Eoin Purcell
Why I have so much time
Yesterday I was laid off by Mercier Press. I’m not bitter or angry, sometimes companies have to make decisions that no one likes but that are necessary given the economic climate. It helped that I had commissioned a list for almost the entire year 2010. I will miss many of my co-workers at Mercier.
Honestly, I see this as a great opportunity. I’ve made no firm plans yet so I thought I would put myself out to the market and see what came back. Until I update this post I am available for short-term, medium and long-term work. If you have an offer drop me an e-mail (eoin.purcell AT gmail.com). I’ll consider anything publishing- or writing-related, but I’ll be honest (as my readers know) I’m no copy editor or proofer!
Looking forward to the future,
Eoin
Eoin Purcell's Blog 
The man who put Grandad on the literary map is laid off?? What the hell are they thinking of?
It is their loss, not yours.
Hey Grandad,
Your support is truly welcome!
Eoin
Can we be bitter and resentful on your behalf? You will be snapped up. You are too smart to be allowed to languish and left to your own devices.
Thanks Jane!
Very sorry to hear that Eoin. I’ll certainly keep eyes and ears open for projects in the near term. Big admirer of yours, albeit from afar.
Thanks Don!
And might I add, likewise!
Gutted for you mate. I’ll bet you won’t be on the sideline for long though.
B
Thanks Bob!
Wow–good luck and I hope this turns out to be a great thing for you. My husband was laid off in February; we’re spending the whole summer together in America which we wouldn’t have been able to do if he was working. There are advantages and blessings in everything I suppose.
Can’t wait to hear what you’ll be up to next!
Susan,
There sure are advantages! I’m loving being in one city rather than shuttling back and forward from Dublin to Cork!
Eoin
as a read20 man to another its a glass full not empty and having lived through recreation it can be fun. Send me your CV.
Martyn,
Thanks for that! I’m adding some new details and sprucing it up but I’ll send it on later today or early tomorrow!
Eoin
Its a blessing in disguise, Eoin. Those commutes are a killer. Use to do one daily from Delvin, Westmeath to Dublin.
Go forward…onward and upward.
Thank Mick,
I’m sure glad to be finished with the drive that is for sure! Getting up at 5am on Mondays was never fun!
Eoin
Like you, and many others who’ve left comments here, I do indeed think that being let go from a job (even one you like) can be the jumping off point for an adventure — if you let it! Here’s wishing you good luck in the adventure to come, and much love, Lily
Thanks so much BL!
Sorry to hear your bad news :-(… but what others are saying is certainly true. Being made redundant can have a very positive outcome.
It was the catalyst that finally got me writing full time!
Stay positive, be open to opportunities, and as Lily suggests, embrace the adventure.
Best of luck, and keep us posted!
Thanks Calvin,
I most certainly will keep you posted!
Eoin
I hope this is the start of a whole new adventure – it’s amazing what came emerge from negative things. If my husband hadn’t been made redundant from his job as a university lecturer then we wouldn’t have decided to expand the business and wouldn’t be looking at opening our second bookshop. And the offer of the manager’s job there is still open if you fancy!
Sorry to hear the news and I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment that new opportunities will emerge. You’re not a copy editor or proofer, so if you don’t mind me asking, what is your area of expertise, other than highly informed blogging?
No problem Claire,
Before I joined Mercier, I did everything as part of a small start up but Mercier allowed me to concentrate on the commissioning and author management which was great.
I was a commissioning editor and I’d say a development editor, taking the works through the stages from contract to delivery for editorial and production.
Author management and list development then would be the second string elements, though in terms of time spent these tended to be fairly large chunks of any given day. Aside from that, I love idea and content generation, looking at problems and solving them and turning my mind to more long terms issues, like where the trade is going and how a house can prepare for that shift.
Eoin
I do not know you but heard you speak at a CBI meeting – Mercier Press will be a whole lot poorer without you. Good luck with future projects, of which I am sure there will be many.
Thank you Paula,
I really appreciate you kind words!
Eoin
Without your vision, I wouldn’t have had my book. Very sad, Eoin, but best of luck, and I’m sure we’ll be hearing great things from you in the future. Thanks for your support, and if you go into iphone publishing, let me know! 😉
Thanks Kieran,
I really enjoyed working on the book with you and I know I will get the opportunity again!
Eoin
Oh no, Eoin, so sorry to hear this. How I’d love to set up a new e-press with your expertise!
Thanks Lee!
I certainly hope to put that experience to good use!
I’d like to experiment some with digital and see what happens!
Eoin
I’m so sorry to hear this, Eoin, redundancy is always a shock to the system. But I agree with all the other commenters who suggest this could be an opening into something new and exciting. You have so many skills and talents – it won’t be long before you’re putting them to great use.
Thanks Litlove!
Really do very much appreciate it!
Eoin
Likewise Eoin, sorry to hear that. I did have an idea and sent you an email but often fear the inevitable spam box so just in case you did not get that letting you know here, otherwise no bother.
Neil
Galway Print
Neil,
Yup, spam filter gotcha, I’ll look it over tomorrow and follow up!
Eoin
Ah man, very sorry to hear that…..
Thanks Manuel! Really appreciate that!
Eoin
Eoin–
I wonder how scribd and the other up and coming e-book servers are vetting/selecting work and projects and if they provide services to authors?
Writer’s Relief is in the US and helps writers find places to publish their work for a fee. I wonder if all your experience and connections would place you at the center of this kind of web?
Hi Eoin,
I read your blog and find it very interesting, as you cover so many aspects of publishing I always learn something new. So I was very surprised to hear your news, and am sure you will be posting up some good news soon! Hope to meet you again one day (I met you at Mercier a couple of years ago)
Kind Regards, Eleanor 🙂
Eoin,
My mobile phone was stolen, so I couldn’t contact you. That led to an inordinate gap in contact. I was gob-smacked when I rang Mercier hoping to reach you, and heard the news from MD.
I was in shock during the rest of the conversation, so I’ll have to hope my notes are good enough to follow up on what transpired.
Like so many others, I feel sure you’ll turn this to your advantage. I’ll certainly try to get my head around how I could be useful to you.
Now I’ll have to travel to Dublin to coffee with you. Ring me when it suits you…
Fond best wishes,
Paul
Eoin, is there no justice at all?
What do you hope to do workwise, (in an ideal world?)
Back into publishing or something related , or have you a new course in mind?