We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Mireles-Guerrero a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ashley, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
The first industry conference I attended was in Pasadena, CA. I was eager to embrace my new role as Sales Manager, learn from peers, and soak up industry insights. But my excitement quickly turned into a harsh realization: the publishing industry was overwhelmingly white.
A year before I started my first publishing job, Lee & Low released its inaugural Diversity Baseline Survey, aiming “to establish a baseline that shows where we are now as an industry and to measure progress moving forward.” The survey highlighted glaring gaps in representation based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. Conversations about diversity gained momentum, and conferences began adding DEI sessions and roundtables with titles like How to Recruit and Retain More Diverse Talent or simply Diversity in Publishing.
At one such “Diversity Roundtable Discussion,” I found myself the only nonbinary, queer, brown person in a room full of cisgender, straight, white publishing professionals. The moderator, though enthusiastic about diversity, lacked the skills to navigate these sensitive conversations. When the topic shifted to recruiting more diverse in-house talent, the moderator looked directly at me and asked, “How did you get into publishing?”
Though I answered truthfully—“I answered an Indeed job posting”—the question wasn’t really about my job search. It felt more like, “How did you, the only non-white person here, make it into this industry?” It wasn’t a query; it was a spotlight on my “otherness.”
In 2019, two years after the conference incident, Lee & Low released its second Diversity Baseline Survey, revealing that more than 70% of the industry still identified as white, straight, cisgender, non-disabled women. I am none of these things. I’m not a college graduate, I’ve never lived on the East Coast, and I don’t come from a family with ties to the publishing world. That roundtable wasn’t the first time I’d been singled out, and it wouldn’t be the last. Often, I’m the only person with my background at the panel table—or in the room.
That day, I returned to my hotel room and cried. The embarrassment I felt wasn’t just about the moment; it was rooted in shame. Shame I remembered from childhood, when I couldn’t buy lunch because I didn’t have money. Shame I felt as a teen, when I was called “weird” for liking both girls and boys. I realized the shame wasn’t about who I was—it was about how the world reacted to me being different.
My therapist helped me unpack this, reminding me that shame stems from doing something “foolish or wrong.” Being myself is neither foolish nor wrong. That session marked the start of my journey toward showing up unapologetically in every space.
Being unapologetically you is a skill, and like any skill, it requires practice. It starts by identifying shame and asking, “Am I ‘foolish or wrong’ for the thing I feel embarrassed by?” If the answer is no, I remind myself that the discomfort isn’t mine to carry—it belongs to a system not designed to include me. Once you begin to remove misplaced shame it becomes easier to not just show up, but to take up space.
Reframe your thoughts: I’m not an outsider; I’m a trailblazer. Better yet, I’m an expert. My lived experiences bring valuable perspectives no one else in the room has.
Recognizing this as truth has empowered me to turn moments of discomfort into opportunities to reshape the narrative—not just for myself, but for others who follow.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a book professional by trade and the author of 12 children’s books, including 100 First Words for Little Californians, Proud to Be Latino: Food/Comida, and Familius’ ABC Primer series. I serve as the Director of Marketing for Familius Publishing, an independent press based in Sanger, CA. Additionally, I am completing my final year on the Board of Directors for the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), where I also sit on the Executive Committee and Governance Committee. I am the former chair of IBPA’s DEI Committee.
In 2023, I brought a long-held dream to life by opening Judging by the Cover: A Bookstore in Fresno, CA.
Judging by the Cover: A Bookstore is my most ambitious project to date. After years of envisioning a bookstore where BIPOC, Queer, and non-English titles were not relegated to a small section but prominently featured, my partner and I decided to create the space we wished existed. What began as an online-only shop (still accessible at bookshop.org/judgingbythecover) quickly evolved into a series of themed pop-up events around Fresno. After nearly a year of pop-ups, we moved into our first brick-and-mortar space.
Located in Fresno’s Historic Chinatown, the store operates out of a 500-square-foot space. My vision includes expanding our physical space and launching a citywide reading initiative that builds upon our current silent reading events.
For those in Fresno, CA, the store is open Tuesday through Saturday, 12 PM–6 PM, at 1029 F St. For everyone else, you can shop with us online at www.judgingbythecoverbookstore.com and follow us on Instagram at @judgingbythecover.books.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
If I had to name three qualities that have led to my success, they would be my tenacity, my insatiable desire to learn, and my adaptability.
I have always been someone who needs to understand how things work and is willing to put in the effort to figure it out. This drive has led me to sign up for classes, webinars, and read white papers, continually expanding my knowledge of the industry. This background knowledge has also enabled me to connect the dots between different sectors of the industry and, importantly, to connect people.
My tenacity has pushed me to pursue big goals, even when the path wasn’t clear, while my adaptability has allowed me to pivot and thrive in changing circumstances. Combined, these qualities have been instrumental in my personal and professional growth.
For anyone starting out in the book industry, finding reputable learning platforms is key. Finding a good mentor is better.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
I was raised by teen parents. They weren’t perfect, but looking back, there are two key things they did that profoundly shaped who I am today.
First, they encouraged me to try everything. While we didn’t always have the money, there was an understanding in our home: if I could fundraise or was willing to put in the time, they would find a way to make it happen. Because of that, I got to experience so much—Little Hoopsters, gymnastics, debate, competitive cheer, and even a few beauty pageants. It wasn’t always convenient for them, but they made the sacrifices so I could explore, grow, and learn new skills, many of which have had a lasting impact on my life.
Second, they supported me wholeheartedly. My mom, for example, really wanted me to get into sports, and Little Hoopsters was definitely her idea. But I wasn’t a sporty kid—I loved to dance. Even though cheerleading and dance weren’t her thing (she was a high school jock), she showed up to every practice and competition like a die-hard fan at the Super Bowl. She didn’t just show up; she made an effort to learn about the activities I loved. Even when she didn’t understand or enjoy them, she loved me loudly and cheered on my effort.
These two things—encouraging me to try new things and supporting me unconditionally—are gifts I carry with me every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.judgingbythecoverbookstore.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judgingbythecover.books
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-mireles/
