Episode 269 of bookcareers.com Live – How to be a Rising Star with The Printing Charity

In episode 269 of bookcareers.com live we speak to Sam Nelson, Senior Relationship Manager – Careers and Development at The Printing Charity about the Rising Star Awards — training grants for 18–35-year-olds working in the industry. In this episode, we explore The Printing Charity’s mission and dive into how the awards are designed to help you grow your career. We cover what’s available, how to apply, what makes a strong application, and common reasons some submissions don’t succeed. If you’re ready to invest in your future, this one’s for you.

The book Sam is reading is The Outcast: The Empire’s Corps Book 5 by Christopher Nuttall, Published by Createspace/Amazon*

In this episode the following are referenced:
How to Job Search in Book Publishing: The Ultimate Insider’s Guide*
London Book Fair 2026 – bookcareers.com Events
The Printing Charity
bookcareers.com Careers Clinic

*Affiliate link

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Episode 267 of bookcareers.com Live – Work in Publishing 2025 with the Publishers Association

It is Work in Publishing Week!
In this episode we speak to Jasmine Joynson, Senior Communications Manager of the Publishers Association, all about the PAs work, and the aims and activities for Work in Publishing Week.

You’ll learn what the Publishers Association does, how it supports the industry and some of its current campaigns (as well as one or two of its big successes). We also discuss the Publishing Jobs of the Future and areas of the industry that are expanding, according to the PA’s statistics.
In addition you’ll learn about Work in Publishing Week and the many events and ways in which you can participate.

The video of this episode can be found on YouTube by clicking here.

Mentioned in this episode:-
The Publishers Association
Work in Publishing Week
bookcareers.com Events for Work in Publishing Week
The People of Publishing Campaign

The book Jasmine is reading is The God of the Woods by Liz Moore and Published by The Borough Press.*

*Affiliate Link

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Episode 266 of bookcareers.com Live – Staff Wellbeing at Book Fairs

Suzanne Collier spoke to many people whilst at the Frankfurt Book Fair about their ‘Frankfurt experience’. How did their employer look after them whilst at the Frankfurt Book Fair? One thing that came from the answers, was that all Frankfurt experiences were not equal.

In this episode of bookcareers.com live we discuss Staff Wellbeing at Book Fairs and how simple changes as regards hotel, travel and food can make the greatest difference and ensure staff feel looked after.

It gives tips and suggestions for both employers and employees alike, and demonstrates why the wellbeing of any member of staff should be given equal, if not more importance, than the exhibition stand itself.

The video of this episode can be found on YouTube by clicking here.

Mentioned in this episode.
How to Future Proof Your Publishing Career – Report of the discussion in The Bookseller

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Episode 265 of bookcareers.com Live – Planning for a Publishing Trade Exhibition

We’ve spoken a lot recently about the Frankfurt Book Fair, and also about selling rights. However, there is so much that goes into making a Publisher’s presence at a trade exhibition a success.

In this episode of bookcareers.com Live, Suzanne Collier talks us through Planning for a Publishing Trade Exhibition. From the initial booking of stand space, deciding on marketing, getting stock or samples ready to following up after. At the end of this episode Publishing Hopefuls and book fair novices of all ages will have a clearer idea of what actions need to be taken and when.

We’d like to apologise for the low volume on the audio. As a result we have had issues producing a transcript. This may be added at a later date.

The video of this episode can be found on YouTube by clicking here.

Mentioned in this episode.

Our activities at Frankfurt
Why is Everyone Talking about Frankfurter Buchmesse?
Buchmesse.de / Frankfurter Buchmesse / Frankfurt Book Fair
London Book Fair
Careers in Book Publishing Rights with Clare Hodder

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bookcareers.com Live Episode 264 – Careers in Book Publishing Rights with Clare Hodder

In this episode of bookcareers.com Live we speak to Clare Hodder, co-founder of RightsZone, which is a software system to support Rights Teams in publishing, and make their job easier.

Clare talks about her earlier career in book publishing, what rights are, the job titles to look out for and the difference between working for Academic and Trade Publishers in rights. You’ll also discover whether you need language skills to work in book publishing rights. Plus much more.

