Where did your love of books originate?
My dad is a children’s book author, and he worked at Walker Books when I was little, so I grew up surrounded by books, and I fell in love with reading from an early age.
Do you have a favourite genre?
My favourite genres are historical fiction and literary fiction, although I read everything from sci-fi to military history.
Have you any desire to write a novel?
Yes, I have a few ideas and I hope to write something myself eventually.
What was your route into the publishing industry?
I was quite lucky – the first internship I undertook landed me a job! After completing my MA in contemporary literature, I applied to a few internships and a was taken on for a month with Endeavour Press. Straight after that I began working with them full-time as a publishing assistant, and now I act as Publishing Director.
How has Endeavour Press evolved in the time since it first took up the challenge of becoming the UK’s leading independent publisher?
Endeavour Press has evolved enormously since I first started work with them in January 2013. Back then we were publishing around 15 books month, and we only had about fifty authors on our books. Now we have five new imprints (Endeavour Press Germany, Venture Press, Pioneering Press, Albion Press and Endeavour Press Creative) and in total we publish 30 books a week, and we have a list of over 500 authors.
Could you tell us about the History Festival and what has been planned?
The virtual history festival we have set up will run from the 18-22 April. We have 50 authors signed up, some from Endeavour Press, and some from other publishing houses, and we will be running various online events, mainly on Twitter and Goodreads. They will include competitions, author interviews, reader Q&As, cover reveals and exclusive extracts from upcoming novels.
What is next for Amy and Endeavour Press?
The great thing about Endeavour Press is you never know what is around the corner! We are in talks about launching more imprints this year, and we are always scouting for new authors to work with. I have also just started a part-time PhD on English women’s writing in the seventeenth century, so hopefully I will be able to find some interesting forgotten texts to add to our classic books imprint.
valerie holmes, author 
That is a very interesting interview Val and we know a little bit more about the Festival now as well as our editor in chief. It will be a step in the right direction if some printed books can be added to the digital publications for those who still resist the digital readers.
Hey Valerie.
Just for fun, this holiday I’ve started doing some creative writing. I’ve been sharing my ideas on my own blog (https://settlingdustbook.wordpress.com/) and eventually I might finish and make it into my own little book (I won’t publish it). I don’t know whether I’ll finish it, but being the accomplished and talanted writer that you are I would love it if you could read the first two or three short chapters (on my blog) and tell me what you think. I’d love to become a writer when I’m older and your advice would be a huge help to make me improve.
Thanks for your time,
Bertie 🙂
Hi Bertie
I apologise for not anwering you sooner. I read the first three chapters of your story and enjoyed the way you have created the feel of the walk, described the imagery and the relationships. You certainly have a confident voice that shows your love of story telling. I would suggest that you show the impact that findng a collapsed father would have on your protagonist’s thinking and also how quickly it is decided that he is dead. Perhaps calling for help would be one of his first actions.
Keep going, you obviously love writing and it shows. Good luck 🙂
Hi Val. This is an interesting interview, which gives an insight into the workings of Endeavour Press, with whom you have published quite a number of books. I always look for your familiar name among their publications.
Thank you, Jan. It is lovely of you to let me know. Do you have a favourite?