Bookouture hires Ain Chiara to run Publishing Academy and makes three promotions
Bookouture has hired Ain Chiara in the newly created role of Head of Bookouture Publishing Academy, a forthcoming paid online training platform for authors. Chiara worked previously at Oxford University Press and Penguin Connect, where she managed B2B events and client partnerships and, in the last two years, has built a successful business as an independent content creator and publishing consultant. In her new role, she will lead the launch and development of the Publishing Academy, and report to Digital Communications Director Alex Crow.
Bookouture Publishing Academy is one of the key strategic priorities for Bookouture in 2024; it will be a paid, online training platform for authors covering all the elements needed to help turn their manuscripts into bestsellers. Aimed at both debut and previously published authors, the Academy will have a core focus on digital commercial fiction, using the combined expertise of the Bookouture team, authors, and industry-leading voices.
Alex Crow said:
‘I’m so excited to be able to announce both Ain joining the team and the forthcoming launch of Bookouture Publishing Academy. Ain has the perfect ability and experience to head up the Academy and make it the industry-leading training platform for commercial fiction writers. She brings drive, innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit, combined with technical expertise, a keen commercial insight and a proven passion for building author brands. I am looking forward to seeing her vision for the Academy take shape, and creating a high-quality platform to meet the needs of commercial and digital writers who are currently under-served by the existing offerings in the market.’
Ain Chiara said:
‘I’m absolutely thrilled to be stepping into this role and joining the team at Bookouture. When I first heard of the Bookouture Publishing Academy, I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of, so to be given the opportunity to take the lead on the creation and launch of this amazing initiative is beyond exciting. I can’t think of a better team than the one at Bookouture to bring to life an online academy that will demystify the publishing process for authors as well as champion the digital commercial fiction genre as a whole.’
Bookouture has also promoted Kelsie Marsden and Lucy Frederick, currently both Commissioning Editors, to Associate Publisher roles and Levke Kluge, formerly Translations Publishing Executive, to Editor. Kelsie Marsden joined the company as Publishing Executive in 2019 and was promoted to Commissioning Editor in 2021. Her bestselling authors include Verity Bright, Jessica Payne, Emily Shiner and Rose Alexander. Lucy Frederick joined Bookokuture from Avon as Commissioning Editor in 2022 and has since published a number of bestselling hits including Lauren North’s She Says She’s My Daughter and Arianne Richmonde’s The Pre-Nup. Both will also take on staff management roles in addition to their editorial responsibilities. Levke Kluge joined Bookouture in April 2022, working on the Deutschland list, which has seen rapid growth since its launch and will publish 150 titles in 2024.
