The BookTrust Represents Community: Reyhana Ismail and Clare Weze

By Reyhana Ismail 

Pre-Covid, I couldn’t even think about a job with any of the major publishers. I live ​‘up North,’ so a London-based job simply isn’t feasible. However, the UK publishing industry is notoriously London-centric, where most major publishing houses are based in the capital*. This in turn means that agents, key industry events and other networking opportunities also tend to be London based, underrepresenting and limiting opportunities for voices from other regions. It can be rather frustrating for those of us who live too far away to travel down each week, especially with our unreliable rail network. 

When Covid happened, and working from home became necessary for a time, it seemed ideal for those of us wanting to work in the industry, remotely. However, publishers quickly went back to on-site working or a hybrid working model at the very least – except for a minor few who were open to remote working, expecting an office day just once or twice a month. This changed things, a lot. I applied for design jobs and interviewed with two major publishers, and whilst neither of these prospects worked out for me in the end, I gained some invaluable knowledge, met some wonderful people and got exposure to further career-boosting opportunities. 

LinkedIn became my new favourite app, and I connected with art directors, agents, editors and other designers and illustrators – leading me to representation with the Bright Agency, and some fantastic design and illustration commissions. 

I found new opportunities for learning, networking and community building, including BookTrust Represents, and the HarperCollins Author & Design Academy – a free 6‑week programme that actively trains writers and designers from underrepresented backgrounds. 

And there’s so much more out there on offer. I’ve had online friends recommend me for projects that I could have only dreamed of once, including writing and illustrating for National Geographic, and the past few years have taught me that by being part of a wider community of publishing professionals, and sharing resources and opportunities, we can help to lift each other up and make the industry a little more diverse and inclusive, regardless of where we live. 

* In 2020 and 2021 respectively, both HarperCollins and Hachette opened offices in Manchester, with Hachette also opening branches in Bristol, Newcastle, Edinburgh, and Sheffield.