Shelly Romero may be an Editorial Assistant at Scholastic (aka the biggest Goal in kidlit), but she also helps with the organization of the Bronx Book Festival, spends a lot of time at cool concerts, and is pretty much the goth Latina prima you wish you could have. She’s incredibly driven and passionate about making space for Latinx in the publishing industry, and we spoke about the path she had into becoming an Editorial Assistant.
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 Editorial Assistant?
I knew from my sophomore year of college that I wanted to work in publishing. That was the same year that I joined Harbinger, Stephens’s literary magazine. I just ended up realizing that I loved editorial work. And I’ve always been a reader. My mom’s the same way. So for me, publishing was just the perfect fit for me and I knew that I wanted to end up in New York City anyway I could. I was already an English major, but I ended up taking classes in communications, design, and marketing to help round out my skills. And then I applied and got accepted into the NYU Summer Publishing Institute. I graduated in May of 2017 and then moved a month after to the city. It was three weeks after finishing the program that I got my job offer. And the rest is history!
So what do I do as an editorial assistant? The real question should be what don’t I do? But in all seriousness, my job boils down to assisting an executive editor and a senior editor in Scholastic’s Trade Editorial team. My job is a good balance of administrative tasks like data-entry, mailings, going to meetings, etc. and the more creative tasks like drafting cover copy, creating cover and interior art concepts, title brainstorms, etc. I also read agented submissions and edit manuscripts for both them and myself. I’m just starting to build my own list which is really exciting, but a lot of work. It’s all part of the process of becoming an editor in my own right and this job is very much an apprenticeship.
How has community helped you in your career and life?
Community is everything to me. I wouldn’t be who I am without the community I grew up in. Likewise for my career. Having a community and support system as professional of color is vital and I have been really grateful to have had many mentors in life and in this industry. Many people have sent the elevator back down or just have listened to me when I’ve felt too overwhelmed. And I hope to be that person for someone else, but we all need it, especially to deal harder aspects of our jobs. When you get struck down by imposter syndrome or your anxiety is on high, it helps to have that community behind you that lets you feel like you’re not alone.
What were the books that you were obsessed with as a kid? How about now?
ALL of the vampire YA out there. I’m talking Twilight, Blue Bloods, Vampire Academy, Night World, like all of them. I was in 5th grade/middle school when vampires were hitting it big. And I hadn’t been reading much at that time, so those books were a big part of why I fell back in love with reading.
Lately, I’ve been trying to read a lot more for fun which is hard when I read a lot for work. But recently, I loved UNDEAD GIRL GANG by Lily Anderson, DON’T DATE ROSA SANTOS by Nina Moreno, LOVE, SUGAR, MAGIC by Anna Meriano. If you haven’t read these, please do! They’re so wonderful. I can’t recommend them enough.
I also loved RULES FOR VANISHING by Kate Alice Marshall and THE KINGDOM by JESS ROTHENBURG because they really played with the mixed-media format so well.
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?
This is way too hard to pick. There are so many people out there that I love, admire, and would love to collaborate with. I’ve shouted these people out before in some Twitter threads. But like a dream-dream would be to have to Gloria Calderon Kellett adapt a book by a Latinx author that I edited. And also you, Adriana. I love what you do and I’m not just saying that because you asked me for this interview.
How does your identity affect your work?
My identity very much impacts and informs how I work in publishing. I didn’t grow up reading Latinx authors and I wish I would’ve. In 2015, according to the Diversity in Publishing Baseline Survey, 4% of individuals in editorial departments were Latinx. It’s almost 5 years past and I’m not entirely sure how much that number has grown, but it’s still a number I think about a lot. It’s such a small number. And then you look at the CCBC’s 2018 Diversity in Children’s Books stats and see that 5% of kid lit published last year had Latinx characters.
Those numbers remind me why I’m in this job. It reminds me that while children’s publishing has made some great strides, that there is still so much work to be done. And while I’m really excited for Kat Fajardo’s graphic novel MISS QUINCES and for Roy Guzmán's poetry collection CATRACHOS, I don’t know many other Honduran writers that have gotten book deals. I’d love to publish a YA or MG by a Honduran author that I just fall head over heels for and to have my list filled with diverse writers. Because I work in editorial, because I’m a Latinx editor, I have both the ability and the responsibility to help uplift these voices. To at least help fight for them and to get them out there in the world. Because I want those kids growing up now to find themselves represented in the pages of the books they read.
Is there a piece of media (book, TV, movie, etc) created by a Latinx that has helped shape you creatively?
One Day at a Time! I know I’ve been screaming about it on Twitter, but I can’t remember a show that has hit me so hard and that made me feel so represented. There were so many moments when I was watching it that I cried and laughed (in Spanish) because it was so relatable to my family and my experiences.
Shoutout a Latinx writer or creator whom you admire!
Okay there are so many, but here are a few I want to shout-out…
Nina Moreno! I think her book is so wonderful. She’s also just one of the kindest people around. One day, we’ll meet up and enjoy pastelitos de guyaba together.
Claribel Ortega, who works her ass off and is just one of the most incredible people around. Please check out the writing/craft-focused podcast she co-hosts, Write or Die, and her debut middle-grade novel GHOST SQUAD publishes from us next April.
Saraciea Fennell, who is a powerhouse in this industry.
Angeline Rodriguez and Norma Perez-Hernandez! Both who have been there for me and listened to a lot of grievances. They’re out there doing the damn work in editorial and I’m so proud of them.
Anything else you'd like to share, perhaps a project, or something people should know about?
That even though I’m often busy, if you are someone who is Latinx and is interested in learning more about publishing, I’m always down for a chat or for a coffee date. I truly believe in sending back down the elevator and I can do my part in that by offering advice or informationals.
Also I’m returning as Kid Lit Co-Chair for a second year for the Bronx Book Festival, so keep an eye out on my and the Fest’s Twitters for potential volunteer openings if you’d like to help us out. Because we’re back for Year 3 on June 6, 2020!
Follow on Shelly on Twitter @_smromero to know all about what she’s up to!
Shelly Romero
Shelly Romero is an editorial assistant at Scholastic. She graduated from Stephens College with a bachelor’s degree in English and attended the 2017 NYU Summer Publishing Institute. She is a member of Latinx in Publishing, People of Color in Publishing, and a junior mentor for Representation Matters Mentorship Program. She lives off of coffee, carbs, and pop-culture. To see what she’s reading, watching, or ranting about, find her on Twitter @_smromero.