Page Two recently welcomed a new team member: sales administrator Sarra Francis! Sarra is a seasoned publishing professional who has previously held roles at Cooke McDermid, Profile Books, and Little, Brown and Orion. She will be managing our metadata, coordinating materials with our sales and distribution partners, processing book sales, and monitoring our inventory levels.
Read on to learn more about Sarra and her new role.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your professional background?
After graduating from university with a bachelor of music, I had hopes of becoming a musicologist. While I dithered on whether to return to a master’s degree right away, I became a bookseller at Foyles and found my passion in selling books. Curious to see how the other half in publishing lived, I reached out to the brilliant editor Hannah Westland at Serpent’s Tail and asked if I could shadow her for a day. That then led to me joining Profile Books as an intern and subsequently staying on as their sales assistant. It all took off from there!
What excites you the most about your new role as Page Two’s sales administrator?
I’m excited to tackle the variety of tasks my role has to offer, from managing metadata and the bulk sales program to working collaboratively with the Page Two team, our translation partner, and our authors.
What book are you most likely to recommend to someone?
Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby, Jr. I came across a copy in my local bookshop’s bargain bin when I was 14 (far too young) and have returned to it frequently ever since. Brutal, evocative, eloquent, and terrifying—definitely worth a read.
What is your favorite place in the world?
Berlin! Followed by my hometown, London.
How do you like to unwind after a hard day’s work?
Recently I’ve been unwinding by watching highlights from the French Open, followed by dinner and an evening stroll. I also enjoy playing football, going to the cinema, and listening to music.