Interviewing a small-press editor is one of the most rewarding things I do. These are the people who read obsessively in the margins, who argue for manuscripts that larger houses overlook, who shepherd difficult books into the world with limited budgets and enormous care. The trick is getting them to move beyond the rehearsed publicity lines ("it's a timely book about identity") and into the stories that reveal why they fell in love with a voice, what they risked to publish it, and what they think readers are missing. Here are the approaches that have worked for me—practical, a little tactical, and always conversational.
Do your homework, but not like a journalist with a checklist
I always read at least one book the editor has worked on and a recent interview or piece they’ve written. That allows me to ask specific, layered questions instead of generic ones. But I try not to arrive with a rigid checklist. Small-press editors juggle so many responsibilities that a flexible, curious conversation gets far richer answers.
- Read a book they edited: Even if you don’t finish it, come with a passage or a structural choice you want them to explain.
- Skim their site and catalogue: Note patterns in the authors they champion—geography, experimental forms, themes.
- Look beyond press releases: their social media or blog often contains candid observations you can follow up on.
Set the frame early: why this conversation matters
I open by telling them why I’m interested in talking to them specifically—not just their latest title. That might be a line I loved, a recurring concern in their list, or an editorial decision that seemed brave. When they know the conversation will explore craft, curation, or process (not only publicity), they relax and show you the inner mechanics of their work.
Ask for stories, not summaries
Editors love process. If you want to get past warmed-over blurbs, anchor questions to a story:
- "Tell me about the moment you first read this manuscript. What made you keep reading?"
- "Was there a moment where you had to convince others to take the risk? Walk me through that conversation."
- "Can you describe a concrete edit that changed the book—maybe something that would surprise a reader?"
These prompts invite narrative answers: a specific scene, a meeting, a revision that reveals their taste and their work ethic.
Pay attention to constraints—they reveal values
Small presses make choices under pressure: budgets, distribution deals, limited print runs. Asking about constraints isn't an invitation to moan about troubles—it’s a way to learn what matters to them.
- Logistics question: "How did budget or print run shape your editorial and design decisions?"
- Ethics question: "Were there accessibility or translation choices you prioritised despite cost?"
- Impact question: "What risk did you take that you think changed the book's reception?"
Their answers show priorities—whether they privilege experimental form, cultural representation, or pushing a marketing envelope—and give you material readers rarely see.
Get specific about discovery
One of the most illuminating lines of questioning is about discovery: how the manuscript arrived and why it surfaced when it did. Editors will talk about slush piles, author referrals, festivals, or simply reading a draft on a rainy day.
- "Where do your favourite discoveries come from—submissions, recommendations, or your own reading habit?"
- "Can you name a writer you passed on and later regretted, or one you championed that surprised you?"
These recollections show an editor’s network and how they cultivate talent, which is often more interesting than any sales figure.
Invite concrete recommendations (and a reading list)
Readers come to small-press interviews for new reading routes. I always ask for three immediate things: an overlooked book from their list, an author they think deserves more attention, and a recent submission that excited them even if it wasn’t published.
- Shortlist prompt: "Give me one book from your list that surprised you and one that you think is still underdiscovered."
- Future watch: "Who is a new voice you wish more people were talking about?"
These recommendations are gold for readers and reflect the editor’s curatorial instincts rather than marketing copy.
Avoid surface publicity prompts
Don’t lead with "what makes this book timely?" or "how will you market this?" Those are important but invite rehearsed soundbites. Instead, shift to deeper, open-ended questions:
- "What, in your experience, are readers likely to take away from this book in five years? Noon?"
- "Which errors or surprises in publishing this book taught you something you now do differently?"
Those ask for reflective answers rather than taglines.
Respect their time—and their confidentiality
Small presses run lean. Offer an agenda, an approximate length, and ask if any parts of the conversation need to stay off the record. I always ask: "Is there anything you prefer I don’t quote directly?" That builds trust and often yields richer off-the-record context.
Use audio wisely and offer a transcript
If you’re recording, ask permission and explain how you’ll use the recording. Many editors appreciate a transcript—they’re often as time-poor as you are. I tell interviewees I’ll send a draft and ask for corrections rather than blanket approval; small presses rarely have legal teams to negotiate copy changes, but they do value accuracy.
Ask what journalists never ask (but should)
I like to end with a question editors rarely get but often want to answer: "What's a misconception about small presses you'd like to correct?" or "What are the everyday joys that keep you working at this scale?" Those prompts produce candidness—the kind of material that shows the human labour behind publishing.
Follow-up in ways that actually help
After the interview, I send a thank-you note, links to where the piece will appear, and concrete ways to support the book: event listings, bookstore stockists, or a shareable image. If I can, I tag indie booksellers (Waterstones’ local indies, Bookshop.org UK affiliates, or local independent shops) and the publisher's social accounts—small amplification matters.
Finally, I offer a short blurb or pullquote they can use if they want. Editors are busy; offering them an asset is a small kindness that helps both of us and increases the chances the book reaches the readers it needs.
Interviewing a small-press editor well is not about exposing trade secrets. It’s about listening for the specific choices, constraints and joys that shaped a book—and then translating those into a story readers can follow into the bookshop. When you approach a conversation as a chance to map an editor’s taste and the routes they’ve opened, you’ll find the overlooked voices they care for reveal themselves—often with surprising tenderness and conviction.