Each month, we will interview one employee to get their opinions on the publishing industry, hear what it’s like to work at Technica, and learn a little bit about them. This month we are interviewing Grace Taylor, a Miami, FL native and proud NC State Wolfpack alumna who came to Technica in August of 2019.
What drew you to working in the publishing industry?
I’ve always been a lover of books and writing throughout my career. I have a background in education too, so I have a real interest in the writing process and everything that goes into that and how that impacts your writing. I also really like helping people with their writing. That’s one of the things I liked about teaching and I think in editorial work you do the same thing with your notes and your suggestions and things like that. I thought that this profession was a perfect fit.
So were you a teacher?
As a graduate student I taught as a TA, so I taught my own first-year writing class, which I really enjoyed. I got an award from the English department at NC State for teaching, so it’s something that I enjoyed a lot. It was a challenge because there were mostly STEM students in my class, and everybody basically has to take first-year writing no matter their major. The good thing was that we got to teach students about writing in different disciplines, including the sciences. So, it was an interesting challenge in that way.
Super relevant for what we’re doing now!
Yeah, it’s full circle!
What is your favorite thing about working at Technica?
I really like the collaborative atmosphere. I kinda feel like I’m back in grad school where everyone is just really passionate about ideas and supporting each other’s ideas. I also like the opportunity to work on different projects. If I want to get involved with podcasts, I can. So, those kinds of things are really exciting, and it just feels like a really safe and collaborative environment.
What do you like doing when you aren’t at work?
I have a couple of different hobbies, mostly nerdy hobbies. Reading of course, books and comic books. I read a lot of indie comics, but some of my favorite books are from Image Comics. I also like board games a lot. I’m part of a women’s gaming group, so that’s really fun. Recently, I started learning how to play the drums. My husband and I are in a band together. It’s just the two of us playing ‘90s covers, but it’s fun.
I love it! What does he play?
He plays guitar and bass. Originally I bought the drum set for him, but then he wanted me to play with him. So now I’m learning to play the drums. It’s just become a thing.
If you woke up tomorrow as an animal, what animal would you choose to be and why?
I would definitely be a dog, because they’re really sweet and loyal and they get to sleep all day, which is my favorite thing.
What is your favorite book?
That’s a hard one. I feel like different books impact me significantly based on the phase of life I’m at. I think the one that has brought me the most joy over the years is Harry Potter. Recently my husband has started reading the books for the first time, so I’ve been revisiting it with him. So he’ll read the book, I’ll listen to the audiobook, and then we’ll watch the movie. It’s really fun. There are a lot of books I love, but I know that one will make me happy whenever I pick it up.
