Publishing a book is no cakewalk, much less if you’re an aspiring YA fiction writer hoping to see your stories grace the shelves of a Barnes and Noble. Just like getting into an Ivy League university, the odds of signing a traditional book deal for most budding authors are as low as one to two per cent. But starting out in the States, or countries that are home to a majority of the world’s biggest publishers, can give you an edge. In this episode, we speak with US graduate and Filipino YA novelist, Mae Coyiuto, about the many ways studying abroad opens doors to creative careers, the diverse roles you can explore within the publishing industry, and of course, what you should do if you’re dead set on becoming a published author.