Norma Perez-Hernandez is an insightful assistant editor at Kensington Books, where she helmed the editing of beloved Romance series, the Happy Endings trilogy by Zoey Castile. As an advocate of more People of Color in positions in publishing and a book lover, I wanted to talk to her about her experiences in publishing and the myth of editors being bias-free.
Can you talk a bit about your journey through the publishing industry (how it all started, what made you decide publishing was for you, etc) and what you do as an Assistant Editor?
Like many young book nerds, I thought that if I'd ever have a job that revolved around books then I'd be working in a library or as an author. It never occurred to me that book publishing was a career until my college years, when I enrolled in the Publishing Certificate Program at The City College of New York. Through the program I learned more about the industry, and I also received guidance on my resume and cover letter, as well as opportunities to interview for internships with publishing houses. One of those interviews was with Kensington [Publishing], and the rest as they say is history. As an Assistant Editor, I currently support two editors while managing a list of my own.
How has community helped you in your career and life?
The saying goes that it takes a village to raise a child, and the same can definitely be said for a book and the careers of those who publish them. I wouldn't be where I am today without my personal, publishing, and Latinx communities. My loved ones provide so much support and encouragement in what can be an isolating and uncertain industry. The same can be said for numerous mentors, superiors, and colleagues who have taken me under their wing, who have given me opportunities to grow, who have shared their insights. And the love and excitement I get from my fellow Latinx people continues to fill the well. (Including amazing bloggers like you, Adriana. Thank you!).
What books were you obsessed with as a kid? How about now?
All the girls in dresses books, from Little Women to Anne of Green Gables to the Dear America books. I also devoured Paula Danziger's novels, Nancy Drew throughout the decades she was published, and Lois Lowry's Anastasia Krupnik series. And of course, I can't forget the spooky or the fantastic: I read and re-read Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, all the Goosebumps books my library carried, Andrew Lang's Fairy Books, John Bellairs novels, short stories by Edgar Allan Poe, and The Secret of Platform 13. (And Harry Potter. Of course there was Harry Potter.)
Now, I have so many favorites. My latest is SILVER IN THE WOOD by Emily Tesh. Love found in an enchanted wood, what is there not to love?
You have free reins to collab with another Latinx creative and they’re free and on board as well, who are you picking and what are you making?
I want to read a contemporary romance manuscript by Claribel Ortega. ;)
How does your identity affect your work?
It's interesting to approach this question as an editor. Editors are often seen as bias free arbiters of good writing and good storytelling. Unfortunately, the publishing industry doesn't always reflect that. The closer an editor fits to a white, cis, masculine, heterosexual, and wealthy identity, then the more often that editor is thought not to have biases. (I have seen and heard many stories about editors of color pushing to have projects by and about marginalized people get stonewalled at acquisitions, only to have their white colleagues making similar acquisitions with ease.) So in some ways, I resist my identity playing a role into my editorial process. I read the same books as my white colleagues growing up, learned the same grammar rules and proofreading marks, and know all the same elements to what makes a great story. My editorial eye is excellent because it is, period.
At the same time however, I am proud of my identity, and it does inform elements of my work. I am a woman and a feminist, so the novels I edit feature female protagonists who are well-rounded, complex, and active characters with specific points of view. I am Latinx and a woman of color, so my eyes do light up when I see an agent submitting a manuscript by an author who shares and articulates those experiences. To be able to champion these voices is an honor and a privilege.
Shoutout a Latinx writer or creator whom you admire!
Love Silvana Reyes Lopez!!! Her constant love and support for romances, especially those written by people of color, is exciting and infectious. Thank you for all the joy you bring to the community.
Anything else you'd like to share, perhaps a project, or something people should know about?
The latest romance I edited is by Latinx author Zoey Castile and is the best Magic Mike-inspired Beauty and the Beast retelling you'll ever read. It's called FLASHED and it’s out now!
Norma Perez-Hernandez
Norma Perez-Hernandez is an assistant editor at Kensington Publishing Corp. She has worked on a variety of projects, including fiction, romance, mysteries, thrillers, and non-fiction. A New York City native, Norma studied English literature at the Macaulay Honors College at The City College of New York and is a graduate of the Publishing Certificate Program at City College. She is thrilled to build a list with diverse authors and books. Find her on Twitter at