What’s it like working as a book publisher? 

Paula Campbell always knew she wanted to work in publishing and currently works for Poolbeg Press in Dublin. 

Every day she gets up to five manuscripts by post or email and she always starts her day off by having a look through them. 

“When I go in in the morning, the first job would be going through the post,” she said. 

“We would take unsolicited manuscripts - they don’t necessarily come through an agent. 

“I look at what I have; email submissions come in now as well. 

“I have a look at them and see what I like the look of and that would be the first part of the job.” 

Woman reading with grandson by bookshelf. Alamy.com

After that, she has to deal with the authors whose work they are currently in the middle of publishing or promoting. 

“I would oversee the marketing and PR campaign,” Ms Campbell said. 

“Basically, I have to decide what we’re going to publish and when we’re going to publish it, in what format, what cover and liaise with the bookshops and PR.” 

One listener sent in a voice note asking how she can get work designing book covers. 

“Do your research and make sure the portfolio you send is relevant to the publishers,” she said. 

“If a publishing house doesn’t do children’s books, then sending them comical children’s illustrations isn’t going to work. 

“Really just contact the publisher and say, ‘Look this is what I can do.’” 

Shelves of schoolbooks.

Another listener asked at what point Ms Campbell knows if a book is worth publishing. 

“They always say there’s a book in everybody - well, there isn’t,” she said. 

“I can assure you there isn’t. 

“Generally, I will read the first three chapters first… but you kind of know if something’s really, really bad you’ll know after the first few pages.” 

Old books on a book shelf.

She added that a manuscript does not “have to be perfect” but they do need to have some sense that readers will find it interesting.  

“We do have an editor who will literally go through it line by line with the author,” she said. 

“But they have to be able to write, they have to be able to capture your imagination. 

“I’m very much plot driven, I read for the story [and] the synopsis is very important because that’s where we’ll see how the story is going to be planned out.”

Poolbeg Press publishes 25 book a year.

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Main image: Book publisher Paula Campbell. Image: Newstalk.