In the next instalment of Meet the Team, we meet Zara Thatcher. Zara is the Production Director at Book Brilliance Publishing.
Describe your job in 30-50 words.
I am a freelance proofreader and typesetter. At Book Brilliance Publishing, I ensure your book looks and feels readable and accessible, and free from errors, and make sure your book gets from manuscript to published book seamlessly.
What inspired you to become a proofreader?
I love books! I was that bookworm child who had three to four books on the go at any time, and I am still the same today.
My love of reading has always been a huge part of my life. I have always had a keen eye for spotting typos, even from a young age. I find joy in ensuring that written content is error-free and polished: I get excited when spotting a big error that others have missed!
Why is proofreading important?
Proofreading is crucial as it ensures that written content is free from errors, inconsistencies, and inaccuracies.
A thorough proofreading process helps to maintain the credibility and professionalism of the text, whether it is a business document, academic paper, or creative work.
Typos, grammatical mistakes, and formatting errors can distract the reader from the message being conveyed and may lead to misunderstandings or confusion.
A proofreader is often the last person, with a fresh pair of eyes, to read your book before printing. There is a lot of weight on their shoulders!
If you could proofread a book by any author, who would it be and why?
I would have loved to have proofread the Harry Potter books! To be part of such a big history, as well as something that has inspired so many to read.
What is your favourite book and why?
This is a question I always struggle with; there are too many to choose from. Growing up, I loved Roald Dahl’s books and was always mesmerised by Matilda. I loved Matilda’s love of reading and her magical abilities, and would get lost in the illustrations by Quentin Blake.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the publication of Matilda, Quentin Blake drew images of what Matilda would be doing as an adult: was she an explorer, an astrophysicist, or a librarian at the British Library?
The book was rereleased with these as front cover options. As the book is the same age as me, I had to have one and, of course, chose the librarian cover!