Katherine Cowles understands that her authors need her to find not just the right deal, but the right editor for each book – it's essential to the process, and a successful book. Every author has different needs and interests: some want lots of say in the design, some need lots of conversation during editing, and some want to be left alone.
But, of course, it all starts with a great book proposal that makes editors sit up and take notice. "Its this indescribable thing that just gets you, that zings you. And I know how to get the proposal to the point where it will really excite an editor." Katherine believes that a great proposal must connect the author passionately and meaningfully with the editor reading it. Crafting the proposal is one of the most important parts of her work; finding the way in for the author and honing the message until the editor reading it just gives up and says, "OK, I gotta buy this book."
Katherine has been involved in publishing her entire career. Her industry connections and relationships are wide and deep. For more than a decade she was at the center of New York publishing at Simon and Schuster and Doubleday. Her experience began with contracts and moved through fiction and non-fiction acquisitions, the marketing and advertising departments eventually leading her to a position as Associate Publisher and Vice President at Simon and Schuster where she was involved with numerous major titles and brands. Since she's been in it for so long and seen a lot, she doesn't get stymied by any of the complications of the business.
It's really all about helping the author throughout the entire publishing process. Her thoroughness extends through concept, proposal, contract, writing, editing, finding collaborators, brainstorming marketing ideas, and exploring future projects. "We are basically their business partners on their book project. We really sign on to an author's career. We get as involved as they want us to get. And it seems to work, we don't really loose clients."
Her primary areas of interest are in nonfiction narrative, memoir, cooking, biography, history, current events and culture. She also takes on a select number of books for children and teens. Among the best-selling and distinguished authors she has represented are Paul Johnson, Christina Sunley, Liz Prueitt and Chad Robertson, David Tanis, The Emily Post Institute, Shelburne Farms, Dan Zanes and Sharon Robinson.
But, of course, it all starts with a great book proposal that makes editors sit up and take notice. "Its this indescribable thing that just gets you, that zings you. And I know how to get the proposal to the point where it will really excite an editor." Katherine believes that a great proposal must connect the author passionately and meaningfully with the editor reading it. Crafting the proposal is one of the most important parts of her work; finding the way in for the author and honing the message until the editor reading it just gives up and says, "OK, I gotta buy this book."
Katherine has been involved in publishing her entire career. Her industry connections and relationships are wide and deep. For more than a decade she was at the center of New York publishing at Simon and Schuster and Doubleday. Her experience began with contracts and moved through fiction and non-fiction acquisitions, the marketing and advertising departments eventually leading her to a position as Associate Publisher and Vice President at Simon and Schuster where she was involved with numerous major titles and brands. Since she's been in it for so long and seen a lot, she doesn't get stymied by any of the complications of the business.
It's really all about helping the author throughout the entire publishing process. Her thoroughness extends through concept, proposal, contract, writing, editing, finding collaborators, brainstorming marketing ideas, and exploring future projects. "We are basically their business partners on their book project. We really sign on to an author's career. We get as involved as they want us to get. And it seems to work, we don't really loose clients."
Her primary areas of interest are in nonfiction narrative, memoir, cooking, biography, history, current events and culture. She also takes on a select number of books for children and teens. Among the best-selling and distinguished authors she has represented are Paul Johnson, Christina Sunley, Liz Prueitt and Chad Robertson, David Tanis, The Emily Post Institute, Shelburne Farms, Dan Zanes and Sharon Robinson.
