A typical day in the life of Laura Palmer

Posted 14 May 2013 by Guest blogger

In the run-up to the announcement of the Kim Scott Walwyn Prize 2013 winner this week, we have asked the shortlist to put together some photoblogs of their days at work.

Today, Head of Zeus' Laura Palmer.

8.45am Check emails and twitter on the bus, and Google the actor John Barrowman. Learn the names of his dogs (this will be important later).

9.30am Drink a bucket of coffee and look at my to-do list. Send off two edit notes. Reject four submissions, and look at the submissions spreadsheet - 42 outstanding. Eek. Resolve to read at least six more this week. Sign off two covers ready for the printers. Make myself look presentable for today's big meeting.

12.30am John Barrowman arrives to talk about a brilliant YA fantasy trilogy (co-written with his sister) which we will publish next year. The meeting is great: John is full of ideas, the HoZ team are full of charm and passion, and our office dogs are on best behaviour.

1.30pm Negotiate a contract amendment for a complicated co-publishing clause. Proofread a set of prelims and check the ISBNS on the copyright page. Agree a hardback price change with our sales director. Reflect on the glam-to-dull rollercoaster of a day in publishing.

3pm Start thinking about this evening's launch party in Waterstones Oxford, for Jonathan Holt, author of The Abomination, our big thriller of the year. Pack up some wheelie bags with extra copies from our shelves (you can never be too careful…) Spend some time with our digital marketing director to get a decent holding page up on the Jonathan Holt website in time for the launch.

4pm Leave for the Oxford event with a few of the HoZ team. Plan to write my KSW blog on the train - then remember I was supposed to write a speech for Jonathan… Eek. Tune out of the train conversation and think about what to say.

6pm Arrive at Waterstones and help set up. Sticker and arrange the books, pour Aperol spritz, hand round canapés. Make a slightly-too-gushy speech, without a single joke (not my best - but it's hard not to gush when you feel so convinced you have a bestseller on your hands.) Jonathan reads from the book and answers a fabulous Q&A. Lots of books are sold, and we all head to the pub.