EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Editorial & Marketing Assistant Molly O'Laughlin

Welcome back to the Overlook Press Employee Spotlight Series! Looking for some insight into how the publishing process works? You've come to the right place. Over the last year and a half we've introduced designers, contract managers, editors, sales staff, and publicists, all in the hopes of better acquainting blog readers with our team, as well as educating fans about the methods behind our bookish madness.

It's been a few months since we last introduced Overlook editor Mark Krotov, but today we're delighted to revive the regular feature that takes you behind the scenes at 141 Wooster Street, as we shine the spotlight on one of Overlook's most recent acquisitions, editorial and marketing assistant Molly O'Laughlin.

Kansas City native Molly O'Laughlin joined Overlook last month, having worked previously at Maria B. Campbell Associates, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Books of Wonder, and Archipelago Books. She loves KC barbecue and tiramisu, and will watch the same move five times in a row if she likes it enough (*ahem* Pitch Perfect *ahem*).

OP: Describe your job in 140 characters or less.

MO: I get to indulge my obsessive tendencies with detail work in both departments, read good books and work with wonderful people. #dreamjob!

OP: What are you currently reading?

MO: Besides submissions, I'm reading HOW THE FRENCH INVENTED LOVE by Marilyn Yalom, and TRUE GRIT by Charles Portis (because really it's shameful that I haven't yet read it).

OP: What is your favorite book that Overlook has published?

MO: I'm obsessed with THE CIRCLE by Sara B. Elfgren and Mats Strandberg (forthcoming in May, is that cheating?) and ST. TRINIAN'S by Ronald Searle—sinister schoolgirls all the way. 

OP: If you didn't work in publishing, what would you be doing? 

MO: I'd probably be working at an arts non-profit or back in academia. Like George, I sing in a choir (Grace Church Choral Society), so maybe I'd even be singing...!

OP: What is your favorite word (can be in any language—bonus points if there is a funny/interesting story behind it)?

MO: I love the word "supper." I feel like I only ever hear my Oklahoman grandparents use it anymore, so it has all these nice, warm, homey connotations for me. Plus, supper/dinner is the best meal of the day!

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Editor Mark Krotov

If you're reading this little publishing blog, chances are you're already a lover of literature. But as a devotee of the printed word, do you ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at an independent book publishing company? How a jacket gets designed or how a manuscript becomes a book? For curious minds, there's no better way to learn the nuts and bolts of the book business than to meet the people behind the magic. That's where we step in.

If you've been following our employee spotlight series, you've already met some of the creative individuals responsible for bringing Overlook titles to the shelves of your favorite neighborhood bookstores. We've introduced editors, designers, marketers, and even our publisher Peter Mayer to highlight the ins-and-outs of the job of book production. Our series continues today as we bring to the blog associate editor Mark Krotov to shed some light on his role at Overlook.

Mark recently joined the team at 141 Wooster Street last month, following four years at Farrar, Straus and Giroux where he served as an assistant editor and helped produce the FSG Reading Series at the Russian Samovar. When he isn’t staring into his computer screen, Mark can be found watching movies or reading about movies that he'd like to watch. Welcome, Mark!

OP: Describe your job in 140 characters or less.

MK: I read books, I edit books, and I tell people about the books I’m reading and editing.

OP: What are you currently reading?

MK: At the moment I’m reading many submissions, but I’m looking forward to reading two books once I get through this (virtual) stack. The first is a history of night (!) called AT DAY’S CLOSE, by A. Roger Ekirch, and the second is a novel by the brilliant (and brilliantly bearded) Italian novelist Francesco Pacifico called THE STORY OF MY PURITY, which comes out in March.

OP: What is your favorite book that Overlook has published?

MK: I haven’t been here long, so I look forward to changing my answer to this question many times, but Raymond Loewy’s INDUSTRIAL DESIGN is amazing.

OP: If you didn’t work in publishing, what would you be doing?

MK: Perhaps I’d be a film critic, or a graduate student, or an abacus salesman—all promising, future-oriented careers with strong growth potential.

OP: What is your favorite word (Can be in any language—bonus points if there is a funny/interesting story behind it)?

MK: Favorite I’m not sure, but while “Eric” and “Cantor” are perfectly fine words on their own, somehow, when you put the former just before the latter, the combination is very repellent. 

Employee Spotlight: Kelsey Osgood, Assistant to Peter Mayer

For the past several months we’ve been naming names here at Overlook Press. We’ve dished on our employees from the editorial and publicity departments to sales and subrights in an attempt to answer your burning questions on who and what make up the publishing world.

In this month’s Employee Spotlight we’re paying homage to one of the lesser-known dynamos in the publishing house: the publisher’s assistant. Whether it’s keeping everyone on schedule, parking the boss’s car, picking out the perfect ball point pen, or providing us all with well-timed laughs, our world would not quite function without the intrepid Kelsey Osgood. 

Some of Kelsey’s favorite things outside the walls of Overlook Press are fur coats, abandoned buildings, plot-less trippy foreign films, and polka dots. If she’s not sitting in the office making lists and typing 110 words a minute, you might find her out hunting weird wild animals such as sharks and pythons (see photo). Read on to find out more fun facts: thanks for playing, Kelsey!

OP: Describe your job in 140 characters or less.

KO:   I put out fires, literally and metaphorically.

OP: What are you currently reading?

KO: "I'm straddling Guy Endore's Werewolf of Paris, an early 20th century horror book, and Sheila Heti's How Should a Person Be?

OP: What is your favorite book that Overlook has published?

KO: I have a few, but with a gun to my head, I'd have to say Sheila Levine is Dead and Living in New York by Gail Parent which is pretty hilarious.    

OP: If you didn't work in publishing, what would you be doing?

KO:   I've always wanted to be a sculptor.  

OP: What is your favorite word (Can be in any language—bonus points if there is a funny/interesting story behind it).

KO: "Auspicious."  There is a long story behind it which features a prominent Hindu guru, a meditating two year old, some "special" brownies and a speech about the movie TRANSFORMERS, but it's way too long to get into here.  (Ed. note: Maybe next time!)

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Theresa Collier, Publicity

If you're reading our little publishing blog, chances are you're already a lover of literature. But as a devotee of the printed word, do you ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at an independent book publishing company? How a jacket gets designed or how a manuscript becomes a book? For curious minds, there's no better way to learn the nuts and bolts of the book business than to meet the people behind the magic. That's where we step in.

If you've been following our employee spotlight series, you've already met some of the creative individuals responsible for bringing Overlook titles to the shelves of your favorite neighborhood bookstores. We've introduced editors, designers, marketers, and even our publisher Peter Mayer to highlight the ins-and-outs of the job of book production. Today we're thrilled to bring to the blog publicity pro and social media maven Theresa Collier to shed some light on her role as a publicist at Overlook.

Theresa hails from north eastern Pennsylvania, where she attended Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia and has been a New York native for more than two years. When she isn't coordinating author tours, writing press releases, or pitching story ideas to journalists, Theresa can be found whiling away her time in her tiny NYC kitchen. Please welcome Theresa!

OP: Describe your job in 140 characters or less.

TC: I've turned procrastination into a valid job: I read umpteen magazines, papers, blogs, even Twitter & Pinterest to stay up on news & trends.

OP: What are you currently reading?

TC: Changing My Mind by Zadie Smith, Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, and roughly 101 cookbooks. Those count, right?

OP: What is your favorite book that Overlook has published?

TC: Graphic Design by Milton Glaser and Deadline Artists ed John Avlon.

OP: If you didn't work in publishing, what would you be doing?

TC: Scheming a way to open a bakery or letterpress studio...preferably both.

OP: What is your favorite word (Can be in any language—bonus points if there is a funny/interesting story behind it).

TC: Pamplemousse. I love grapefruit. I love saying grapefruit en Français more.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Amanda Bartlett, Designer

Have you been following our Employee Spotlight series? For those book lovers dying to know the process of book making from manuscript to bookstore shelf—and until there is an awesome School House Rock ditty to tell the tale—we’ve been breaking down the positions and personas of the Overlook Staff.  We have introduced you to the people who acquire and edit manuscripts, schedule the production and delivery, sell to retailers and wholesalers, and of course, get the word out so people want to buy them.  But what about the physical book? Who designs the jacket? Who makes strategic decisions on color, design, and font?  While the latter often involves opinions from around the press, our designated designer extraordinaire at Overlook is Amanda Bartlett.

A native upstater, Amanda is now a proud Brooklynite who loves all things bookish and beautiful.  A big thanks to Amanda for joining us to dish on her job and interests.

OP: Describe your job in 140 characters or less.

AB: I design book covers, buy images, pick out typefaces, and occasionally help George with his computer.

OP: What are you currently reading?

AB: The Lost Art of Real Cooking by Ken Albala & Rosanna Nafziger, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace, and a backlog of New Yorkers.

OP: What is your favorite book that Overlook has published?

AB: I think the Wallpaper: The Ultimate Guide by Charlotte Abrahams is really lovely.

OP: If you didn't work in publishing, what would you be doing?

AB: I would want to start a letterpress shop or a(nother) rooftop farm in Brooklyn. Or I would be some band's groupie.

OP: What is your favorite word (Can be in any language—bonus points if there is a funny/interesting story behind it).

AB: Anything Yiddish.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Amy Yang, Contracts & Subsidiary Rights Manager

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at your favorite independent book publisher? If you've been following this series, then you've already met the key players from our editorial staff, as well as members of our production, publicity, and sales and marketing teams. Today the Overlook employee spotlight returns to catch up with Contracts and Subsidiary Rights Manager Amy Yang, the legal whiz responsible for handling contract negotiations with authors and agents, drafting and revising contract amendments, and licensing titles for creative partnerships with book clubs and other literary organizations. If you've ever passed the time on a long car ride with an Overlook audio cassette (or podcast, for those living in the 21st century) or picked up four books for the price of one through the History Book Club, then you've got Amy to thank. Welcome, Amy!

OP: Describe your job in 140 characters or less.

AY: As the Contracts Manager, I basically ensure that Overlook and the Author are on the same page. As the Subsidiary Rights Manager, I form partnerships with a variety of licensees, e.g. Audible.com, Direct Brands, etc. to get our books to as many readers as we can.

OP: What are you currently reading?

AY: The Age of Innocence, After Annie, Happier than a Billionaire, What Makes Your Brain Happy and Why You Should Do the Opposite, and Ethics.

OP: What is your favorite book that Overlook has published?

AY: The Bauhaus: Masters & Students by Themselves by Frank Whitford

OP: If you didn't work in publishing, what would you be doing?

AY: Writing, eating and traveling, repurposing anything and everything.

OP: What is your favorite word (Can be in any language -bonus points if there is a funny/interesting story behind it).

AY: Quintana Roo (State in Mexico).

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Sasha Karlins, Sales & Marketing

It’s time to reveal another Overlook worker bee (err, elephant?) with this month’s Employee Spotlight. So far you’ve met our wonderful editors and two key players in Overlook’s production and publicity departments here on the blog. Today we would like to introduce you to the the person responsible for a number of important duties including, but not limited to coordinating our seasonal catalogs, generating sales reports, and emblazoning the winged elephant on just about anything she can get her hands on (sticky notes, bookmarks, posters, tote bags, and more). Ladies and gentleman, meet our Sales and Marketing Associate, Sasha Karlins.

In her spare time, Sasha has been known to throw some rad parties, including a mustache soirée complete with tiny mustache candy and a pie palooza to celebrate the upcoming National Pi Day. She’s also quite the wiz with a whisk and piping bag—just ask her friends who enlisted her to create an adorable (and delicious) pig confection for their wedding cake.

Welcome, Sasha!

OP: Describe your job in 140 characters or less.

SK: I handle the catalogs, sell sheets, reports, most ads, some web, and make the fun swag.

OP: What are you currently reading?

SK: After Annie by Michael Tucker and The Romeo and Juliet Code, by Phoebe Stone. I am usually reading several books at once somehow.

OP: What is your favorite book that Overlook has published?

SK: We Is Got Him—it changed my perspective on non-fiction.

OP: If you didn't work in publishing, what would you be doing?

SK: Cake decorating or party planning.

OP: What is your favorite word (Can be in any language—bonus points if there is a funny/interesting story behind it).

SK: Iconoclast. I love both the mouth feel of it and the meaning, and it is something to aspire to.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Stephanie Gorton, Editor

Ask any author or agent and they’ll be sure to tell you that the journey from manuscript to finished book can be a tricky process. Sometimes stories written over the course of several months can take years to appear on bookstore shelves (if they even ever make it). Why the wait, you ask? Between fact checking, copy editing, cover design, and the other technical aspects of getting a manuscript prepared for print, about a thousand decisions need to be made before a book is ready for publication.

The creative minds diligently working behind the scenes to oversee this process are editors. At Overlook, our crack-editorial team and legion of dedicated interns all work together to make sure this process happens smoothly and on schedule. Last November we introduced Overlook editor and burgeoning beer brewer, Dan Crissman. Today, our employee spotlight feature returns with questions for editor and Brooklyn resident Stephanie Gorton. Welcome, Stephanie!

OP: Describe your job in 140 characters or less.

SG: Read. Scheme to come up with pitches and design briefs and copy. Have lunch. Edit, argue, read. Dream up new projects. Argue, read, edit.

OP: What are you currently reading?

SG: Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart

OP: What is your favorite book that Overlook has published?

SG: Impossible question but off the top of my head it would be a 3-way tie between Gone Tomorrow, We Is Got Him, and The Late Great Creature, with NASCAR Legends a close second.

OP: If you didn't work in publishing, what would you be doing?

SG: Freelance editor/ tutor/ translator/ cheesemaker.

OP: What is your favorite word (Can be in any language—bonus points if there is a funny/interesting story behind it).

SG: Probably "glorious." My mother uses often to describe pretty mundane things like scarves or going to the movies and it's still one of the best speech quirks I've heard.