World Book Day: Ask the Gill Books Editorial team

The World Book Day celebrations continue at Gill Books. We asked our editorial team to share some of their book knowledge with us. So if you’re curious how the reading mind of an editor works read on!

Deirdre Nolan - Commissioning Editor

Tell us all about your favourite books.

I’m a very emotional reader; the best books are the ones that make you cry. As a child that was achieved easily, I was always a blubbering mess after reading Michael Murpurgo, Phillipa Pearse, Anne Holm, Michelle Magorian, Marita Conlon-McKenna or anything that involved an animal or a war. War Horse nearly killed me. As an adult I still regard tears as a reliable measuring stick. I cried terribly at the end of Atonement, not because of the story, but because I was finishing an incredible book and I knew I wouldn’t read anything as good ever again, and in the 16 years since its publication I’ve yet to be proved wrong.

Sheila Armstrong - Editor

Where is your favourite place to read?

My favourite place to read is anywhere – up a tree, at the dinner table, in the car, on my phone. When I was a teenager, I used to read in the shower (it’s possible, but uncomfortable). My bag always has a book or my kindle in it.

What is your best writing tip?

Start with writing what you know, but don’t be afraid to write what you don’t know, because you’ll get to know it through writing it.

Sarah Liddy - Commissioning Editor

What makes a good book a great book?

I think often what makes a good book a great book is originality, whether that’s in the language, the characters, the concept or the plot.

Catherine Gough - Managing Editor

Where is your favourite place to read?

My favourite place to read would probably be a big, cosy armchair in my living room, but I don’t have such a thing. Instead I read in bed and endlessly re-arrange my pillows to create better back support. This usually leads to the peril of accidentally falling asleep, waking up only when I drop my book on my face. Hardbacks are pretty, but they are also heavy.

What makes a good book a great book?

I have huge admiration for writers who create new worlds that read like realism. The best thing I’ve read lately that does this is a comic book series called ‘Monstress’ by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda. You should definitely read it (but only if you’re an adult).

Conor Nagle - Commissioning Editor

Where is your favourite place to do some book shopping?

My favourite place to do some book shopping is North Beach in San Francisco, home of the legendary City Lights and a handful of second-hand shops that stay open long into the night.

What is the first book you remember reading?

The first book I remember encountering is Eric Carle’s The Hungry Caterpillar. It had everything: amazing artwork, a relatable hero and a final plot twist worthy of M. Night Shyamalan.

Have you any advice for aspiring authors?

The best advice I can give aspiring authors is simple: Sit down and write. People are too respectful of the process sometimes, choosing to believe inspiration is something that simply descends from the heavens. So they sit in wait for that bolt from the blue. In reality, writing is a craft. It’s about practice and repetition, working out problems on the page. So get stuck in.

Happy World Book Day, we hope our editorial team’s imparted knowledge will inspire you to read more, pick up that pen or reread that book that meant the world to you once upon a time!

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