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| Jun 2011 |
Today I have Angela James, the Executive Editor from Carina Press, to share her experience at Carina and what she's learned.
In celebration of our one year anniversary, I asked as many of our Harlequin team members and Carina Press freelance editors as possible to write a short blog post, talking about what the past year or so has been like for them, working on Carina Press. I deliberately didn't provide any direction other than that, because I wanted to see what people came up with, in the spirit of Carina's 1st anniversary. I was so pleased when I saw what they'd all come up with, and had to say (and some of these posts made me just a little teary)! I hope you enjoy the post, and look for your opportunity to win a Carina Press book at the bottom of this post. ~Angela James
I wasn't going to do a post on an author blog, because I wrote the anniversary post for the Carina Press blog. But when I went to write that post, I discovered there was a LOT to say and it made the post kind of long to include all of this. So thanks to Nadia, who kindly agreed to host me, I get the privilege of having two blog posts today!
So what did I learn this year? Ha! That I have a lot to learn. I swear, some days I feel like I know absolutely nothing about the industry, authors or how publishing works. I feel just as green as I did on the very first day I started editing almost a decade ago.
I learned that I hate packing for trips as much today as I did a year ago, and I've not gotten any better at packing “light”. People who can travel with one teeny, tiny, half-size carry-on are mutants. I'm convinced.
I've learned patience. I'm an impatient person by nature. If I have an idea, or a concept, or a thought flitting through my head, I want to jump on it and do it now. That's not quite as easy at a larger corporation like Harlequin. We're not quite so nimble as some of the smaller folks. Oh, we get things done and make things happen, just not quite as quickly as my impatient nature liked. So I've learned patience (well, having a six-year-old daughter has helped with that too)
I've learned that while I'm a good editor, and I miss editing, I'm also a pretty darn good administrator, boss, presenter and task-master. I knew I had what it takes to build an imprint, but I really feel like I've proven it to myself again.
And holy cow, I've been reminded how important a good team is. From the Carina Press acquisitions team, to the freelance editors, I'm surrounded by talented, hard-working, dedicated people. I have been so very fortunate in my co-workers and freelancers, and some of them have become very good friends who listen to my phone and email rants without complaining. Without the talent of this group, Carina Press would not exist today. I get a lot of the glory because I'm out in front, but I've worked to try and make sure you all see who's behind the scenes, actually making it happen. Thanks to all of them, and the wonderful, wonderful authors who've trusted us with their books, today we have Carina Press!
Speaking of the authors, I've learned that they can come together to be enthusiastic and supportive of each other, and their publisher, in a pretty awesome way. I wish each of you could see the brainstorming and goodwill that occurs on the Carina author loop. It's inspiring!
As I mention in the main Carina Press blog, I've discovered I love working for Harlequin. It's been a year and a half, and I feel so lucky to be working there every day. I'm fortunate to have not just one, but several wonderful bosses. Malle Vallik has been an incredible boss and mentor, and I look forward to the times we're together, when we can share a meal and a glass of wine, and talk not just about work, but about life. Loriana Sacilotto has been gracious and welcoming, making me feel as though Carina is just as important in its place in Harlequin editorial as any other imprint, and not just listening to my opinion on digital publishing, but also seeking it out. Last, Brent Lewis and Donna Hayes, who provided snippets for our Carina blog post today, have gone out of their way to let me know how much they value my skills.
But most of all, I've been reminded all over again how much I love digital publishing, and you know, learned to feel a little justified in all that preaching about the “digital dark side” that I've been doing for years.
Today's not just a celebration of all we've accomplished in the past year, but also a celebration of digital publishing in general, because without all of the readers, retailers, authors, and other industry people who've embraced digital publishing, I wouldn't be where I am today. So here's to all of you, thank you!
To celebrate Carina's one year anniversary of publishing books, we're giving away some prizes. Today, on each of the nineteen blogs our team members are featured on, we're giving away a download of a Carina Press book to one random winner (that's nineteen total winners!) All you need to do to be entered to win is comment on this post. You can enter to win on all nineteen posts. In addition, on the Carina Press blog, we're giving away a grand prize of a Kobo ereader and 12 Carina Press books of the winner's choice. Visit the Carina Press blog to enter to win, and to see links to all 19 of today's blog posts.
And a sincere thank you from all of us, to our readers and authors, for making Carina Press's first year a success!
June 7th, 2011 at 10:09 pm · Link
Digital publishing for the win.
I must admit as a reader, it has been interesting following Carina in it’s first year, and I am loving the books that are being produced. :mrgreen:
June 7th, 2011 at 10:28 pm · Link
Keep up the great work :D
June 7th, 2011 at 10:39 pm · Link
Congratulations on your First Anniversary Angela! I’ve enjoyed many Carina Press books in the last year. I’m lucky that several of my favorite authors have books through CP.
I don’t envy all of the travel you do. Although I do enjoy getting your tweets while you are on the road. The twitpics from this past weekend were hilarious.
