Nina Pottell, Prima and Between the Covers
Books editor Prima
One of three jobs! Hairdresser, book consultant Between Covers
Similar lead-times to Sara Manning (Red)
Double page spread each month. Review 3 new releases. Theme 3 books under a theme.
If I have a lot of books that month I’ll try and add in more similar books into that issue
Currently doing ‘if you missed it’ – a BIG book from last 2 or 3 years. Eg. Yellow Face in a few
months later. Part of the double-page books
Try and keep things changing on the page. Have a meeting with editors this month to see if
there’s anything to change on the page
Have an automated response – she’s very busy. Not always time to reply that day
Lots of emails aren’t relevant so try and cover everything nicely!
Automatic email shows what I’m currently looking for, postal address, etc.
Monthly mags work 3-4 months in advance.
Currently working on books published in September for October issue. Deadline beginning
of July.
Not looking at any books before September – will not look at them
Books get sent to my salon.
150 proofs this Feb and had to pick 8 books!
It needs to be a fit for Prima. 35/40+
If it’s a book with a younger protagonist not right for Prima
Look at twitter/X at pinned tweet to see books you cover
Commercial women’s fiction, lit fiction that’s accessible, thrillers, historical – every genre
apart from horror (but you never know)
Don’t do anything online. Prima online is separate.
Also don’t do features – that’s Karen Swayne
Don’t do non-fic or children’s apart from at Christmas – that is one issue a year
Reads physically and digitally – like PDF or netgalley even if have proofs, good for carrying
lots of books around
Do meet with publicists for breakfasts near salon – find it really helpful. Good to build
relationships with publicists. Happy to meet if you have lots of books and can talk about
everything
Non-fiction – cover double page for Christmas, celeb memoirs and cookery
Not YA
Want proof and press release to have same details on both – need month year, PR details,
author details, etc. Need dates on the proof
When pitching via email put all details in your email with the basic details
Never read emails which say ‘we’ve had quotes in’ – will make own decision
Christmas Gift Guide Deadline is August – if anyone has anything published Sept-Dec this
year: memoir, childrens, non-fic – send pitches now
90% books received unsolicited but that’s fine. But make sure the books fit! Do please if you
need to check first.
Hate bind-ups – never read them, send a PDF
Zoe West, Woman & Home and Women’s Weekly
Books editor Woman & Home, Women’s Weekly and Woman’s Own
Similar to Nina.
Work across weeklys and monthly
Lead times – reading July and August for weekly at the moment
And similar 3-4 months in advance for Woman & Home
Decide a few months ago what to read for upcoming months. Earlier books the better –
start complying them early.
When books are late, already got list to read ahead.
Look for all different genres but doesn’t like fantasy. Don’t think readers are either. Unless
something similar to Matt Haig Midnight Library
40/45 age readers
Woman & Home – slightly younger
Women’s Weekly are avid book fans and send letters telling Zoe what books they like
Have lots of book content
8 booksWoman & Home book club a month plus ‘How I Write Column’ inWoman & Home
Author interview every month with a big author the readers will know
Take Five feature – author picks 5 books which have impacted their life
Features journalists too. Will do ‘My Life in the Picture’ inWoman & Home – does the
interviews for this
Woman’s Weekly: feature called ‘A Funny Old World’ author might write/interview with
book credit – musing on life, something funny, not too much about the book, loosely linked
to book
Do re-useWoman & Home in Woman’s Weekly
Lots of space to cover in mags
Like a good book cover
Might be looking for a particular genre to get a good mix of books
If a PR is excited, I’m excited! Means she will look at it. Likes an enticing press release
Meeting up with publicists is useful but very busy – if it’s the whole catalogue then that’s
really useful but not for a few books. Breakfast good. Lunch not as good.
Woman & Home – currently working on September books due end of this month/beginning
of this. Strict with pub dates
Weeklies – can put in books past the pub date, can be more flexible
Non-fiction – try and include one non-fic in Woman & Home. Non-fiction Woman’s Own
every week (like memoirs, self-help, gardening) – don’t have to be female author focused
Non-fic also give good ideas for features
YA – do like reading books about 30 something women about changes, etc but YA is too
young. Eg like Emily Henry. Don’t mind a ‘young’ storyline. YA too young.
Do Christmas gift guide can include teen/YA
Never read emails which say ‘we’ve had quotes in’ – will make own decision
Annoying when you say ‘another magazine’ loved the book
Christmas deadlines August. Summer holidays is when work on it. Gift guides etc.
Have gift guides in weeklies work on in September
Good to get the book without an email. Do email as well as sending proof – needs to be
clear who the PR is for a book
Subject email – don’t like ‘sensationalist’ cliched stuff, just say what the story is
Don’t like reading digital books
Adele Parks, Platinum Magazine
Book Club for Platinum Magazine
Magazine stated Dec 2019
Good way for an author to support other authors can be challenging as an author
Monthly
Do 6 books a month. It’s a Book Club. Books to talk about.
Plus ‘Staying In, Going Out’ section 3 books
Need a lot of time. Work further in advance
Gave in September books (August issue) in May.
Does do seasonal choices as well – books reflecting the month
Do look at covers a lot- makes a big difference. Needs to be good covers.
Receives so many books, so can be a commercial visual choice
Aimed at people older 50+ readers
Don’t want ‘old books’ – not first romances, teen romances, like intergenerational stories.
Don’t need to have new releases – do send paperbacks again
Demographic refer paperbacks rather than hardbacks
Prefer physical books. But has too many books!
Don’t like digital
Haven’t been asked for a book chat lunch but would be happy to do them – but happy to go
to author lunches
Don’t like goodies in mail outs
Do like all packaging to be recycling
Pick 6 books. Also reviews non-fiction. And do like having one debut on the page each
month.
Conscious of including diverse writers
Katie Seaman– interviews and features, likes stories of women 50+ about changing
direction/starting careers
Emma Coxon (assistant to Katie)
Can be slow on replying to emails. Only respond if want to see the book. If don’t hear then
cross off list.
Like a bit of story line – not just a line on ‘its great’ – what to know why I’d pick it up. Always
repeat similar words. Need a fresh way of telling me what it’s about – not just ‘summer
sensation’ again.
Less concerned with the author themselves, want to know the story
Like it when publicist says why they like it – say directly why you like it – don’t be too
general or cliched
Live in Guilford. In London a few times a week.
Enjoy a showcase in the evening – can hear about lots of books
Personally doesn’t like
Tell if you’re sending it as her an author or for Platinum
If she mentioned it in magazine then credit Platinum in marketing. If quote as author then
use author name.
Non-fiction – like strong women
Not YA
Likes it when publicists say thank you for Adele putting a post about the reviews on social
Christmas – do Christmas books in that month. Might include nice gifts, eg. A poetry
collection. But don’t do a specific gift guide. Deadline August
Emma Coxon first -pitch for feature ideas
Books come to home address but she is happy for us to share that amongst our colleagues as long as we respect that.