Tag Archives: Interview Series

Questions for Agents

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Questions for Agents

Questions for Agents

Alongside all the other interview series I’ve been quietly developing this Q&A series to get an idea of what an agent does and how they became an agent, along with a few more personal bookish questions to get a better feel of the person behind the title.

There may be more questions added in the future.

If you would like to be involved you can email me at bigbeardedbookseller@gmail.com

  1. How many years have you been an agent?
  2. How did you become an agent and what do you love about it?
  3. Are there any educational routes you feel that would be helpful in becoming an agent?
  4. Where are you based?
  5. What draws you to a project?
  6. What book do you wish you had worked with?
  7. Were you a big reader as a child, and if so what was your favourite book?
  8. What books have you sold recently?
  9. What genre do you normally work in?
  10. How many people work with you or at your agency?
  11. How can you be contacted? list of social media links and website if possible, thanks

Questions for Publishers

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Tunis Press

Tunis Press

The ‘Publisher Profile’ feature is kicking off once again, there are already a few publishers who were part of this earlier and I’ll be updating and expanding their info first.

Each post will have contact information, some blurb, images, contact details, website, etc. I’ll be using public information for this, but if you want to be part of this you can get ahead of the crowd by answering the following questions:

Question selection

* When did you start publishing?
* What made you want to start an independent publisher?
* What genres do you specialise in?
* Where are you based?
* Do you have a submission window, if so when?
* What is your submission procedure?
* Who are you (team photo if possible)?
* What was your background in the book industry before this venture?
* Talk about some of your books if possible, upcoming, favourite?
* Some photos, please
* Website/Facebook/Instagram/Twitter and any other contact details please

Then send the answers and images to bigbeardedbookseller@gmail.com with the subject “Publisher Profile”.

Eventually each publisher on the list will have an expanded entry to make the list more searchable

#PublisherProfile

  1. Arachne Press
  2. b small publishing
  3. Bad Betty Press
  4. CAAB Publishing
  5. Centre of British Documentary Photography
  6. Deixis Press
  7. epoque press
  8. Handheld Press
  9. Little Toller
  10. Moist
  11. Open Space Books
  12. Pariah Press
  13. Red Circle Authors
  14. Renard Press
  15. Storyhouse Publishing
  16. Tiny Tree Books
  17. UCLAN Publishing
  18. Velocity Press

Questions for Booksellers

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Bookshops

Bookshops

As part of the development of the individual posts for each bookshop on the list I will be sending out the questions that I asked on the ‘Browse A Bookshop’ feature to all bookshops on the list.

I’m going to rehash the pages of the bookshops who’ve already responded to fit into the new format and get a good start on the new phase of the blog.

I’ll also be prioritising developing posts for bookshops who send some answers back as this really makes my job easier.

So if you want to go to the top of the pile please email (bigbeardedbookseller@gmail.com) me at least six answers to these following questions.

Question selection

  • How did you come up with the name of your bookshop?
  • Who are you? Owns the bookshop? Bit of a bio and pics, please 🙂
  • Why a bookshop? What made you want to get into bookselling?
  • General background/history of the shop please
  • Do you stock a variety of genres or do you specialise?
  • Do you mainly sell new or second-hand books?
  • What makes your bookshop special?
  • What’s the hardest thing about being a bookseller?
  • What’s the best thing about being a bookseller?
  • What’s the most surprising thing about being a bookseller?
  • What are the goals for your bookshop?
  • Do you think owning a bookshop has changed your life? How?
  • What book do you wish would sell better?
  • What little-known book do you think is underrated?
  • What well-known book do you think is overrated?
  • What is your preferred reading genre?
  • Describe your store in three words.
  • What book is your greatest treasure? Why?
  • What was your favourite childhood book? Why?
  • If you could invite any author for a book signing at your shop, who would you choose?
  • Where do you think the biggest change in book publishing will come from?
  • How do you reach potential readers/customers?
  • How do you choose the books you stock?
  • Do you have a favourite publisher? Why?
  • Name three books on your TBR.
  • What are you reading at the moment?
  • What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned from selling books?
  • What music, if any, do you play in your shop? Why?
  • What is the best book-related gift you’ve ever received?
  • What is the weirdest thing a customer has ever asked for?
  • What do you get up to in a normal bookselling day?
  • What is the nicest thing a customer has ever said to you?

and could you send stores details; social media links, website, address, and lots of photos!

#BrowseABookshop

  1. Cogito Books, Hexhaam, England
  2. Heron & Willow, Jedburgh, Scotland
  3. Quinn’s Bookshop, Market Harborough, England
  4. The Stripey Badger, Grassington, England
  5. Wedale Books, Stow, Scotland