June 7th, 2011 at 10:40 pm · Link
The Carina Press Blog wouldn’t accept my comments so here I am to say Happy Anniversary and MANY more!
June 7th, 2011 at 10:41 pm · Link
I’ve learned professionally presented books without DRM are awesome!
June 7th, 2011 at 11:17 pm · Link
Happy Anniversary. Wishing you continuing success.
June 7th, 2011 at 11:23 pm · Link
Happy Anniversary, Angela! It’s been a very educational year ;) Congratulations on all you’ve been able to accomplish with such a good team in place! Looking forward to more great things in the coming year!
June 7th, 2011 at 11:37 pm · Link
Angela,
Thank you for your boundless energy and faith in Carina Press! It’s been an amazing year, and the entire CP team is a dream publishing team. Wishing you and Carina Press even greater success in the next year. I can’t wait to see what the horizon will bring!
June 7th, 2011 at 11:38 pm · Link
Happy Anniversary!!!
June 7th, 2011 at 11:48 pm · Link
Happy one year anniversary. Wishing you many more successful years.
June 8th, 2011 at 12:03 am · Link
happy anniversary, i hope you continue to have amazing success.
June 8th, 2011 at 12:16 am · Link
Happy Anniversary and wishing many more to come! Thanks to everyone at Carina!
June 8th, 2011 at 1:03 am · Link
Thank you, everyone for the well wishes. It’s been a fun ride. And thanks to Nadia for hosting me!
And, Stacie, sometimes I believe things are put in my path during my travels, just for the sake of keeping Twitter entertained. Like happened on Sunday ;)
June 8th, 2011 at 1:05 am · Link
Happy Anniversary!
June 8th, 2011 at 1:08 am · Link
Happy birthday (anniversary) Carina Press! I entered the digital age this last year and am thrilled by all the wonderful books I’ve found. Keep up the great publishing work!
June 8th, 2011 at 1:42 am · Link
Whoa, I missed sunday’s twitpics ;) Gotta go hunting for them now :-D
Happy anniversary to Carina Press :)
June 8th, 2011 at 1:50 am · Link
Thank YOU, Angela! Happy anniversary to you and Carina Press–may the coming year bring us all more of the good stuff!
June 8th, 2011 at 2:05 am · Link
Happy Anniversary! I love digital books. They are quicker and easier to obtain and take up less space! ;)
June 8th, 2011 at 2:30 am · Link
Happy Anniversary! I can’t believe it’s been a year… I’m celebrating by reading a Carina Press book (Lauren Dane’s Goddess With a Blade).
June 8th, 2011 at 2:41 am · Link
Happy Anniversary Carina Press! A lot of hard work goes into creating these books and I thank you for it!
June 8th, 2011 at 2:52 am · Link
Happy Anniversary! Have enjoyed the past year.
June 8th, 2011 at 2:55 am · Link
Happy Anniversary! *singing* Do you know what today isssss it’s your anniversary. */singing*
June 8th, 2011 at 2:57 am · Link
Congratulations Carina Press!
I have been greatly impressed by the books and the range of topics covered. Keep up the good work and here’s to another year of greatness!!!!!!!!
June 8th, 2011 at 2:58 am · Link
I’m a mutant, Angela! :p I’m alllll about teeny tiny carry-ons.
Happy anniversary to us! *cheers*
June 8th, 2011 at 3:01 am · Link
Congratulations, Carina and Angela on a great year! The growth has been phenomenal (and in so many ways)
All best for the years to come!
Bonnie Edwards
June 8th, 2011 at 3:04 am · Link
Yay!! Happy Anniversary!!
June 8th, 2011 at 3:45 am · Link
LOVE Carina Press. I found so many new-to-me authors this year and soo many great stories. Happy Birthday Carina!
June 8th, 2011 at 3:45 am · Link
Happy Anniversary! Carina has had some awesome books this past year, glad I got to read a few!
I love digital publishing for the freedom from stacks of books it gives me! I used to carry a suitcase full of books if I went on a trip, now its slimlined to an ereader. Just awesome! :mrgreen:
June 8th, 2011 at 4:43 am · Link
Congratulations and a BIG thank you to Carina Press for giving readers one amazing year of great books! Keep it up! yay! :D
June 8th, 2011 at 5:00 am · Link
I can’t believe the imprint’s only been around for a year…
June 8th, 2011 at 5:05 am · Link
You’ve given us so many wonderful stories to enjoy Angela, and you should be very proud of your Carina Press family. Thanks for sharing your celebration with us today.
June 8th, 2011 at 5:25 am · Link
Carina is a perfect blend of smart, skilled staff and strong leadership tied together with fantastic organization. (That last bit is often undervalued and/or overlooked! LOL) My experience could not have been smoother so far, and I’m always delighted when I get lost in another great book from Carina. :)
June 8th, 2011 at 5:40 am · Link
Well said!! I’ve seen alot of things this past year that authors have put together or/or participated to help others out in need. It’s amazing. It’s great to see a group of people who love their jobs and can get along with each other and put out a great end product for people like me who love to read. Thank you!
