Get to Know Berghahn- Kyle Perry

Get to Know Berghahn is a recurring interview feature that introduces the hardworking people behind the scenes at Berghahn. This week’s subject is Journals Assistant Kyle Perry.

1. How long have you been at Berghahn? What did you do before that?
I’ve been at my current position for about four months, and before that I was an intern for two. I graduated in May of 2011 and my only job between Skidmore College and Berghahn Books was a brief summer working in the fashion industry. Suffice it to say, that wasn’t my true calling. I’m very happy to be working in the journals department here at Berghahn!

2. What do you read when you aren’t reading Berghahn books?
Normally I’d say fiction, but recently it’s been essay collections. Pulphead by John Jeremiah Sullivan was so amazing it’s almost not fair, and I read Sloane Crosley’s two books, I Was Told There’d Be Cake and How Did You Get This Number? in about three days. I also love Zadie Smith, Colson Whitehead, Dan Chaon, and anything Dave Hill tweets.

3. What’s a skill or talent you have that no one at the office knows about?
I’m really good at Scrabble. I used to know all of the two-letter words, Q words without the U, and had a method of keeping track of the tiles so I always knew what was left in the bag. My mug is even Scrabble-related, but I guess at this point I’m just bragging.

4. Where would you want to live if you could move the Berghahn offices anywhere? Why?
It’s corny, but Brooklyn is where I want to live right now, so I’d stay put. Or maybe the Galápagos Islands. Less people. More penguins.

5. What’s your favorite thing about working at Berghahn?
The people! It’s such a great mix of personalities and everyone is so encouraging and helpful. I feel very lucky to have been welcomed into the Berghahn family.

I also love that the job helped me discover new roles in the publishing process I never would have expected to like. If you’d asked me a year ago if I’d want to get into marketing, I probably would have said no. Now, it’s something I’m extremely excited to continue learning.

Lastly, we work in DUMBO where food trucks apparently have the ability to multiply weekly. That’s wonderful, too.