An Interview with Charlotte Prout, our Rep in Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar

Boydell is proud to have our list handled by teams of expert representatives around the world. They know exactly where to show our new publications and we know they do our books and our authors a great service. Let’s learn a little more about them and their work…

Introducing: Charlotte Prout

Where are you based and which territories do you cover?
I am based in a small village, near the mountains, 50km north of Madrid. I cover Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar.

How did you get into repping?

My father started repping over 30 years ago, so I have grown up surrounded by books. Ten years ago, my father offered me to join him, learn the business and take over when he retired seven years ago.

And how long have you been looking after the Boydell list?

I am proud to say that I have been working with Boydell ever since I joined my father and he had already been looking after Boydell since 1996.

Who are your main clients?

My main customers are library suppliers and academic bookshops.

Before the Coronavirus, how often and how widely did you travel? Is there such a thing as an average day for you?

I would normally visit all Madrid customers 4 times a year, Barcelona accounts 3 times a year, Lisbon and Oporto twice a year. Other customers, in other areas, are visited when possible. Aside from travel, an average day in the office consists of answering customer and publisher emails, processing sales materials and data into my database, posting on social media, keeping my website up to date and preparing and sending print and digital mailings and bulletins.

Do you have a favourite city to work in?
I am very fortunate because all the cities I visit have their own character, great food and friendly people. I’m afraid it is impossible for me to choose one.

What’s the most unusual thing you’ve encountered in your work?

I have the opportunity to visit in Oporto what is considered by many to be the most beautiful bookshop in the world and perhaps the only one to charge for entrance.

Boydell volumes aside, which is your favourite book or author?

For light reading, I enjoy fantasy and historical novels and one of my favourite authors is Patrick Rothfuss.

Print or ebook?

Print.

Favourite historical figure?

One of my favourite historical periods is Ancient Egypt and one of my favourite figures is the second historically confirmed female pharaoh, Hatshepsut. I have been fortunate enough to visit her mortuary temple complex at Deir el-Bahri.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

I would be honoured if Alicia Silverstone were to play me in the film of my life as I not only admire her work, but also identify with her fight for animal rights.

What’s top of your 2021 to-do list?

On the work front, I am looking forward to resuming travel and completing the software project that will make my database ONIX compliant. On a personal level, visiting my brother, nephew and nieces in the UK and going to all the concerts that were cancelled in 2020.  

Thank you for taking part!

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