Q&A: Ezgi Gurhan, International Rights 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 Ezgi Gurhan, International Rights Assistant at Thames & Hudson.

What’s the story of how you found your way into publishing – from your studies and first job in the industry to where you are today?

My introduction to publishing as a career was during my bachelors, when I ended up managing my department’s creative writing anthology. This was what made me pursue a Master’s degree in publishing later on.

During my Master’s, I volunteered at the London Book Fair, explored the various components of the industry and met publishers from across companies and departments. With my international background and trilingual proficiency, I soon realised I wanted to work in international rights where I could apply my language skills and work on the more international side of the industry.

Being able to juggle multiple responsibilities while keeping track of various details is essential in publishing.

Of course, job hunting doesn’t always align with what you have in mind. Not every company has a dedicated rights department or operates internationally. As part of my course, I completed a placement year as an editorial assistant at a small independent publisher working on a print-on-demand basis. Through this role, I learned a lot about liaising with authors and colleagues, managing day-to-day operations and my own way of working. It allowed me to explore not just editorial tasks, but design, production and social media marketing. And even though my experience was not in rights, there were many aspects of my experience that I could link to the requirements of my current position – which certainly helped during my interview.

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

Multitasking and consistency. Being able to juggle multiple responsibilities while keeping track of various details is essential in publishing.

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

I wouldn’t say I wasn’t aware of it, but I had not given much thought to the shipping and delivery side of the process.

Book fairs are always an experience that stands out. Even from my studies, I remember volunteering at the London Book Fair most vividly out of everything else.

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

I think the book fairs are always an experience that stands out. Even from my studies, I remember volunteering at the London Book Fair most vividly out of everything else. From this year, I would say the Frankfurt Book Fair is the experience that stands out the most, since I got to not only join meetings and meet people I’ve been emailing for the past year, but also present titles to new and existing clients, then send follow-up emails.

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

It’s not about how much you already know, but about how willing you are to learn. Be resilient. Don’t give up just because the results aren’t immediate. And once you’re in the role, be patient with yourself. You don’t need to know everything from the start.

It’s not about how much you already know, but about how willing you are to learn.

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

If my career was a book title, the working title would be Books Around the World because of the global side of the industry, as well as my own international background.

Having lived in many foreign countries throughout my life, in a way, it feels like working in rights was my calling from the start.

And now working on co-edition titles of Thames & Hudson's diverse list, I get to talk to publishers from across the world (mostly Europe in my case) on a daily basis, sit in on negotiations with publishers from France, Spain, Türkiye and more. It’s a fascinating role that allows me to see just how international the industry is.