiet time to edit manuscripts. It’s always busy and varied!

What’s your favourite part of your job?

I love lots of things about my job, but most of all working with authors to make their books as good as possible. Sometimes small changes make a big difference or a risk pays off. I never fail to find it exciting to offer suggestions for ways to make a solid novel into a truly brilliant one.

What do you most admire about your industry?

The passion of the people who work in it and contribute to it. Across the board there’s huge enthusiasm for ensuring that talented authors have their writing widely read and published well. Authors, bloggers, retailers and, of course, readers all play their part which is pretty cool.

What are you reading at the moment?

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read by Philippa Perry and a wonderful novel by an author I work with. Snatches of submissions at any opportunity!

What advice would you give aspiring authors?

Remain true to the story you want to tell but pay attention to those who’ve succeeded or helped others succeed. Read as many books as possible by authors you admire. Remember that to write a book is an achievement and something many people never do.