The BookMachine Podcast: Commissioning non-fiction illustrated titles to brief with Charles Catton

From Fairies to Falconry: Commissioning non-fiction illustrated titles to brief with Charles Catton, Editorial Director at Amber Books

It is a truth universally acknowledged that commissioning editors receive submissions and work with authors and agents to finesse an existing manuscript. But there’s another way. Independent publisher of adult non-fiction illustrated titles, Amber Books, has spent years developing their own content, commissioning authors to a brief and developing a wide range of projects that span topics and categories.

In this episode, we speak with Amber Books’ Editorial Director, Charles Catton, about how they successfully create standout titles with this unique approach to illustrated projects. We also touch on how Charles’ role has developed over the years, the journey behind finding the right author for each project, and the behind-the-scenes from an indie publishing perspective.

Show notes

About Charles

Charles Catton is Editorial Director at Amber Books Ltd, an independent London-based publisher that specialises in creating illustrated non-fiction books with a focus on titles that will appeal to a broad international audience. Recent and upcoming titles include History of the World, Hagakure Illustrated, Fairies, Encyclopedia of Warfare, Amazing Gardens and Falconry. Charles is responsible for all things concerning editorial, design, pre-press and digital at Amber, and is also involved with marketing, sales, rights, production and general operations.

About The BookMachine Podcast

The BookMachine Podcast: Conversations in Publishing shines a light on the unsung heroes of the publishing industry, sharing the career journeys of inspiring people across all departments – from production and marketing, to design, AI, Bookfluencers and more.