5 Questions with Emily Goldthorpe

Emily Goldthorpe, Folly’s Managing Editor, takes us through her past in art and publishing and what she has in mind for Folly’s future.

After completing your PhD in art history and theory, what made you enter the publishing field?

Beyond loving the writing (and editing) aspect of doing a PhD, I also had the opportunity to work as a research assistant on a few books by other academics - and realised that I really liked engaging with people's research and the things they deep-dive into. Working in publishing, you get to be involved with all sorts of subjects - from the ecological importance of New Zealand wetlands to the interiors of some of the most beautiful and lavish houses in Aotearoa.

We are so pleased to have you on the Folly team. As Managing Editor, what does your work entail, and what is your favourite aspect of it?

My job is to take the journal from the submissions stage through to sending it to the printer. It's a mix of project management, editorial work and filling in any holes that inevitably appear throughout production. While I love editing - and working with all our talented authors - I think my favourite part has to be seeing the first proofs and getting a sense of what the finished journal will look like.

You previously worked at an independent publishing house. Why support independent publishers over larger, longer established ones?

All publishing in Aotearoa is important - we're all part of a small but high-performing ecosystem - but indie publishers here produce top-quality, award-winning books on budgets that are often a lot smaller than what we'd like. They also work to ensure that a diverse array of voices are being published that reflect what is going on here - there's an immediacy to that.

When submissions for 002 roll in, what kinds of writing/art are you looking for?

Something that conveys the beautiful messiness of our intimate lives. Funny, a bit sexy but not too knowing - I like it when authors can engage with intimacy, physical or emotional, without necessarily feeling the need to add some sort of literary wink at the end. Although that can be fun, too.

You joined the Folly team just prior to the release of Issue 1. Building on Issue 1, what do you hope to achieve with Issue 2? 

Yikes, it's a hard thing to ask given the success of the first issue! For me, keeping that feeling of freshness going is the foremost priority. It seemed as though Folly caught readers by surprise last year and I hope we can do that again with the second issue.