Happy Anniversary!
Lisa B
June 8th, 2011 at 6:31 am · Link
Hi Angela!
Happy Anniversary and Congratulations! I started the Carina Press celebration with you on the Carina Press blog and I’ve spent the day visiting and reading each of the 19 blogs. I’ve had such fun and learned so much today. Among other things, I learned what an editor does, as well as finding out there’s a genre called space opera! And isn’t it nice, every now and then, to take stock of all the things your have learned and have to be thankful for? You and the Carina Press team have done a wonderful job. Wishing you continued success!
June 8th, 2011 at 6:40 am · Link
Congratulations for such a grand and successful year.
Thanks to Carina Press, I’ve discovered many new authors.
Thanks,
Tracey D
June 8th, 2011 at 6:52 am · Link
Angela, congratulations on an incredible first year. You’ve worked your ass off and it shows in CP’s success!
Best,
DJ
June 7th, 2011 at 11:25 pm · Link
Carina also has awesome cover artists and savvy marketing people who conduct fabulous workshops, etc. for writers! :)
June 8th, 2011 at 8:29 am · Link
Thanks again, everyone, for the amazing compliments.
And Dee J., I’m just sorry that it hasn’t showed in my actual ass, lolol!
June 8th, 2011 at 8:29 am · Link
Great post, thanks, and Congratulations and Happy Anniversary to Carina and all the wonderful authors!
June 8th, 2011 at 8:43 am · Link
Congrats on a great year! I can’t wait to see what comes next!
June 8th, 2011 at 9:11 am · Link
Happy 1st Birthday Carina Press! Great job Angela!
June 8th, 2011 at 9:20 am · Link
I envy you having a job that you love so much! Congratulations to everyone at Carina Press and I can’t wait to see what you accomplish in the next year:)
June 8th, 2011 at 9:57 am · Link
Happy Anniversary Carina! I love the huge variety of books that I’ve gotten to read over the last year. Here’s to a bigger and better 2nd year!
June 8th, 2011 at 9:59 am · Link
Happy anniversary to Carina Press. Hope the next year is even bigger and better! :p
June 8th, 2011 at 10:14 am · Link
Congratulations and Happy Anniversary, Carina Press! Thank you for the many hours of enjoyment I’ve had in the past year, and looking forward to continue filling up the “Carina” collection in my Kindle and Sony Readers! ;)
June 8th, 2011 at 1:19 am · Link
@Angela James: OMG I burst out laughing at the photos, even though I had to bleach my eyes later. LOL.
June 8th, 2011 at 11:05 am · Link
Congrats on a great year. I look forward to more great stories in the years to come!
June 8th, 2011 at 11:44 am · Link
Congratulations from one task master to another!! One year down and so many more to come as a reader I’m so excited for you and me!!! Wonderful post!
June 8th, 2011 at 12:15 pm · Link
Hey, saved the best for last! :lol: Congrats on the fantastic first year and hope to see many more to come. Thanks for the fantastic giveaway to celebrate.
June 8th, 2011 at 12:25 pm · Link
Carina press books are addictive. Im so glad I could celebrate birthday one with you!
June 8th, 2011 at 12:46 pm · Link
Happy Anniversary Carina Press!
June 8th, 2011 at 1:04 pm · Link
Hear, hear!
Congrats Angela and the team on the first anniversary of Carina Press. You guys (gals) are fab!
June 8th, 2011 at 1:14 pm · Link
Love all the posts today and getting a peak behind the curtain.
June 8th, 2011 at 1:15 pm · Link
Congrats on one year!
June 8th, 2011 at 2:15 pm · Link
Isn’t it wonderful to think about all the new things you’ve learned or been reminded of? I’ve learned that I can find lots of great new authors @ Carina, and continue my relationship with some of my long time favorites too. Congratulations on a great first year!
June 8th, 2011 at 3:32 pm · Link
Happy Anniversary!
Wow, this is the last blog stop and it’s still before midnight my time. 8)
June 8th, 2011 at 7:45 pm · Link
Happy 1st Anniversary!
What a great year and fabulous books!
gigi
June 8th, 2011 at 7:47 pm · Link
I have to say I became an ebook reader mostly thanks to Carina Press. Now I read about 3 times as many ebooks as paperbacks. One of the things I love most about Carina Press is what a personal, human publishing it is! Not a big company with an impenetrable facade, but people whose face, voice we can see and hear on blogs, twitter, FB. :-)
Thanks to you this last year I have discovered so many wonderful new authors, series, books and many have become favourites of mine, THANK YOU!
Congratulations to the whole Carina team and Happy 1st anniversary, here’s to many more! :-)
June 8th, 2011 at 8:29 pm · Link
It’s been great fun reading all the behind the scenes stories of Carina. It sounds like a wonderful place to work. And I think that passion shows in the books. Happy anniversary.
June 10th, 2011 at 2:52 pm · Link
Congrats on the anniversary. :D