From New York to international book fairs, Simon & Schuster's Margaret Achey ’14 shares how networking, a love of books and her Professional Writing and Rhetoric education shaped her publishing career.
When Margaret Achey ’14 was trying to break into book publishing, she visited Simon & Schuster’s offices in Rockefeller Center and imagined herself working there.
“One time I took my parents, and they took a picture of me, and I said, ‘I will work here one day,’” Achey recalled.
She was right.
On Sept. 24, Achey joined Professional Writing and Rhetoric (PWR) students and faculty via Zoom in Alamance 318 to discuss her career in international publishing and offer advice to students hoping to enter the industry.
After graduating from Elon, Achey struggled to find her first publishing job. Through Elon’s Bridges program, she spent a summer in New York City networking with alumni and industry professionals. A connection she made over coffee eventually led to a position at book distributor Baker & Taylor, where she managed sales in Asia. Another professional relationship helped her land a job at Simon & Schuster in 2017.
Today, Achey manages international customers and helps bring English-language books to readers around the world. Her work takes her to major industry events, including the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany and the London Book Fair.
“When I was at Elon, I absolutely loved my study abroad experience, so I really wanted to couple my love for reading with travel,” she said. “That’s what led me to international sales.”
Achey also introduced students to the changing landscape of publishing. She described how BookTok and other social media communities can generate sudden surges in book sales, recalling one title that sold roughly 1,500 copies overnight after gaining attention on TikTok. She also discussed the industry’s cautious approach to artificial intelligence, particularly AI-generated writing and artwork, while acknowledging the value of AI literacy for emerging professionals.
Throughout the conversation, Achey emphasized that publishing offers careers well beyond writing and editing, including sales, marketing, publicity, production and design. She credited her PWR education with helping her develop communication skills that remain essential to her work, particularly adapting her tone and approach for different audiences.
For students interested in publishing, Achey recommended following industry newsletters such as *Shelf Awareness* and *Publishers Lunch*, pursuing internships and attending readings and events at local bookstores. She encouraged students to connect with professionals on LinkedIn, maintain relationships with alumni and recognize the value of transferable skills gained outside the publishing industry.
Her own career, she explained, demonstrates why networking matters: both of her major career opportunities emerged from relationships she had cultivated.
“Keep immersed in the thing that you love,” Achey told students. “Whatever’s drawing you to the publishing industry, try to keep a part of that.”
She also urged students to take advantage of resources closer to home, including Elon’s libraries, book clubs, Writing Center and PWR events. Her own Writing Center experience helped her develop the collaborative communication and problem-solving skills she continues to use professionally.
Nearly 12 years after graduating, Achey said her enthusiasm for books remains unchanged.
“I still love going in bookstores and seeing our books,” she said.