Meet Claire Dupuis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Dupuis.

Hi Claire, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Before moving to the United States in July 2012, Claire graduated from the French University of Sorbonne Nouvelle with a Bachelor’s in French Modern Literature and languages. While at University, she studied under Cécile Ladjali, a well-known French author of more than 30 books published by Actes Sud. Cécile then inspired Claire to begin her writing journey and work in the publishing industry. As a mother of four children, she now lives in the small town of West Point, Virginia, where she enjoys spending time along the riverbanks and looking at the Victorian-style houses. If she is not reading or writing, Claire loves traveling and photography. She has been part of the Brandylane Publishers’ team since June 2023, when she joined as an editor and project manager; she recently took on the position of book publicist. You Have a Talent is her first children’s book.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The publishing industry is highly competitive, and whether you’re aiming to break in as a publishing professional or as an author, the journey can be long and require patience and perseverance. But it all takes one yes. And we don’t always realize how true this is. Mr. Pruett, the publisher of Brandylane Publishers, is the one who gave me the chance to first become an editor & project manager. Then he made me an author, and finally Brandylane’s in-house publicist. I believe that we are the sum of the people that God puts in our lives to build us and make us who we are. When I came to the US, I knocked on a lot of publishing doors and got rejected so many times. But this man opened his and gave me the chance to start my career in publishing, and I am loving every part of it…

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As an editor and project manager, I have worked with 1 or 2 authors simultaneously, from the reception of their manuscript through the print and digital release of their book. I edit and proofread each manuscript while guiding authors through the illustration, design, and printing processes. I serve as a liaison across all stages of production, track editorial and production schedules, and write title summaries and promotional copy. I have edited and proofread children’s books, one poetry book, and I am currently managing a memoir. As a book publicist and PR manager, I plan and manage the publisher’s social media and events calendar, create and post content for new releases and frontlist titles, engage with followers, and ensure the website and Google Calendar are up to date. I advertise the books and distribute review copies to major reviewers, including Kirkus Reviews, The New York Times, and Publishers Weekly. I respond to emails, write and design the monthly newsletter, and organize online marketing meetings with new authors. I also assist authors in building their websites and scheduling author events by reaching out to and establishing relationships with book reviewers, influencers, and bookstores in Richmond and the surrounding areas.
I really love working alongside authors and seeing their stories progressively coming to life and reaching out to their audiences. I think there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing an author you’ve worked with standing in front of his audience, with his book in hand, proudly talking about his message to his readership.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
First, you have to be honest and trustworthy. When someone trusts you with their manuscript, you better not break that trust because this is something very precious. Their manuscript is their message to the world; it’s a part of them and of who they are. In other words, an editor or a publisher doesn’t deal only with pieces of papers and writings. It’s literally people’s lives. So, once we commit ourselves to bringing their message out to the world, we first have to stay faithful to the message, and secondly, keep working on it until the release of the finished book. And the publishing process is a long process.
Two other qualities that go hand in hand are patience and compassion. Whenever you have to work with people, and especially authors (authors are sometimes complicated creatures…), well, you have to have patience because we’re all imperfect, and we all go through ups and downs. And once you start a publishing journey with an author, you’re stuck with that person for at least a year! I am also mentioning the word “compassion” because, as I said, we’re dealing with lives expressed through writing. To be a good editor and author advocate. you need to understand (and sometimes feel) what the author has been through, and which feelings or realities he or she is trying to express in their book. And we cannot do that with a hard and closed heart. We need compassion for the person we are working for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.brandylanepublishers.com/product/you-have-a-talent/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auroreclaire.ateba
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/auroredupuis/