I launched Lounge Books, a new home for book-lovers, in April this year. Lounge Books gives readers recommendations from other book-lovers, review round-ups of big books, award-winning books, and hidden gems.
I will soon be launching Lounge Marketing, a resource for authors offering focussed book marketing tips, advice, and expert insights. The aim is to help authors connect with readers and sell books.
Previous to this, I worked at HarperCollins as Head of Audience Development where I worked on large-scale campaigns connecting authors and books with readers. Before HarperCollins, I worked at The Bookseller as Head of Events and Marketing
I have won several book marketing awards and shortlisted for the Pandora Award for outstanding contribution to publishing. I speak at events around the world on publishing strategies, audience development, and book marketing.
@SAMATLOUNGE
- What was the last book you read?
I’m still reading it – Paperbacks from Hell by Grady Hendrix. It’s a history of 70s and 80s horror fiction. Fascinating. It’s research for a horror fiction campaign I’m running near Halloween.
2. What did you read it on?
Paperback, kindly supplied by Quirk Books.
3. Which writer would you have loved to have met and why?
Kurt Vonnegut – I’d like to listen to him talk on pretty much any topic
4. Which is your favourite bookshop or e-bookstore and why?
I love bookshops. I recently moved from Bath where my favourite bookshop was a very small indie, Oldfield Bookshop. The owner, Harry is not just a wealth of knowledge on books but, if I was having a bad day, he’d give me a hug. You can’t beat that. Nothing can replicate bookshops and booksellers.
I also love Amazon and its speed and efficiency.
5. What would be the title of your autobiography?
Cruel fate why do you mock me.
I find it’s a decent way to approach life – not too seriously
6. What was your first job?
Working in my Mum’s flower shop – mostly sweeping the floor and emptying buckets of water. I learned everything I know about business from watching my mum run a successful shop.
6. Tell us about a passion you have outside the business.
I absolutely love gardening. Oh dear, that’s going to shatter my rock and roll image, isn’t it?
8. Who has been your greatest inspiration and why?
My mum. She brought up 4 children on her own, ran a successful flower shop and is still the most driven person I know.
9. If you could tell your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Determination is everything.
10. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Learn as much as you can about every element of the book business. Equip yourself with as much knowledge as possible as you travel from aspiring writer to published/self-published author. There is a huge amount to learn.
Catch Sam at The Writer’s Summit this November: http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/writerssummit