Speak Up Storytelling SPECIAL EPISODE #2: My Editor and Me - "Twenty-one Truths About Love"
Feb 21, 2021
Hannah Braaten, a book editor at St. Martin's, shares her role shaping Twenty-one Truths About Love. She discusses how she came to edit the book, the decision to publish the list-format novel first, and the nuts and bolts of acquisitions, scheduling, blurbs, and championing projects inside a publishing house.
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Editors Must Be True Champions
- Hannah Braaten defines an editor's core job as championing projects they would 'die' for to secure publisher support.
- Her point: an editor's belief (and advocacy) drives internal buy-in and a book's chances.
Inheriting Authors When Editors Move On
- Hannah recounts inheriting several 'orphaned' authors, including Matthew, after colleagues left.
- She watched his earlier books and wasn't worried because she'd already met him and liked his work.
From Doubt To 'Brilliant' In One Read
- Hannah initially said she wouldn't buy Matthew's list-based book but read the sample out of curiosity.
- After reading it, she called the idea 'brilliant' and wanted to champion its launch.
