Q&A: Deborah Ogunnoiki, Publicity Assistant – Children’s Books & YA at Bloomsbury

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 Deborah Ogunnoiki, Publicity Assistant – Children’s Books & YA at Bloomsbury.

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

I started my degree in Classics in 2020, completely unsure of what I wanted to do in the future. I studied at Oxford, and as a city there are quite a few publishing houses and agencies there so I began to think more about publishing as a career (because I had a huge love of literature) but I knew nothing about the industry.

Then one year, I saw a flyer for Society of Young Publishers Annual Conference. It was taking place in Oxford Brookes and I figured since it was just down the road I would go. I had the most wonderful day – particularly the career speed dating event, where you move to different tables talking to people in different roles. I was sure I wanted to work in publishing, but speaking to people at the career speed dating gave me a clearer idea of what I wanted to do. I knew I would be an awful editor, every essay I wrote in university was full of angry red squiggly lines and reading over my work made me miserable, but I also knew I loved to write and be creative so I started looking towards marketing and publicity.

I was sure I wanted to work in publishing, but speaking to people at the career speed dating gave me a clearer idea of what I wanted to do.

Whilst at university I wrote for the university newspaper, first as the columnist for the books sections, then as Deputy Editor-in-Chief for profiles. Doing this helped me develop skills in writing and communication, as well as getting familiar with software like Adobe as we had to format the paper ourselves too. This all became useful when applying in jobs later (though I had no idea at the time).

Then in my final year I applied to a Brand Communications internship with Cambridge University Press through Creative Access. There I learnt a lot of skills and learnt a lot about publicity and marketing which eventually helped me land my first job as Publicity Assistant at Bloomsbury Children’s the month after my internship ended.

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

What I found was the most valuable skill was organisational skills. As an assistant you’ll get a lot of requests and it’s so hard to keep on top of everything – particularly knowing what needs to be prioritised.

Whether you set up a Notion page, or you go old-school with a notebook, the skill of knowing how to organise your tasks is invaluable.

My method of keeping up with my to do list has changed about five times since I started last year, but coming in with a method in mind that worked for me meant that I was better able to adapt it when I started taking on more responsibility. Whether you set up a Notion page, or you go old-school with a notebook, the skill of knowing how to organise your tasks is invaluable.

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

I didn’t realise how many people we talk to! In children’s books there are so many people dedicated to getting books to children. Before publishing, I thought I would be creating campaigns with just parents in mind, but there are festivals, librarians, charities, and other wonderful organisations and people that I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know during my career, who are all part of the publishing publicity process that I never previously considered!

Talk to everyone and find out about everything! You learn so much more about the industry the more you talk to people, especially those outside of your team.

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

My first week in publishing I got to go to the Black British Book Festival. It was kind of overwhelming at first because I was so new and it was my first publishing event. But I made great friends with the other Bloomsbury staff on the stand and seeing people light up when I talked to them about our books reminded me of why I wanted a career in publishing so badly. I came back again to help on the Bloomsbury stand at Black British Book Festival the following year where I made new friends and got to meet Jordan Stephens from Rizzle Kicks!

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

Best piece of unofficial advice is to talk to everyone and find out about everything! You learn so much more about the industry the more you talk to people, especially those outside of your team. Additionally, I’ve found out things I never knew about authors and their books by talking to them. This has come in handy when pitching titles or supporting on campaigns, I can go off-script and mention a fun fact about an author or the inspirations behind their books that no one else knows!

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

The Summer I Turned Literary – I think just like the Belly of Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty, I fell in love during my publishing career. But instead of with boys (boring!) I fell in love with books. Not just reading them, but finding out how much work and thought goes into them, from editorial to design to production to marketing and publicity, I’ve gained a renewed love for literature and the people behind the books.