Today we continue our interviews with Editors from different publishing houses and I am so pleased to introduce today’s Editor, Dawn Binkley from Hellfire Publishing.
Welcome Dawn and thank you so much for taking time out from your extremely busy schedule.
I am so honored to be here.
How long have you been an editor for? I am an executive editor, which is a fancy word for slush reader, lol. I have been an executive editor since September 2010. I have been a writer for over twenty years.
Could you please describe your job as editor? My particular job is to make sure that the stories that come across my desk, have the complete package. I look for stellar writing, fresh ideas and work that will sell. Number one ingredient we seek in a manuscript is writing that we don’t feel we have to change, because we don’t do that. We will make suggestions, correct punctuation as well as grammar and make sure that certain criteria from our handbook is met, but we will not write the story for the writer. Being a small independent publisher, we share the PR responsibilities, so I look for authors that have a strong web presence and always conduct themselves with tact and professionalism.
This may say sound silly, but I also look for likeable authors. Seriously who wants to work day in and day out with an asshole or buy a book from them? J I contacted an author once to tell them how great I thought their book was and they were such a jerk to me that I will never read a book of theirs, again.
Do you do a fully comprehensive edit, line by line edit, and a plot and continuity edit, or only one of these? Our editors do the complete package, and then our copy editor catches anything the editor may have missed, we have several reader’s that look over the finished product to make sure it measures up to our high standards.
Are you completely honest and blunt with an Author if there are problems with the manuscript? We have to be…for their sake as well as ours.
Are there any other jobs that you do above and beyond editing? For instance do you help the Author pick a title for their book; help the Author when they are having problems with their story line etc. We will give an author any support or advice that they need. However at Hellfire Publishing we pride ourselves on letting the author be the author.
How do you keep abreast of what is currently trending genre wise? Lots of reading, some more reading, and did I mention reading?
Do you find it easier if you have basic knowledge of the genre you are editing or do you feel it doesn't matter? Oh yes, you have to have knowledge of the genre because what is acceptable editing in one genre, isn’t in another. It’s all about what your audience expects.
Have you or would you, ever approach an Author due to the quality of their work, and ask them to submit to your publisher? Yes and I have. I don’t look for them, but if a Facebook note or a blog appears that peaks my interest from a struggling writer, I will approach them.
Thank you so much for having me :)
It has been our pleasure and we appreciate your wonderful and insightful answers.
Have a great day!
Warm regards,
Dawn
I am so honered to be here. Thank you for having me.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Dawn
I really enjoyed the interview with Dawn Binkley. I always like knowing what goes on 'behind' the scenes.
ReplyDeleteThank you for coming Dawn.
ReplyDeleteIt's always great to know the inner workings of an editors job, especially to me, and most times it's author's who get the interviews so we wanted to bring forth the other key people responsible for creating the incredible books out there.
Besides, it's nice seeing you again! You're always hiding! Lol
Yours,
Gina
Oh Gina, you are so right. I am always swamped and stuck behind a manuscript.But let me tell you, that is pure bliss. My number one true love is reading. Now I do it for a living, wooohooo!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Dawn
Jeanette,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stoppin by!
Hugs,
Dawn
Hello Dawn and NNP,
ReplyDeleteLoved the interview...thank you so much for sharing!!!
For Sara Curran Ross
ReplyDeleteSara Curran-Ross
Good interview. Duly posted on my fb page. I tried to leave a comment on the interview but blogger is being difficult! Have a great day.
With bookstores closing every day and avid readers turning to the Internet, not only to discover writers or books but to download them too, it is more important for authors to be approachable, to be likeable to borrow Dawn's word. Too many writers, quite bluntly, act too self-important. It puts readers (and other writers) off.
ReplyDeleteAs a Hellfire published author, I urge readers to give Hellfire a shot. There are some juicy stories ripe for the picking. I'm sure I don't speak just for myself when I say we appreciate each and ever reader. =)