July 2020
As sent to Sydnee Monday
Why book publishing?
I never imagined I would be working in book publishing. I actually worked as a copywriter in the Pharmaceutical Marketing industry for about three years after I graduated from college. I knew I wasn’t passionate about medicines or marketing, so I decided to leave and try my hand at teaching. I’ve always enjoyed interacting with kids, and I wanted to find a way to help them and bring them joy. Even though I quickly realized that being in the front of a classroom wasn’t a good fit for me, I‘d gotten one step closer to working in a field that I liked. After much thought, several editing courses, and three internships, I worked my way into a career in children’s publishing, and I couldn’t be happier. This path allows me to combine my love of kids with my skill for crafting a good story. I’m especially excited that I get to publish books for diverse readers because I want to give them more chances to have their stories reflected on the page.
Advice to POC assistants just starting out?
I know most people have heard this response before, but that’s because it’s so important. ASK QUESTIONS!! No one expects assistants to start this job having all the knowledge in the world, so get as much clarity as you can! This is the perfect time to do it. Also, POC assistants can bring different perspectives that are lacking from conversations. Your questions could end up benefiting everyone and not just you. My second piece of advice is to find your person or people! The best way to do this is to go to events held by groups like POC in Publishing and/or join an Employee Resource Group for people of color, if your company has one. It might take time, but I promise that you’ll meet at least one other person in this industry who just “gets it." You’ll be able to uplift, vent to, and laugh with one another. And these folks will hopefully be there throughout your career.
How can people in power be better allies to junior level POC publishing employees?
No one can deny that the publishing industry hasn’t always been this diverse. I’m proud of the steps that have been taken to hire more POC editors and designers and POC on marketing and publicity teams. But it’s not enough to simply be a part of the staff. I want our opinions to be listened to and not just “heard.” Senior-level staffers can follow these three steps if they want to be allies.
1) Create spaces where junior-level employees, especially employees of color, feel comfortable speaking up about their opinions and concerns
2) Try as hard as you can to implement changes
3) Follow up with junior-level POC employees!
It’s unlikely that the system will change overnight, but I want—and what I think most POC publishing employees want—is to feel that my voice and presence are truly valued.
Most challenging part about being an assistant editor and hacks you've found to be helpful?
Once I became an assistant editor, I was excited to start acquiring books of my own and sharing my interests with agents. But I quickly realized that balancing my workload with my new goals was going to be a lot more difficult than I imagined. One thing that’s helped is keeping two different to-do lists. One has everything I need to tackle for my supervisor and for my own internal projects. The other has tasks related to reading submissions and reaching out to agents. I create a deadline for each item on these lists, and that helps me stay focused.
Enda’s Booktique is an independent bookstore located in Duncanville (Dallas), Texas, founded by Enda Jean Pemberton Jones, an African American educator and chaplain. She comes from a legacy of educators, activists, and ministers. Her mother is a community activist. Her father was an educator and minister, and her grandfather was a minister. Also, a prominent member of her family, H.B. Pemberton, was the founder of the first black high school in Marshall, Texas.
Enda’s Booktique is part of E. Jean’s mission to connect women and families in her community to resources of equitable and quality education and literacy programs. The mission is accomplished through the bookstore’s collection of books which are written by women, about women, and for women. Their bookstore hosts community, author, and special events, as well as literacy, reading, tutoring programs, and GED prep programs. They celebrate and support independent literacy and STEM projects from women of color and from women of diverse cultures and heritage.
Location: 428 N. Main Street, Duncanville, TX 75116
Website: https://endasbooktique.com/
July 16 @ 7 PM
Sameer Pandya with Marcy Dermansky
Join author Sameer Pandya for a discussion of his book Members Only. Sameer will be in conversation with Marcy Dermansky. The event will take place on Zoom and be live-streamed on The Strand's Facebook Page.
July 18-19
The Harlem Book Fair is the United State’s largest African-American book fair and the nation’s flagship Black literary event. Held annually in Harlem, NY, the Harlem Book Fair features exhibition booths, panel discussions, book sales, and workshops.
Notable participating authors have included Maya Angelou, Cornel West, Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka, Walter Mosley, Terry McMillan, Touré, Farai Chideya, Stanley Crouch, Nelson George, and Mark Anthony Neal.
July 28 @ 7:30 PM
CBE presents "The Book of Rosy," with Rosayra Pablo Cruz and Julie Schwietert Collazo
Rosayra Pablo Cruz and Julie Schwietert Collazo join us to present "The Book of Rosy," co-hosted by Congregation Beth Elohim. This program will take place on Zoom.