Kirsty Dunseath

We met Kirsty Dunseath, fiction publishing director at Weidenfeld & Nicolson (Orion Books), for lunch at a Spanish restaurant. In fluent Spanish (and a beautiful accent) she told us about her career and her relationship with Spain. Needless to say, what follows is an interview in translation, in tune then with what New Spanish Books is all about.

How did you get in touch with the Spanish language and literature?
I was born in Ireland. At school I studied French and German but I realized I wanted to learn Spanish as well, so I enrolled on an intensive course at St Andrews University in Scotland which took me from Beginners to university level Spanish in a year. I then went on to do a joint degree in Spanish and French. Most of the course was related to literature, and I loved it. As part of my degree I went to Murcia for a year to work as an English teacher. It was a great personal experience, and the perfect opportunity to improve my Spanish.

How did you first start in the publishing industry?
I enrolled on a publishing course at the London College of Printing and Publishing, and then worked in the publicity department at Random House for four months. While I was there a editorial vacancy came up at the Jonathan Cape imprint – I got the job and worked there for almost 4 years. Random House is a big company, and I learnt many, many things, but I was also curious to see what it would be like to work for a smaller, independent firm. An opportunity arose at the Women´s Press, and I worked there as a commissioning editor for just over 3 years. I really enjoyed my time at Women´s Press; I got to discover great authors, but we were too small and lacked the resources to compete with bigger publishing houses. Almost 8 years ago I moved to Orion – first as editorial director of the paperback list Phoenix, then as Publishing Director of fiction at Weidenfeld & Nicolson, the literary imprint of the Orion group. It’s great fun, every single day is different.

What were your first steps at W&N?
When I first entered the company, W&N was already well known for publishing bestsellers and great translations from other languages. I knew I wanted to continue that tradition, in particular, as I knew and liked Spanish language and literature so much.

It seems you struck gold with your first book. What made you publish “The Shadow of the Wind”?
I heard of Carlos Ruiz Zafón´s The Shadow of the Wind through an agent in New York, Thomas Colchie, who knew about my great interest and passion for Spanish literature. I read the book and loved it; I loved it so much that I immediately made an offer. But Colchie knew that there were many publishers after the book so rejected it. My second offer was rejected as well. He wanted an auction. But I had a good ace up my sleeve: I knew the language, I could read and understand the original writing without needing readers’ reports, I could even interact with the translator, fully understanding the nuances of the author´s script, and ensuring that it was transferred to the English version in the best possible way. So with my third attempted pre-emptive bid, I finally convinced Thomas Colchie and bought the rights for the English market. By that time, the book had only been published in Spain, but the sales figures there were enormous!

What makes a good translation?
If you can´t tell that the book is a translation, then the translation is good. It is important to involve the author in the translation process. It is always great to hear his/her opinion, as he/she is the person who best knows the essence of the book and who can help find the most appropriate words to express their ideas in the same way. A translation is always a challenge and an expensive one, so grants are important, but getting the right people to collaborate is crucial. I have to say, Carlos Ruiz Zafón and Lucia Graves, the translator, did a terrific job of working together on the translation of the The Shadow of the Wind.

Is there life post Shadow of the Wind?
Oh yes! The Shadow of the Wind was the first Spanish novel I published at W&N, but soon after other Spanish authors followed. Almudena Grandes and Arturo Pérez Reverte have been a success in the UK as well, and we also publish Enrique de Hériz. He has published two books in Spain so far - the first one Mentira already published in the UK and the second one, Manual de Oscuridad being translated by Frank Wynn to be published during the summer of 2011. He is original and authentic; his writing definitely has something special, a unique personality. And we have, of course, published Carlos’s The Angel’s Game and The Prince of Mist. We also publish the thriller writer Juan Gomez-Jurado whose books have been translated in over 40 languages.

You are used to working with Spanish publishers and literary agents – is there anything you would point out?
Spain has some great professionals. I like their proactive approach; they move around and look for opportunities themselves, they don’t just sit and wait. I would also point out that the energy and strength of Spanish literary culture helps.

So is there a place for agents in a digital age of self publishing?
More so than ever. In a world of information overload, with so many authors and books being published around the world, a good, knowledgeable agent is someone that knows what each publisher is looking for, and makes good recommendations, pointing you in the right direction.

These are challenging times for publishing everywhere, would you agree?
Indeed. There was a common belief that the publishing industry was “recession-proof”, as during economic difficulties people might stop other – more expensive - activities, but reading has always been a comparatively cheap hobby; but this time the UK industry has definitely felt the consequences of the recession. It is a difficult time for all, but especially for small independent publishers and booksellers. As for Spain, the industry is organized in a different way. Small independent publishers coexist with larger publishers to a greater degree than in the UK, where the market is dominated by a few really big players with great negotiating power. Additionally, the Net Price Agreement, in place in Spain (and other European countries) has a well known effect on the entire value chain of the industry.

Now, let’s look into the future. Please tell us, will e-books take over the written world?
As long as the industry finds a way to give the traditional book added value I am sure coexistence is possible. We should look at e-books as an opportunity, not a threat. The industry is undergoing dramatic changes, but we shouldn´t be afraid of that. In my opinion these new devices will encourage reading habits. I personally prefer the traditional paper book when reading for pleasure, but for my job, e-books are certainly convenient. I read a lot and with my e-book I can do it anywhere and anytime.

Can you recommend a good read?
I have just finished Netherlands – never thought I would love a book about cricket - by Joseph O´Neil, and The passage – a thriller - by Justin Cronin. Both highly recommended.

Which are your favorite Spanish cities?
Barcelona and Madrid are full of life. I travel to them often, and while I feel you discover the attraction of Barcelona straightaway, Madrid takes more time, but keeps surprising you every time you go. Murcia has a place in my heart; the people there made me feel welcome from the very first moment, which I really appreciated at that time of my life.

And your favourite Spanish tapa?
I can’t just say one! I love manchego cheese, and a good paella. With a nice glass of Rioja of course.