SPOTLIGHT ON… Escape Publishing: Kate Cuthbert

As we approach the first birthday of Escape Publishing (a digital division of Harlequin Australia), I wanted to touch base with one of Australia’s leading authorities on digital publishing and the romance genre, Escape’s Managing Editor Kate Cuthbert.

Responsible for the release of almost 100 Escape Publishing novels in the past 12 months, and the subsequent launch of many emerging authors into the global marketplace, Kate has certainly earned her reputation as one of Australia’s foremost experts on the romance genre and its place in the publishing world.

Sit back and enjoy as we discover just what makes Kate Cuthbert tick, and join us for the next two weeks as we chat to eight of your favourite (and hottest) Escape authors over the next fortnight.

Kate Cuthbert

Describe yourself in one word:
Busy!

What is your background with regard to writing?
I’ve got an undergrad in Comparative Literature, a Master’s in Writing, Editing, and Publishing, and enough sense to know that having a favourite punctuation mark is definitely a sign that you might be an editor.

Tell us about your role at Escape Publishing. What is your average day?
No such thing! I’m the Managing Editor at Escape, which means that I drive the editorial direction. That’s a fancy way of saying that I get to pick between what we publish and what we don’t. It sounds simple, and at the base, it really is. But as director of Escape, I also have input on our marketing, covers, social media, blog, digital strategy, goals, and strategic planning. I’m also the first point of call for any queries about Escape from aspiring authors, media, bloggers, Harlequin, and our stable of Escape Artists. So I spend a great deal of time reading, but an equal amount of time answering emails, working with the Harlequin team, and thinking about and planning for Escape in the future.

The most satisfying aspect of your role?
Hands down – working with our authors. Super talented, very enthusiastic, and excited to be on this journey with me, the authors are the best part of my job.

You’ve introduced readers to some extremely talented authors through the Escape brand; what’s the one thing you’d like readers to know about the romance genre:
It’s fashionable to be cynical, but romance chooses to believe that community, connections, family, and love are powerful and ought to be privileged.

What are your thoughts on the notion that romance (and its spicier counterpart, erotica) are deemed as mummy porn?
**** That’s the sound of my teeth grinding. I think it’s easy to diminish things that you don’t understand, and that denigrating something is the best way to diffuse its power. Calling it something like ‘mommy porn’ not only reduces romance to not only the tawdry, but also women and mothers to the diminutive ‘mommy’. So it’s a two-pronged attack – against both women and a literature that privileges the feminine. It’s one more way to keep women (and issues that are traditionally those of women) in our place. Rather than thinking critically about a genre that essentially funds all other literature because of its popularity and voracious reader base, the media (and indeed many other groups) have chosen the schoolyard bully approach. It’s lazy, and it makes me angry.

Why romance? What’s the appeal of this genre as a publisher? And as a reader yourself?
For me, romance as a literature does two things:

It celebrates our connections – family, community, love – and I believe our humanity lies in our connections. So it’s a literature that celebrates the best in humanity, rather than the horrible things humans can do to each other.

It allows women to the be heroes of their story – the heroines in romance novels are the main characters, and they are given growth, story arcs, and power. And they’re not punished for being strong, independent, or sexually aware. They are three-dimensional, well-developed, and real. No other genre of literature gives women this kind of positive representation.

The one book that you’ve read over and over is…
Just one? …how about one handful?

The Perfect Rake – Anne Gracie
Romancing Mr Bridgerton – Julia Quinn
Flowers from the Storm ­– Laura Kinsale
Agnes and the Hitman  – Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
Open Season – Linda Howard

Favourite fictional character:
Hannibal Lector. I know, I know. So not romance. Except he is, a little bit. He’s just such a perfectly balanced character, well-drawn and fascinating.

Number one thing to do on your bucket list:
The UK. I’ve lived in France and was an exchange student in Portugal, but I’ve never managed to make it to the UK, and being a lover of British historicals, it’s a must for me!

What book has changed your opinion/stance on something important to you, and why?
Emma Holly changed my mind on erotic romance – for a long time I didn’t think it was possible to do erotic romance well, have the sex work seamlessly in the story. But reading Emma Holly proved me wrong. And now the subgenre of erotic romance is my oyster!

Biggest accomplishment to date:
Oh wow. Well, on a personal front, having my kid was pretty darned accomplished. Professionally, I think bringing together a group of strangers into a supportive, co-operative team that’s getting good exposure, great reviews, and really positive feedback, and working together to create and build Escape has pretty much eclipsed most everything else!

What’s next for you? What’s next for Escape Publishing?
We’re working on our first birthday celebrations at the moment, so it’s a real time of reflection for us – looking back at what we’ve accomplished, and planning for the future. I think, in particular, it’s time for us to prove that we’ve got staying power, that we’re not just a blip on the digital radar, but that we’ve got the legs to go the distance.

If you could offer just one piece of advice to aspiring authors, what would it be?
Write. Write some more. Write again. Keep writing. Join a professional group so you have support, and then write some more. Take all advice with a grain of salt.

Find Kate and Escape Publishing online:

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter: Kate and Escape Publishing