Meet Caitlin
| Name: | Caitlin |
| Department: | Editorial |
| Title: | Editor |
| Location: | New York, New York |
Describe your educational background. Where did you study, what degrees did you receive?
I received my Bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College, where my studies focused on Literature and Psychology.
Describe your career history. What have been your professional experiences prior to your current position?
Random House has been my first and only publishing home. After I was hired into the Random House Associates Program, the Deputy Publisher asked me to be her assistant. When an editorial position that I was interested in opened up, I was promoted to Assistant Editor and then Associate Editor.
What are your current roles and responsibilities?
I acquire, edit, and manage a variety of original titles for Random House, including mystery/suspense, women’s fiction, romantic suspense, and narrative nonfiction. I also read manuscripts for a VP/Executive Editor and help her with some of the editorial duties not covered by her administrative assistant.
Describe a typical day at your job:
A typical day includes anything and everything from e-mailing and speaking with my authors, whose books are all at different stages of being conceptualized, written, and published; reviewing and writing cover and catalog copy; working with our art department on book jackets; evaluating manuscript submissions and corresponding with literary agents; researching the market and potential projects; and reading and editing the various manuscripts we have under contract.
What attracted you to your company and position? What is your favorite thing about your job?
My favorite part of my job is definitely working with such creative and industrious writers—both through the editing process itself and as their primary touchstone for all the different aspects of book publishing. I love that Random House has such passion for good storytelling across genres and that we really get excited about the books we’re publishing.
What qualities do you feel are necessary to be a successful employee at your company?
A passion for reading in general and for the books you’re working on in particular, and the ability to share that excitement with others. Flexibility in work style and attention to detail are also essential.
Have you had the opportunity to travel as part of your job?
Yes. I’ve very much enjoyed attending several writers’ conferences, some that are primarily geared towards published authors and some aimed at writers looking to get published. It’s a rewarding opportunity to finally meet in person some of the authors I’ve been e-mailing and talking on the phone with for years, as well as to meet writers who are just taking those very first steps toward getting their manuscripts published.
Do you feel you have a good understanding of Bertelsmann and its corporate culture?
It’s a treat to be part of an international company, where so many different perspectives can meet and yet still share so many passions in common.
Finally, please write a paragraph or two about yourself, your interests, hobbies, goals, meaningful life experiences, role models, memories, etc.:
I grew up in northeastern Pennsylvania and then lived with my family in the Twin Cities area for several years. I was very happy to come back out east to New York, and I still find the city both amazingly exciting and energetic and sometimes a challenge to completely adapt to. I commute into work from outside the city, and I feel like I have the best of both worlds that way—everything is at my fingertips in Manhattan, but I get to go home to a quieter, calmer atmosphere, too. Plus, I just moved to a new apartment that has a deck and is surrounded by trees—so I can’t complain about taking work home with me when I can do it amid all that gorgeous scenery!
I received my Bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College, where my studies focused on Literature and Psychology.
Describe your career history. What have been your professional experiences prior to your current position?
Random House has been my first and only publishing home. After I was hired into the Random House Associates Program, the Deputy Publisher asked me to be her assistant. When an editorial position that I was interested in opened up, I was promoted to Assistant Editor and then Associate Editor.
What are your current roles and responsibilities?
I acquire, edit, and manage a variety of original titles for Random House, including mystery/suspense, women’s fiction, romantic suspense, and narrative nonfiction. I also read manuscripts for a VP/Executive Editor and help her with some of the editorial duties not covered by her administrative assistant.
Describe a typical day at your job:
A typical day includes anything and everything from e-mailing and speaking with my authors, whose books are all at different stages of being conceptualized, written, and published; reviewing and writing cover and catalog copy; working with our art department on book jackets; evaluating manuscript submissions and corresponding with literary agents; researching the market and potential projects; and reading and editing the various manuscripts we have under contract.
What attracted you to your company and position? What is your favorite thing about your job?
My favorite part of my job is definitely working with such creative and industrious writers—both through the editing process itself and as their primary touchstone for all the different aspects of book publishing. I love that Random House has such passion for good storytelling across genres and that we really get excited about the books we’re publishing.
What qualities do you feel are necessary to be a successful employee at your company?
A passion for reading in general and for the books you’re working on in particular, and the ability to share that excitement with others. Flexibility in work style and attention to detail are also essential.
Have you had the opportunity to travel as part of your job?
Yes. I’ve very much enjoyed attending several writers’ conferences, some that are primarily geared towards published authors and some aimed at writers looking to get published. It’s a rewarding opportunity to finally meet in person some of the authors I’ve been e-mailing and talking on the phone with for years, as well as to meet writers who are just taking those very first steps toward getting their manuscripts published.
Do you feel you have a good understanding of Bertelsmann and its corporate culture?
It’s a treat to be part of an international company, where so many different perspectives can meet and yet still share so many passions in common.
Finally, please write a paragraph or two about yourself, your interests, hobbies, goals, meaningful life experiences, role models, memories, etc.:
I grew up in northeastern Pennsylvania and then lived with my family in the Twin Cities area for several years. I was very happy to come back out east to New York, and I still find the city both amazingly exciting and energetic and sometimes a challenge to completely adapt to. I commute into work from outside the city, and I feel like I have the best of both worlds that way—everything is at my fingertips in Manhattan, but I get to go home to a quieter, calmer atmosphere, too. Plus, I just moved to a new apartment that has a deck and is surrounded by trees—so I can’t complain about taking work home with me when I can do it amid all that gorgeous scenery!
