Big announcement today. Juliet Mushens will be joining us as our fourth speaker at BookMachine Unplugged on May 23rd.If you use the discount code ‘Juliet’ you can get 15% off your ticket today (ends midnight).

Juliet was named as a ‘Rising Star’ in the Bookseller’s 2012 listing of the industry’s next generation of leaders and innovators. This year she’s also been shortlisted for the Kim Scott Walwyn prize, which recognises the professional achievements and promise of women publishers. We interviewed her to find out more.

1)   How did you become a literary agent?

My first job was in the marketing department of HarperCollins: their assistant left 2 weeks into my summer internship (for unrelated reasons – I wasn’t that annoying to work with!) and they offered me her job. I moved to literary agency PFD in 2010 as an assistant. I loved it, and was promoted to agent in 2011. I joined The Agency Group in December as part of their new UK literary division.

2)   What are the best examples of collaboration you’ve seen in publishing?

I think that there have been some fantastic apps and enhanced ebooks developed with a lot of collaboration between author – providing extra research, more information, early drafts etc – and designer/publisher.

3)   What are you most proud of in your career to date?

Any time I sell a book is a massive thrill. I am too greedy to pick just one thing!

4)   What might we expect from your talk at Unplugged?

Insight into the nitty gritty of deal making and publishing – and the initial collaboration between author and agent. Probably a pun or two. I am very punny.

5) What advice would you give to anyone who hasn’t been to this sort of event before?

Be friendly. It’s an industry built on personal relationships so concentrate on being nice and we’ll remember you for the right reasons.