Catherine Balkin – Marketer

Arrange for authors and artists to speak in schools and at large events, including national and regional library and educational conferences and festivals. Negotiate honorariums and terms for the authors at these events and write the contracts for them, followed by promoting the events on social media. Create promotional materials for authors and artists and work with their publishers to promote their books. Also handle any other marketing or promotional matters requested by the authors, illustrators, event organizers or publishers. Also created a Balkin Buddies blog to further promote Balkin Buddies authors' and artists' books.

Handled all activities regarding major library and educational conferences, including arranging author events and signings, dinners, and receptions to introduce new books as well as their authors to key educators and librarians. Created the first children's book listserv in the publishing industry for the purpose of promoting authors, illustrators and their books to librarians and teachers everywhere (a precursor to websites and blogs).

After a year as the administrative assistant to the head of division, was promoted to Library Promotion Associate in the Marketing Dept., where the skills and knowledge were acquired that subsequently led to the offer of the position at HarperCollins.