Why did you decide to work in publishing? Why Publicity?
As a daughter of two Chinese immigrants, I read books copiously in my youth, as the key to understanding my acquired culture versus my parents’ origin culture. I thought, if books could change my life, I could be part of that journey for someone else. This has been my answer for the last 10 years and has remained unchanged from my very first cover letters.
While I knew I wanted to work in kidlit on the marketing side, I sort of fell into publicity by accident. Over the years have realized it’s quite a good fit for my skillset, which includes communication, problem-solving, and adaptability. I treasure working with authors and finding the best ways to introduce their books to readers.
What are some of the challenges of working with media?
As with almost everything in the United States, the challenge of working with media is unregulated capitalism and by association, white supremacy. Mainstream entertainment media will never lead the charge on progressive causes until it’s profitable; consumer goods and mass culture are ultimately reflections of the society we live in. It’s only when enough people show interest in and passion for diverse books, authors, and stories (and are willing to put money behind them) that you start to see coverage. In publicity, you can’t have a reckoning in book publishing without having a reckoning in media—including the demand to hire and retain PoC journalists, reporters, and reviewers—which we’ve seen plenty of examples of in recent months.
Do you have any advice for anyone just starting out?
Publishing has historically been an opaque industry, and I’m happy to see the conversation evolving to be more open. My advice is to research, talk to as many people as you can, and ask smart questions. You’ll find that many folks are more than willing to engage and share information, and you’ll be better prepared for what to expect. If you’re ever wondering if you should or shouldn’t do something, just ask yourself if a white man would do it, and go from there.
How do you think managers can be better advocates for retaining people of color?
I have both had white managers and managers of color, and I have been hurt more deeply by PoC managers. So my advice might be a little different, now that I am a manager myself.
a) Foster an environment of psychological safety. Everyone, but especially people of color, should be comfortable voicing their ideas and opinions no matter their title or years of experience. Have an awareness of what you don’t know, and take time to explain context or answer questions. This is part of your job.
b) Be transparent. Differentiate your own desires/preferences from the corporate line. They will often be oppositional; acknowledge when things aren’t just and communicate clearly what steps you’ve taken that are in your control. To not do this is to be complicit in the damaging atmosphere that causes so many PoC to leave the industry.
c) Reward high performance. Don’t put the burden of career advancement on junior staff; if they’re doing a great job, don’t just tell them, but advocate for their promotion. If you cannot, help them find another position that can pay them what they’re worth.
Do you have any advice on how to keep our spirits up during these times?
This advice is for people who have safe shelter and their own personal health: Find something that relaxes, inspires, or energizes you—and do it. If you can carve out the time, do more of it. Know this activity (or sometimes lack of activity) can change from day to day. And don’t feel guilty or bad about it—do it unapologetically. What’s working for me lately is watching Asian dramas, cuddling with my dog, reading romance novels, and having occasional virtual meet-ups with friends to strategize tearing down the white cisgendered heteropatriarchy.
Finally, eat food that nourishes you and get enough sleep. You need proper rest if you’re going to go back into battle.
Faye Bi is a Director of Publicity at Bloomsbury Children's Books. In her spare time, she also volunteers for Sirens, a literary conference dedicated to fantasy works by women, nonbinary, and trans authors. She's yet to read an immigrant book she hasn't cried over, and is equally happy in walkable cities and sprawling natural vistas. You can follow her on Twitter @faye_bi.
Mil Mundos Books is more than just a bookstore. María Herron opened the community space in Bushwick to serve a neighborhood facing gentrification. Mil Mundos is currently the only bookstore in Bushwick east of Myrtle Ave with nearly 50% of its titles available in Spanish. Herron describes the store on its website as "a space where two people can talk excitedly in any language without being told to keep the volume down; where culture is celebrated and held close." The store's staff is entirely volunteer based and bilingual and even offers highly affordable Spanish language classes and workshops. The store is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12-4pm and on Saturday 12-6pm.
DESIblitz Online Literature Festival - In Conversation with Samit Basu
Join novelist and screenwriter Samit Basu for author readings and a live Q&A about his hugely successful writing career. Register here.
September 28 – October 5
Brooklyn Book Fest
Join us for the 2020 Virtual Brooklyn Book Festival as we celebrate our 15th anniversary of presenting free literary programming! This fall an array of national and international literary stars and emerging authors will participate as part of our Virtual Festival. Learn more at brooklynbookfestival.org/
October 17 - 18
FIYAHCON
The convention will center Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in SFF publishing and feature a cadre of special guests. Guests of honor include New York Times bestselling and Nebula, Hugo and Locus Award-winning author Rebecca Roanhorse; Yasser Bahjatt, former WorldCon bid chair for Saudi Arabia and author of Yaqteenya: The New World; and Sir Julius Vogel Award-winning editor and author Cassie Hart.
Additional guests at the event will include Shiv Ramdas, R.F. Kuang and L.L. McKinny to name only a few. The event's formal programming schedule will include workshops, office hours with industry professionals, and panels as well as community space where folks can write together as well as learn unique skills.
FIYAHCON is also excited to announce the inaugural IGNYTE Awards which seek to celebrate the unique and vibrant voices that often get lost in the historically hallowed awards ceremonies. The goal is to recognize the voices in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror that are telling unique stories and seeing inclusivity in the genre. The finalists will be announced August 17th and voting will be opened to the community through September 11th. Winners will be announced the weekend of the convention. FIYAHCON is in the process of raising funds to provide both finalists and winners with special trophies. You can help provide funds here.
Tickets for the convention are selling out quickly and can be purchased here.
