It’s 5.30pm and I’ve probably only spent about one hour at my desk today – just long enough to have a quick scroll-down and speed-read of my always-bulging inbox, post our Today’s Pick (did you see? Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, By Jamie Ford has been shortlisted for the Book of the Year by Newbooks Magazine – vote for it here!), take a few orders from customers wanting to buy Bobby’s Girl, A Parliament of Spies and Deception in the Cotswolds and gobble down some sushi whilst responding to some urgent requests (using chopsticks whilst you type is a true talent).

The rest of the day was spent in meetings. First was a very productive meeting with author Ruth Dudley Edwards as we gear up to the launch of her riotously funny and hugely controversial crime satire Killing the Emperors. Which was then followed by back-to-back interviews as Lesley and I met with a string of wonderful candidates who applied for our Publishing Assistant role. And this interview business isn’t an easy feat! We’ve certainly seen brilliant candidates so far (if only we could hire them all!) and I think I can vouch for the both of us when I say that Lesley and I are knackered!

So, finally am back at my desk after a manic day of meetings, but we’ve more interviews to go through tomorrow morning. So yes, as I sit here tying up a few things, I do think this calls for an appropriate soundtrack to keep me going.

Chiara Priorelli, Publicity & Online Marketing Manager