"BAE has made such a difference!" Interview with Black Agents and Editors Mentee Genevieve Osili

Posted on April 8, 2021 in London

Welcome to #SYPLDNSpotlight — a brand new initiative aimed at featuring innovative work and drives for change in the publishing industry! This April, we are shining a bright spotlight on the Black Agents and Editors Group (BAE), a collective founded in 2020 by Marianne Tatepo.
BAE is a community for agents and editors of African descent working in UK book publishing. They offer mentoring and application help to aspiring Black agents and editors, which you can register for here.
To kick off April’s #SYPLDNSpotlight, we invited BAE mentee Genevieve Osili onto the SYP blog to discuss her experience.

What drew you to publishing and what are the kinds of books you’d like to work on as an editor?
 
In my second year of university, I started to think about that dreaded question of every family event: “So, what do you want to do after uni?” I am a bit of a bibliophile (like everyone in publishing!) but I also have a strong interest in development and writing as a craft.
When I was exploring various career paths, not only did I consider my interests, but also the changes that I wanted to see in the world. Publishing – with an aim to work in editorial – seemed to be the best place to join together both my values and my passions. I would love to work on literary fiction, working with new writers who are telling authentic stories from communities that society often ignores. Furthermore, I want to bring greater focus on diversifying areas of the industry that people forget about. For example, it’s all well and good publishing a black author, but if not one other person involved in that publishing process is black then how inclusive can publishing really claim to be?
 
How did you discover BAE? What led to you seeking mentorship from them?
 
I actually came across BAE on Twitter. They had tweeted offering mentorship and support for black people looking to learn more about publishing, so I filled out a form and waited to hear back. As mentioned previously, diversity and inclusivity behind the scenes is really vital for me when researching any company that I aim to work in, and so finding out that there were a group of people in publishing who were actively working to redress this imbalance was really encouraging.
Due to the pandemic, I had been unable to gain specific publishing experience and so I was looking for some guidance both on how to secure relevant experience, but also potentially on unconventional routes into the industry. Moreover, I had always been quite intimidated of the publishing industry; I don’t have any relatives or friends who work in it to give me insider information, and so I genuinely just wanted to have an honest, non-judgmental conversation where no question I could ask would feel stupid or naïve. They got back to me within roughly a week and I set up a Zoom meeting with the founder, Marianne Tatepo.
 
What has it been like working with BAE/Marianne?
 
I cannot stress how much I would recommend BAE! The advice I have received has made such a difference to both my knowledge and understanding of the publishing industry but also to job applications. In my first meeting with Marianne, we discussed where I was at – studying in my final year of my BA in Comparative Literature and Film Studies – and where I wanted to go. I asked about the industry in general and its inner workings, and Marianne not only provided responses based on her personal experience, but directed me to resources and websites that gave me further information. She has given me guidance with a job application, offering precise and tailored feedback that I have been able to use on subsequent applications. Marianne also helped me streamline my CV, and showed me that even though I may not have publishing experience, I have developed relevant skills for the industry in my previous jobs.
Whether you are looking for an answer to a specific question, or just a better understanding of the roles within publishing, BAE’s mentoring programme offers expertise and advice that leaves you feeling optimistic and excited about taking your first steps into the industry.
 
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us, Genevieve! We wish you all the best in your publishing journey.
 
You can register your interest in being matched with a BAE mentor here. BAE also run a regular Zoom CV/cover letter clinic for publishing hopefuls of African descent. If you’re curious about publishing, they’ll match you with a BAE member to discuss all things publishing and help you with interview prep, etc!
Make sure to head on over to The Bookseller to catch the April special issue ‘The Black Issue’, guest-edited by Marianne Tatepo! You can join Marianne and the team for a free webinar on Zoom to chat about what went into the issue here on 9 April at 12:30PM.
 
Genevieve Osili is an aspiring editor and final-year Comparative Literature and Film Studies student at Queen Mary University of London. You can follow her on Instagram at @genevieveosili.