The link for the audio is below, or if you prefer, you can watch the video here https://youtu.be/I71lTZ4CJmw

After we finished recording, Clare had some comments to add, but we didn’t have time to re-record. Here are her extra thoughts.

Working in rights is very person centred. Rights are sold by people passionate about books to people who are passionate about books. Buyers have a lot of choice about who to buy from, so being someone who can build strong, long-term relationships with potential customers is a critical skill, and rights relationships really can be long term, its not uncommon to find that rights people have friends to stay with anywhere in the world, thanks to the connections they have made through their work! I think rights roles suit people who take an interest in what is going on in the world, who are interested to learn more about different cultures, who can think creatively about how stories and information might be presented differently to appeal to different sorts of people.

It is important to be able to think through an opportunity, to be able to evaluate the pros and cons and come to an informed decision – so I think rights suits people who are naturally curious and ask lots of questions, those who can be analytical.

Ultimately like so much of publishing, basic business skills are vital. Selling rights is about making money. Even as a not for profit you have to generate revenue to keep your organisation afloat. So it is important to understand what your overheads are, how to manage a budget, how to negotiate a deal that is going to be profitable for your organisation and will deliver an appropriate return to the authors and creators that you are working for as well.

Listeners might also find it useful to check out the rights&licensing hub from Publishers Licensing Services which has a working in rights section: https://www.rightsandlicensing.co.uk/working-in-rights/

There are also some free online training courses on the hub that will give a greater understanding of how rights works https://pls.thinkific.com/

The book Clare mentioned in the episode was The StichWort Curse by Alexandra Dawe.

Also mentioned in this episode:
Clare Hodder can be found on LinkedIN
Rights Zone

*Affiliate Links

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Episode 263 of bookcareers.com Live – The Myths of Working in Book Publishing

Are you looking for a book publishing job and thinking you must have industry connections in order to get employed? Or maybe you’re worried about whether you chose the right degree for a career within book publishing, or if you don’t have a degree at all? Do you think all book publishing jobs are in London? Maybe you think you need to work for free to get a book publishing job.

All of these are myths about working in book publishing. In this episode of bookcareers.com Live, Suzanne Collier, talks through these myths, dispels those which really are not true (all of them!) and proves that book publishing really is open to all.

The video of this episode can be found on YouTube by clicking here: https://youtu.be/Mil5eQnf2LU

Items mentioned in this episode:
How to Job Search in Book Publishing: The Ultimate Insider’s Guide

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Episode 262 of bookcareers.com Live

What is it like starting out again? Everything in your world feels fantastic and then, BANG! Life throws a series of curveballs.

Lucy Melville talks to us about some of those curveballs, and how they led to her starting a brand new publishing imprint, The River Light Press, part of the Aurora Metro Group.

We also discuss with Lucy her views on the Publishing Jobs of the Future.

Lucy is currently reading English Pastoral : An Inheritance by James Rebanks*

From this episode:-
Lucy Melville on LinkedIn
The River Light Press
The Aurora Metro Group
Richard Charkin on Academic v Trade Publishing
Klopotek (ERP/Enterprise Resource Planner)

There is a simultaneous video of this episode, which you can watch here.

*Affiliate link

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Episode 261 of bookcareers.com Live

Frankfurter Buchmesse is coming up in October, (the dates are 15-19 October 2025) and in this episode of bookcareers Live, we speak to Erin Cox, the US publicist for the buchmesse about why everyone is talking about Frankfurt?

Whether you’re a seasoned Frankfurt visitor or someone who has never been, we discuss what the aims of the Buchmesse are, who goes and what it is like. You’ll learn what to look out for as well as how you can participate remotely.

We also continue our conversation about Publishing Jobs of the Future, and as Eric is also a course lecturer on two Publishing courses in the USA, she has her own views about how jobs within the industry are changing.

The book Erin is reading is My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones*

This is the first bookcareers Live episode to have a simultaneous YouTube edition. If you prefer video instead of audio you can watch here

Mentioned in this episode:-
Erin Cox is on LinkedIn
bookcareers.com at the Frankfurt Book Fair
https://www.buchmesse.de/en

*Affiliate links

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