Q&A: Amalia Mills, Editorial Assistant at Thames & Hudson

For Work in Publishing Week 2025, we're sharing stories from people who are in the early years of their publishing careers. Here we catch up with Amalia Mills, Editorial Assistant at Thames & Hudson.

What’s the story of how you found your way into publishing?

I studied English Literature with Creative Writing at university and have inhaled books since I was read to as a child. I knew I didn’t want to be a teacher but felt a little lost as to what to do next. One day someone came to my university and did a talk on jobs in publishing. I was excited by the prospect – and bewildered that I hadn’t thought of it before – it made perfect sense for me to pursue a job in the book industry.

It took a long time to get into the industry, but I persevered and was really lucky to land my first publishing role as an apprentice at Tate Publishing. I was there for three years and joined Thames and Hudson in July 2025.

Knowing how everything in a publishing house fits together will make you better at your individual role

What skill did you find most valuable during your first few months in publishing?

Asking questions! And not being afraid to ask more questions to clarify when you don’t understand something. I was so excited to be in my first publishing job and had so many questions on everything there was to know about all the departments and their different roles. Knowing how everything in a publishing house fits together will make you better at your individual role.

What’s a part of the publishing process you didn’t even realise existed before you started?

Definitely Rights! I had no idea of the concept of licensing books to other publishers and printing with them. Alongside this I have gained a better understanding of copyright, it is fascinating and something the publishing industry couldn’t live without. Picture research is another one – there are so many different roles that contribute to the publishing process aside from sales and editorial.

What one experience really stands out from your first year in publishing?

When I got my hands on the very first book I worked on! Seeing your work on screen become something physical you can touch and turn the pages of, was an incredible experience. The book published to coincide with an exhibition and seeing the artworks in real life (after seeing thumbnails in an Excel spreadsheet for months) made me feel like I was a small part of something bigger and exciting.

Top tip: If you need to read something carefully – print it out!

What’s the best piece of unofficial advice you picked up – something no one tells you before you start?

It’s an obvious one really, but if you need to read something carefully – print it out!

If your career in publishing were a book title, what would it be – and why?

It might be We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – the ‘bear’ being the elusive publishing job that I found eventually, through re-adapting at every hurdle and sheer perseverance!