A Bermudian is at the centre of high-level publishing in the United States, after graduating from The Berkeley Institute and Howard University.

Hydia Scott-Riley is an assistant editor at the legendary Simon & Schuster, the century-old publishing house, known for many top-rate authors and iconic titles, including Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People and Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s All the President’s Men.

Owned by the private equity firm KKR, it is one of the elite, historically significant houses that dominate the commercial, cultural and global book trade.

One of the “Big Five” English‑language publishers, it played a defining role in shaping American trade publishing, having helped popularise the mass‑market paperback.

Simon & Schuster operates numerous imprints across the US and UK, acting as a major publisher of fiction, non-fiction and children’s books.

Key imprints include the flagship Simon & Schuster, Scribner, Atria, Gallery Books and Aladdin. They cover diverse genres from literary fiction to commercial thrillers, memoirs and pop culture.

Ms Scott-Riley joined Emily Bestler Books/Atria in September 2023 and assists editor-in-chief Emily Bestler.

She joined the firm in January 2022 through the company’s associates programme, after growing up in Bermuda, an admitted book nerd.

She said of her role as assistant editor: “In another three or four years I could be an editor myself. I’m already acquiring books.”

When editors “acquire” a book they are purchasing the rights to publish a manuscript on behalf of their publishing house. This process involves identifying a promising manuscript, advocating for it within the company, creating a financial plan, and, if approved, negotiating a book deal with the agent and author.

She said: “Acquiring a book is when an author first starts getting paid. That book is now owned by Simon & Schuster. The editor has to take responsibility, talking to sales about the book.

“[If you’re the author] I'm going to work with you to edit it and make it something that we're going to publish to the public for reading in maybe a year or two years, maybe less.”

She is drawn to upmarket and commercial fiction with “atmospheric writing”, dynamic plots and nuanced characters.

Ms Scott-Riley said: “Fiction is my sweet spot. Growing up, I loved to read everything, but I always was a bit more fiction heavy.

“I just love a good story and so that's what I’m acquiring. The stuff I like is kind of dark and weird and a little off-tempo stuff. So that's where I was able to plant my flag. I saw a trend happening in what was popular in fiction.”