#graphix

gateway-2000:

motorbabyfreakz:

Editorial Assistant, Graphix/Scholastic

Books have ruled my life since birth. I can’t remember a time that I wasn’t carrying either a novel or a journal in hand. There’s a picture of me at my sister’s high school graduation, holding Goblet of Fire,which I was re-reading for the millionth time during the ceremony. This image about sums me up.

So when the time came to choose a college major, naturally, I chose biology.

Confused? So was I.

But the reality is that, like many of us who grew up in the farthest, intimate little pockets of the country, growing up in Texas, I hadn’t heard a single thing about the possibility of publishing as a career option. To add to this, I was born to Indian immigrants who’d rather I pursued the straightforward life of a doctor or lawyer.

I got lucky. I had a sister who paved the way (edit: went to war) for me and chose an equally unique career path for herself. So when my time came around, my parents were skeptical, but willing to listen, especially when I didn’t shut up about it for the years to come. Unable to let the possibility of working with books go, and aware that I was about to begin an arduous, and possibly fruitless, journey, I wheedled my way into an internship with a local magazine with a tiny print run, and an office that was crammed with all sorts of strange antiques and Texan memorabilia. I’m forever grateful for that job, because the team had so much faith in me and gave me responsibilities far above my title. The following year, I made the insane choice to take on two unpaid internships in one semester; one at a larger magazine where I was one of many minions, and the second at a tiny indie publishing house.

As graduation neared, I pondered over my next step. Part of me dabbled with the idea of teaching English abroad for a year or two, maybe in Japan or Russia, but without any savings, that idea seemed far-fetched and fantastical. Even more fantastical was the thought that I’d land a coveted job at a publishing house straight out of school. Instead, I spent all of May begging the staff at my local Barnes & Noble for a job, despite the fact that they weren’t hiring at the time. Finally, they yielded. (The manager who hired me told me multiple times that she appreciated how proactive I was about getting a position there.) The four months I spent there were absolutely invaluable.

When September reared its ugly head, I decided that the entire month would be dedicated to job applications. I sat in the public library every day after work and worked until my eyes blurred. After about the 100^th application, I got called in for an interview—at Penguin Random House, in New York City. I was astonished. And beyond excited. I booked a roundtrip flight, a room in Crown Heights, and carefully ironed my suit. I rode the subway during rush hour the morning of, met with HR and the hiring manager, and was out the door and on my way to the airport just a few hours later. On the flight back, I realized that the job just wasn’t a good fit. I had a feeling I wouldn’t be receiving an offer. Just as we were preparing for takeoff, my phone buzzed with an e-mail. The team at Cambridge University Press, also in NYC, wanted to meet me—tomorrow!

Luckily, they were kind enough to conduct a phone interview the next day instead—and I received my offer letter just three hours later, standing behind the register at Barnes & Noble. I’ve never screamed louder or jumped higher in public—and the best part? All of my B&N colleagues were jumping right alongside me.

Since my role at CUP, I’ve worked at Penguin Random House, and am currently at Scholastic, where I have the unbelievable pleasure of working on children’s graphic novels. Truth is, publishing isn’t for the faint of heart, and there are so many barriers in place for those from marginalized backgrounds. My parents still aren’t quite sure what I’m doing, but they’re supportive, and I’m exceedingly privileged to have that support. But if your path feels unconventional and messy, relish it—that’s what makes it yours. And don’t worry, there’s room to falter. Just don’t stray far. The road ahead may seem boundless, but you’ll get there, eventually.

Akshaya Iyer is an Editorial Assistant at Scholastic/Graphix where she works with a stupendous team and incredibly talented creators on the best children’s graphic novels in the industry. (She may be biased.)

She was born in the Midwest, raised in the South, and is now settled in the Northeast where she wonders if she’ll ever get used to the bitter cold.

Graphix ❤

My contribution to the Jem Collab- I went for a blend of her original 80’s design and Sophie Campbell’s version. Hope you all enjoy!