To round out our fabulous trio of panelists and consultants next week, Random House Children’s Books Senior Editor Caroline Abbey will offer up her expertise and experience. Here, she reveals her favorite outdoor reading place, her status as a Twitter-stalkee, and her early adoration of Harry Potter.
1.
Seattle in April: Do you have a Rainstorm Protection Plan (i.e., do you bring an
umbrella, wellies, or just wing it)? Have you been here before?
Seattle in April: Do you have a Rainstorm Protection Plan (i.e., do you bring an
umbrella, wellies, or just wing it)? Have you been here before?
I hadn’t really given this much thought before I
got your email! Do I need to bring my wellies? I do have a bright yellow pair
that I love! I’ve only been to
Seattle once and it was only for a day (before my grandpa took the family on a
cruise to Alaska), so I’m excited to stay a few days after the conference and
explore the city with Mary Kate Castellani!
got your email! Do I need to bring my wellies? I do have a bright yellow pair
that I love! I’ve only been to
Seattle once and it was only for a day (before my grandpa took the family on a
cruise to Alaska), so I’m excited to stay a few days after the conference and
explore the city with Mary Kate Castellani!
2.
Where, outside of your day job, do you like to read? Do you read much outside
of work (not a trick question)? Genres?
Where, outside of your day job, do you like to read? Do you read much outside
of work (not a trick question)? Genres?
In the summer, I like to read in Central Park or
on my building’s small roof deck. In the winter, I’m probably curled up on my
couch! Like any editor, I find it tough to fit in “outside of work” reading.
But lately I’ve been on a nonfiction kick. The last three books I read for fun
were: Riding Rockets: The Outrageous
Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut, by Mike Mullane, Death at SeaWorld: Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in
Captivity, by David Kirby, and The
Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck, by Sarah Knight (the cover calls
this one a “practical parody” and I would totally agree with that statement!).
on my building’s small roof deck. In the winter, I’m probably curled up on my
couch! Like any editor, I find it tough to fit in “outside of work” reading.
But lately I’ve been on a nonfiction kick. The last three books I read for fun
were: Riding Rockets: The Outrageous
Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut, by Mike Mullane, Death at SeaWorld: Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in
Captivity, by David Kirby, and The
Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck, by Sarah Knight (the cover calls
this one a “practical parody” and I would totally agree with that statement!).
3.
What is the aspect of working at a large publishing house that’s changed the
most in the last five years?
What is the aspect of working at a large publishing house that’s changed the
most in the last five years?
Huh…I feel stumped by this one because I moved
from a small/medium house to a big house in the last five years. So my job changed a lot, but it’s not
necessarily related to publishing on the whole. I think probably the explosion
of social media has made a big difference in how we market books and how
visible I feel in the world of publishing. For example, I got a hilarious email
from an agent recently that said “I’ve been twitter-stalking you and I think we
need to have lunch!” It was flattering and made me realize that there are
probably lots of ways to figure out my taste now that there are so many ways to
“stalk” me online! (Please follow me on Twitter at @carolineabbey or friend
“Caroline Abbey Editorial” on Facebook!)
from a small/medium house to a big house in the last five years. So my job changed a lot, but it’s not
necessarily related to publishing on the whole. I think probably the explosion
of social media has made a big difference in how we market books and how
visible I feel in the world of publishing. For example, I got a hilarious email
from an agent recently that said “I’ve been twitter-stalking you and I think we
need to have lunch!” It was flattering and made me realize that there are
probably lots of ways to figure out my taste now that there are so many ways to
“stalk” me online! (Please follow me on Twitter at @carolineabbey or friend
“Caroline Abbey Editorial” on Facebook!)
4.
Who was your favorite author from childhood? Were you a bookworm as a kid?
Who was your favorite author from childhood? Were you a bookworm as a kid?
I think my very favorite book was Matilda, by Roald Dahl. But I was also a
huge Babysitter’s Club fan and I loved Saddle Club, too! I was a big reader
until high school. Then once we had so much required reading for school, my love
of reading sort of disappeared…until senior year when I saw a preview for this
little unknown movie called Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer’s Stone. And I thought, “Huh, I’m not a huge fantasy fan,
but maybe I should give that book series a try.” Fast forward three weeks and
my mom is standing in my bedroom doorway saying “I will confiscate that book (Goblet of Fire) if you don’t work on
your college essay.”
huge Babysitter’s Club fan and I loved Saddle Club, too! I was a big reader
until high school. Then once we had so much required reading for school, my love
of reading sort of disappeared…until senior year when I saw a preview for this
little unknown movie called Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer’s Stone. And I thought, “Huh, I’m not a huge fantasy fan,
but maybe I should give that book series a try.” Fast forward three weeks and
my mom is standing in my bedroom doorway saying “I will confiscate that book (Goblet of Fire) if you don’t work on
your college essay.”
5.
What is the food you most associate with Seattle?
What is the food you most associate with Seattle?
Probably coffee. So let me know what I should be
eating with my coffee!
eating with my coffee!