Mentor Corner: Kristen Fischer
Publicity Manager, DK Books
What was your first job in publishing?
My first job in publishing was at DK. I was hired as the marketing and publicity assistant. I love the company, the books we publish, and the people we work with — and I have been lucky enough to be able to continue working for DK ever since!
What was your career path like getting to your current role?
For the first 2-3 years, I worked on both marketing and publicity campaigns. I always found myself more drawn to the publicity tasks I was given — like submitting to awards and creating media lists, and I knew I wanted to pursue a career in publicity. When a job opened up within our team, I made the decision to apply and started as an associate publicist, and was finally given the opportunity to work on my own PR campaigns. Since then, I’ve continued to work my way up at DK to my current role as a Publicity Manager.
What advice would you give to those who are either just starting out or are in their first few years in publishing?
I think my biggest piece of advice would be to find time to talk to everyone you can at your imprint/division. I was lucky enough that my role as an assistant naturally allowed me to speak to all different departments — editorial, sales, finance, and production. It really helped me get a better understanding of the business and allowed me to network and create long-lasting relationships.
What are you currently inspired by?
I have been extremely inspired by the librarians nationwide, who have been taking a stand against book bans. I grew up in libraries — my mom has worked at our local library for over 20 years, and I spent my high school and college years working at a library too! It has been frustrating and infuriating to see public libraries having to continuously defend themselves against targeted attacks, for the books and the events they are providing for their local communities. However, seeing the resilience of librarians taking a stand and speaking out has been inspiring me to take action too. In my day-to-day life, it’s making sure I support my local libraries by using their services and resources, signing petitions at a local, state, and federal level, and speaking to my representatives. As a publicist, I’ve been looking for opportunities to work with local libraries, such as planning author visits to help create special moments in their communities.
What is your favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of the job is helping to coordinate events for our authors. Whether it’s an in-store book signing, a library story time, or a special event at a conference or convention, I find it really fun to have a hand in bringing these special opportunities to life. I love seeing authors getting to connect with their readers in person and have the opportunity to meet their fans, and similarly, it’s so rewarding to see how people (especially kids) react to seeing and meeting the person behind their favorite books/characters.
What are your current favorite reads?
One of my favorite reads of 2025 (so far) has been The Green Kingdom by Cornelia Funke and Tammi Hartung. This is one of DK’s first forays into fiction, and is a perfect read as the weather warms up. Explore New York City with Caspia, as she follows a series of letters and their “green” riddles, taking her on a journey to learn more about plants, while also meeting new friends throughout the neighborhood along the way.
Check out more from the Early Career Committee on our blog.
