Ethics in Ink: A Conversation with Kate Gavino, Auhtor of "A Career in Books: A Novel about Friends, Money, and the Occasional Duck Bun"

Abstract

The bonds of friendship and personal ethos can be the driving force behind one’s survival. In A Career in Books, Kate Gavino uses her own experience working in publishing as an Asian-American woman living in one of the biggest cities in the world. Gavino uses humor and honest depictions of the publishing industry to confront questions of who gets to tell which stories and how the industry’s structural inequities shape these narratives.

We spoke over Zoom – Kate in France and I in Florida. Kate was sincere as we spoke about her experiences working in the publishing industry as an editorial assistant and an author. The backdrop of the book’s location in New York City mirrors the industry with its charming, but challenging landscape for young professionals to navigate. Likewise, Gavino expertly folds in humor through simplistic illustrations of our heroines to convey the power of sisterhood across generations.

What follows is an edited excerpt from our conversation, condensed for clarity and length.