Thursday, October 27, 2011

Sue Grimshaw, Editor for Random House Publishing

It's my pleasure to have Sue Grimshaw here on my blog today for this edition of Thursday with an Editor.


Sue was the romance book buyer for Borders and Waldenbooks stores for more than a decade. As of April this year, Sue is Ballantine Bantam Dell’s Category Specialist & Editor At Large.  At BBD, Sue is working primarily with the digital end of the business thus learning how to ride the waves of the changes that are ongoing of late in the romance industry.  Sue is actively acquiring for BBD’s Loveswept digital imprint relaunched in Fall this year.

1.      

        What does your job entail?
As Category Specialist & Editor At Large for Ballantine Bantam Dell (Loveswept), I report directly to Gina Wachtel, VP Publishing Director/Associate Publisher.  I’m very involved with the social media aspect of Romance At Random.com website; Facebook; Twitter; Tumblr; Google Buzz & Plus communities implementing posts; in general, facilitating daily communications.  As Editor At Large, I acquire, edit, & implement new titles for primarily, the Loveswept digital line.  As you can imagine, I do lots of reading . . . much of what I read are submissions from agents, authors, and even from un-published authors– it is great fun & I could not have wished for a better organization to work for.  I also attend many conferences through-out the country, taking pitches & facilitating workshops usually discussing the industry and its trends, as well as, what readers are looking for.  I guess I’ve become an author liaison of sorts, unbeknownst to me <G> 
I enjoy meeting unpublished authors & hearing about their books . . .then finding that diamond in the rough that you know readers will love & adore.  BECAUSE OF YOU, by Jessica Scott, is our debut for Loveswept (11/2011) & I believe this is a story readers will enjoy – the emotional level is high with a hero to die for; our heroine is strong, confident & caring --- & above all, their romance is sizzling!

2.       How many authors do you edit and how do you choose them?
Depending on the manuscript, I’m reading two to three unpublished authors a week.  I’m working about 4-5 mos out, meaning that if I received a MS today it would take me that long to get back to the author/agent with a response.  I think I’m like most editors & I choose manuscripts based on whether I think they can be a good book or not, but above all, whether I think the reader will enjoy the story.  Having had a bookseller background, I believe it has given me an insight into what readers enjoy.  As I read the manuscripts, I tend to use this knowledge as a benchmark, which is just another tool to help me decide whether or not the story is something we would publish.  On top of all that, Gina is a romance maven – she has an eagle’s eye for what works, so by the time we’ve acquired & edited a story it is golden <G>  I work very closely with Junessa & Angela, two of BBD’s savvy editors, who help me with lines edits and the other details of publishing.

3.       What are the perks of your job? The pitfalls?   
Finding that ‘diamond in the rough’ – finding that debut author & being able to help deliver her story to romance readers everywhere.  The feeling you get from making that happen is the biggest perk for me J 
Pitfalls . . . probably not being able to read everything, or being able to respond with a detailed    critique to help authors with their books.

4. What’s your favorite type of submission? Is there a specific genre you love (more than others) to edit?  I used to have a favorite sub-genre, but now, I’m more about characters . . . their development & journey.  I find I’m reading more contemporary than ever before, but I believe that is because there is more out there.  Similar in opinion to that of many romance readers, it is really all about the characters.  I guess that is why I’ve loved Nora Roberts & her stories for all these years.  Nora nails characters.

5. What do you like to read for pleasure (assuming you have any time left over in your busy schedule)? LOL – lately, my work is my reading pleasure – I love to read new submissions!  However, at some point I’m sure I’ll have to back away & read other things although they still will be in the romance genre.  One of my favorite authors (besides Nora) is Catherine Anderson, I am so looking forward to her next release.  Mary Balogh is another author who never disappoints & I’m behind on her latest books.  And some day I’d like to get back to reading Nelson DeMille – sarcasm through-out which is always laugh out loud great fun.

6. Have you ever written and published any fiction? If not, do you secretly aspire to be a writer?
God no.  I’m not a storyteller – the best authors are storytellers at heart.

7. Are you planning to attend any conferences in the near future?
Yes, I’m heading out to Silicon Valley – CA, RWA chapter meeting this Fall & then have several conferences planned for 2012 including:  RWA; RT & Romcon.

8. What’s the best advice you can give aspiring writers? 
It sounds cliché, but really, write the best book ever!  The book of your heart --- because if you feel what you’re writing the reader will feel it too.

13 comments:

Wynter said...

Thanks for those great answers, Sue. I totally envy you your job!

Sue said...

LOL -- it has been fun - what a great week & line up of posts you've got Wynter -- awesome site & thank you for having me & R@R :)

Alyssa Maxwell said...

Sue, your enthusiasm jumps off the page here! The romance industry is very lucky to have you!

Sue said...

Thank you Allison -- you are very kind. Funny how this business is my passion as well so it all works ;)

Kiersten said...

Sue - I LOVE Nelson DeMille. That smart ass mouth of his characters - especially John Corey - endlessly entertains even while the action/suspense plots are keeping me up well into the night reading.

Thanks for the great interview!

Maureen A. Miller said...

It's great to 'meet' and learn more about you, Sue. I think Thursdays with Wynter are wonderful learning experiences. :)

Sue said...

Thanks ladies - Kiersten, I do enjoy humor in my books -- books I edit & in my pleasure reading too which now have become one & the same :)

Maureen - Wynter really has a talented group here - I'm honored to have been included!
SueG

CatherineKean said...

Hello, Sue! It's great to see you here at Wynter's blog. It sounds like you've got the perfect job. How fabulous to be able to apply your bookseller expertise to the submissions you read for acquisition. It must be fun, too, to find that manuscript you know is "gold." Congrats on your success, and I must go check out the Loveswept line.

Sue said...

Thanks Catherine! It has been fun - exciting - everything you can imagine. I hope you enjoy what we're doing at Loveswept - Sue

Dianne Venetta said...

It's like "they" say...love what you do and the rest will follow. I feel your passion and share it in this thing we call -- writing, publishing and reading! :)

Sue said...

yeah - thanks Dianne - it is a crazy world & nice to do something you love.

Nancy J. Cohen said...

I agree with Allison; the romance industry is lucky to have you, especially with all the changes going on with the rise of ebooks.

Sue said...

Thanks for saying that Nancy - I really enjoy what I do so that helps. Ebooks are exciting and change is good if not maybe a little scary. Appreciate your comment - SueG

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