Behind every Hodderscape book there is a team of passionate readers working together to bring you the best that the SFF genre has to offer. Our Meet the Team series give us the chance to introduce you to the people behind the imprint, what they do, what they love and why they got into publishing.
From editorial to marketing, publicity to design, we're celebrating the many voices that help shape our list. In the spoplight this month is Robyn, our Hodderscape Brand Manager.
What’s your role at Hodderscape, and what does a typical day look like?
I’m the Brand Manager for Hodderscape which means I manage the Hodderscape website, newsletters and social channels, and some book campaigns.
I don’t think there is ever a typical day - it can vary so much from collating and building a blog for our Recommended Reading lists, plotting social posts, briefing/creating social assets and creating book campaign plans. No day is ever the same, which I love!
What drew you to publishing – and how did you get started?
When I was younger working in publishing just wasn’t on my radar, I wouldn’t have known where to start! I was always an avid reader and an incredible GCSE English teacher set me on the path of getting an English Literature degree but beyond that I just knew I wanted to work with books in some capacity.
In 2009 I started working as a Christmas temp at Waterstones then after several years in store moved to a head office role, culminating in co-managing the Waterstones website. When the Brand Manager role came up at Hodderscape, it was a dream come true, and a perfect way to transfer my industry knowledge, love of bookselling and website management to a new and exciting challenge.
What book made you fall in love with SF&F?
I don’t if there was one specific thing that made me fall in love with SFF but I have always read widely across genres and it’s Fantasy fiction that became my safe place, the perfect place to escape to when the noise of the world becomes too much.
Starting early with series like The Chronicles of Narnia, Goosebumps and Point Horror, and loving TV programmes like Round the Twist and Buffy, I then focused on 19th Century gothic fiction like Dracula and Frankenstein at university, and when I started at Waterstones, a whole new world was opened to me through colleagues’ recommendations, such as The Death of Grass, We, and the Midwich Cuckoos, alongside True Blood and the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy. I will honestly try anything, from speculative fiction like The Eyre Affair or the Handmaids Tale to sweeping epic fantasies like Robin Hobb or Brandon Sanderson, I just LOVE it all!
What is the best thing about your job?
The Books! I love talking to people about books, I love recommending books, I love the feeling I get when someone loves the book I’ve recommended. So, getting to work with books all day (and work with people who also love books!) and tell people why they’re so special – I’m in heaven!
What are you most proud of in your role?
Probably the relaunch of our Hodderscape website, it took a lot of blood sweat and tears but building a new website with readers in mind and getting to share that with the world was an incredible feeling.
What is your top tip for someone wanting to get into the publishing industry?
Remember that skills are transferable—just because you haven’t worked with books before doesn’t mean you can’t. Working in a bookshop/library can be incredibly valuable; for me, it was a great way to learn about the industry, discover different books, and see firsthand what people are reading.
Titles from Robyn's List:
