Caitriona Row - Marketer
I've sold books to Amazon and bookshops on behalf of publishers for nearly 20 years: I can help you perfect your blurb and metadata.
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Overview
I've worked in publishing sales (at Pan Macmillan, Picador, and Oneworld) since 2002 in a variety of roles, most recently as Sales Director for UK and International sales, including ebooks. As well as keeping Amazon up to date with all the information they need, and telling booksellers about our books and encouraging them to order lots of copies, my job is to represent booksellers and readers when we make publishing decisions. So in meetings I'm the one asking questions like:
- what is the sales potential?
- which authors are we competing with?
- when is the best time to publish?
- how much will readers pay for this book?
- what kind of cover should we have?
I can help you:
- identify your reader
- write cover copy that they can't resist
- enrich your metadata and keywords to make your book easy to find
- write a clear, simple and easy-to-follow cover brief for your designer
As well as the sales and marketing services above I also provide manuscript assessments at every stage of the writing process. I can write a quick, clear one-page report that will sum up the commercial potential of your book and provide practical advice about how to bring it to market, whether you are self-publishing or submitting to agents and editors.
I'm Northern Irish with roots in Dublin, Galway and Sligo and studied sociolinguistics as part of my English degree at Cambridge, so can provide sensitivity reads and dialect checks for books with Irish characters and settings.
My charges depend on the length of your book and how much of it I read: I can provide a quick, basic report based on reading a few chapters for a basic fee. If you could like me to read the whole manuscript I can provide a quote based on word-count and subject matter. Please do get in touch with any questions.
If you want to get a feel for my taste, have look me up on Goodreads - I only post books that I've read for pleasure there, not ones I've worked on, so it's unbiased and honest.
Languages
English (UK)
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Parenting & Families
Political Science & Current Affairs
Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Fiction
Historical Fiction
Literary Fiction
Mystery & Crime
Women's Fiction
Certifications
- MA Cantab., English Literature, 2.1
Work experience
Sales Director
Oneworld Publications Ltd
August, 2017
–
July, 2019
(almost 2 years)
I’m passionate about connecting books and readers. As head of UK and international sales for the family-run, twice-Booker-winning publishing house, Oneworld, I was lucky enough to do that every day. Oneworld publish thought-provoking books from around the world, specialising in literary fiction (including lots in translation), politics and current affairs, popular science, crime and YA.
I’m a clear and concise communicator in person and in writing, and a large part of my job was advising editorial colleagues on the sales potential of manuscripts and working with them on publishing strategy. I made sure that cover design, scheduling, pricing and marketing decisions were commercial while remaining true to the spirit of our books.
As well as overseeing global sales I was also account manager for Kindle, Amazon, Waterstones and W.H. Smith. So I was on the ground talking to booksellers, buyers and readers every day, and can advise you on ebook pricing and metadata as well as the general commercial potential of your books.
Some of the books I worked on at Oneworld include The Angry Chef by Anthony Warner; An American Marriage by Tayari Jones; A History of Britain in 21 Women by Jenni Murray; A Field Guide to the English Clergy by Fergus Butler-Gallie, Posh Boys by Robert Verkaik and Dark Pines by Will Dean.
Sales Manager
Picador
January, 2009
–
July, 2017
(over 8 years)
Sales manager for Picador, Macmillan’s literary imprint, and account manager for Waterstones and Foyles, representing the entire list (literary and commercial fiction, non-fiction, classics, YA and children’s books, including brands like Julia Donaldson, Joe Wicks, and Jeffrey Archer).
During my time at Picador we published bestsellers including Room by Emma Donoghue, Burial Rites by Hannah Kent and The Stranger's Child by Alan Hollinghurst.
Key Account Manager
Pan Macmillan
January, 2003
–
December, 2008
(almost 6 years)
I worked with, among others, Foyles, Hatchards, Ottakars, Amazon, W.H. Smith Travel and Borders.
Research Associate
Macmillan Publishers Ltd
January, 2002
–
January, 2003
(about 1 year)
Joined Macmillan as part of their graduate recruitment scheme and worked with the Corporate Strategy Director on internal research projects, collecting data and analysing the performance of publishers within the group including Nature and Palgrave Macmillan.
Portfolio (15 selected works)
Dark Pines
Will Dean
Selected for ITV's Zoe Ball Book Club and shortlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker prize A Daily Telegraph Book of the Year ‘Will Dean’s atmospheric crime thriller marks him out as a talent to watch. Dark Pines is stylish, compelling and as chilling as a Swedish winter.’ Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle ‘Atmospheric, creepy and tense. Loved the Twin Peaks vibe. Loved Tuva. More please!’ C.... read more
The Truth About Fat: Why Obesity is Not that Simple
Anthony Warner
We are getting fat and sick in increasing numbers and it’s placing a devastating burden on our healthcare systems. Scientists in every field are desperate to explain this epidemic and stave off a modern health disaster. But what’s to blame? Carbs, fat or sugar? Gut microbes or genes? Laziness or poverty?In The Truth About Fat, Anthony Warner scrutinises the explanations of experts in every fie... read more
An American Marriage
Tayari Jones
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB 2018 SELECTION 'A moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African-American couple.' - Barack Obama Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of the American Dream. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. Until one day they are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have... read more
The Miniaturist
Jessie Burton
The phenomenal number one bestseller and a major BBC TV series. Winner of the Specsavers National Book Award and Waterstones Book of the YearA Richard and Judy Book Club selectionThere is nothing hidden that will not be revealed . . . On an autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman knocks at the door of a grand house in the wealthiest quarter of Amsterdam. She has come from the count... read more
The Last Act of Love
Cathy Rentzenbrink
A Richard and Judy Book club selection.In the summer of 1990, Cathy's brother Matty was knocked down by a car on the way home from a night out. It was two weeks before his GCSE results, which turned out to be the best in his school. Sitting by his unconscious body in hospital, holding his hand and watching his heartbeat on the monitors, Cathy and her parents willed him to survive. They did not... read more
Judge not, lest ye be judged. This timeless wisdom has guided the Anglican Church for hundreds of years, fostering a certain tolerance of eccentricity among its members.Good thing, too.The ‘Mermaid of Morwenstow’ excommunicated a cat for mousing on a Sunday. When he was late for a service, Bishop Lancelot Fleming commandeered a Navy helicopter. ‘Mad Jack’ swapped his surplice for a leopard ski... read more
I was ten years old when I came across Boadicea, and she became the first woman to make me realize that the designated future of a girl born in 1950 – to be sweet, domesticated, undemanding and super feminine – was not necessarily the case.Boadicea battled the Romans. Nancy Astor fought in Parliament. Emmeline Pankhurst campaigned for female suffrage. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson became a pionee... read more
Station Eleven
Emily St. John Mandel
'Best novel. The big one . . . stands above all the others . . . beautifully written, and wonderfully elegiac, a book that I will long remember, and return to.' – George R.R. Martin, author of Game of Thrones.The New York Times BestsellerWinner of the Arthur C. Clarke AwardLonglisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction National Book Awards FinalistPEN/Faulkner Award FinalistStation Eleve... read more
Fangirl
Rainbow Rowell
A love story by Rainbow Rowell, the New York Times bestselling author of Eleanor & Park.Cath and Wren are identical twins, and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they're off to university and Wren's decided she doesn't want to be one half of a pair any more – she wants to dance, meet boys, go to parties and let loose. It's not so easy for Cath. She's horribly shy and h... read more
Watership Down
Richard Adams
A phenomenal worldwide bestseller for over forty years, Richard Adams’ spellbinding classic Watership Down is one of the best-loved novels of all time. Set in the beautiful English countryside of the Berkshire Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of adventure, courage, and survival follows a band of very special rabbits fleeing the destruction of their home by a developer.... read more
Dead Water
Ann Cleeves
Dead Water is the fifth book in Ann Cleeves' Shetland series – a major BBC1 drama starring Douglas Henshall. When the body of journalist Jerry Markham is found in a traditional Shetland boat, outside the house of the local public prosecutor, down at the Marina, young Detective Inspector Willow Reeves is drafted in to head up the investigation. Since the death of his fiancée, Inspector Jimmy Pe... read more
Ottoline and the Purple Fox
Chris Riddell
Ottoline is back in Ottoline and the Purple Fox, a beautifully illustrated adventure from former Children's Laureate, Chris Riddell.Ottoline and Mr Munroe love puzzles, clues and mysteries. One day, they meet an enigmatic purple fox, who offers to take them on a night-time urban safari. The fox shows them all the hidden animals of the city and Ottoline makes notes on them in her field notebook... read more
Beyond the Sea
Paul Lynch
An unforgettable novella on grief and survival from one of Ireland’s rising stars A powerful, devastating, and redemptive novel by the award-winning author of GRACE. BEYOND THE SEA tells the tale of two South American fishermen, Bolivar and Hector, who go to sea before a sudden storm. Cast adrift in the Pacific Ocean, the two men must come to terms with their environment, and each other, if th... read more
The key to achieving personal and professional success is learning to think more effectively.Dissatisfaction is the number one problem in life. Things happen that you don't want, and things you want don't happen. The solution to increasing your satisfaction can be found in your mind. Understanding your beliefs and emotions will change how you feel. Improving your thoughts and actions will lead... read more
Clark is a young man with a dream: nothing makes him happier than writing songs, playing his guitar, and performing on stage with his best friend, Billy, in their band. But when he gets an enticing job offer from his wealthy uncle in Tokyo, he faces a dilemma. Should he stay in New York, making the music he loves and just getting by, or should he move to Japan and take a well-paid job in a shi... read more
Caitriona has 4 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Caitriona was incredibly professional and exceeded all my expectations. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from her marketing plan (I'm pretty new to this kinda stuff!) but her marketing plan was incredibly comprehensive, detailed, and tailored to my specific needs. Any communications I had with her were professional, and she promptly responded to all my messages. I would highly recommend wor...
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Kimberly Mulvaney, November 2019
Caitriona exceeds my expectations. Her works were beyond excellent and finish it one week before the deadline. Her tips and assessment aligned my focus to which reader should I focus to and that added me the confidence to expose my work more.
Denver Santos, October 2019
Mine is a very long book that would have taken a long time to read in full. In which circumstances we decided to settle for a basic report, And that went well. Thanks, Caitriona, it was a pleasure working with you.. Full marks! -
Alec Nisbett, September 2019
As part of my plan to launch my historical novel (POD and eBook), I decided to hire professional assistance to identify the best possible keywords and other metadata aligned with Amazon’s and IngramSpark’s systems search, and to provide me book pricing advice about my genre in various international markets. I decided to hire Caitriona because of her technical and overall experience with the pub...
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Jen Nelson, June 2019
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Rachel Khoo
I’m a UK-based freelance marketing professional with extensive in-house experience at Penguin Random House and Hodder and Stoughton.
London, UK
