What drew you to editing commercial fiction?
I was a commercial fiction reader long before I even knew that editing them could be a career choice. So you can imagine my delight when I made that discovery!
Why do you think commercial fiction does so well, and what can writers learn from studying it?
I think that commercial fiction authors are some of the most talented, imaginative writers working today. When you have to work within expected frameworks, it takes a lot of skill to make a story feel fresh. I also think that commercial authors know their audience very, very well, and that gives them an advantage.
What is the best piece of genre fiction you’ve read recently?
Oh, I can’t pick just one. I really loved Feast While You Can by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta, which had the most satisfying twist. I’ve just finished Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma, which is a fantastic example of morally ambiguous characterisation. And I really enjoyed An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister, which navigated a contemporary twist on a marriage of convenience story in a really lovely way.
What is the key difference between commercial and literary fiction?
I love this quote from Rosemary Clement-Moore, and it answers this question better than I ever could: “Good writing is good writing. In many ways, it’s the audience and their expectations that define a genre. A reader of literary fiction expects the writing to illuminate the human condition, some aspect of our world and our role in it. A reader of genre fiction likes that, too, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of the story.”
Dr Kate Cuthbert is the Publishing Director at Books+Publishing, Australia’s news and information website for the book sector. Previously, she held senior roles at Pantera Press, Writers Victoria and launched the Escape Publishing brand at Harlequin Australia. A genre fiction advocate and enthusiast, she completed a PhD proposing research methodologies for the examination of book covers and book titles. She is also a co-host on the popular podcast What Would Danbury Do?s.
Join Kate Cuthbert for her course, Online: Tools and Tricks from Commercial Fiction, Wednesday 8 to Tuesday 14 October 2025, online.
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