Creative Writing / History Grad Makes Mark in Publishing

Hannah Karena Jones graduated in May 2011 with dual degrees in English-Creative Writing and History, and a minor in Professional Writing.

In July, she earned a Certificate in Publishing from New York University’s Summer Publishing Institute, part of the university’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies. The six-week institute dedicated three weeks to the magazine industry, directed by Maryellen Gordon (former deputy editor of Glamour magazine) and three weeks to the book industry, directed by Libby Jordan (President of Musubu, Inc.). Digital publishing and discussions on the rise and importance of e-readers were emphasized throughout the program. 

Hannah (right) with author Meg Cabot (seated)

Students were divided into groups for hands-on projects; first they had to launch their own magazine--complete with a business plan and cover designs--and then they had to launch their own book publishing imprint. From beginning to end, the program offered daily lectures and panel discussions totaling in over 150 editors, publishers, content directors, web editors, marketers, publicity directors, art directors, literary agents, production managers, professional bloggers, booksellers, and authors, exposing students to the wide landscape of publishing and the various jobs within it, while at the same time offering the opportunity to forge invaluable professional contacts. Hannah found the program eye-opening; it gave her the opportunity to learn about publishing niches that she had never known existed and helped her figure out exactly what part of publishing she enjoyed most--editorial. To her surprise, she also learned that, despite the myth, publishing does exist--and flourishes--outside of NYC. Best of all, it introduced her to a huge community of passionate book-lovers. You can read more about the Institute here. 

Since graduation, her creative writing has been awarded 2nd place in The Baltimore Review’s Creative Non-Fiction Contest and Honorable Mention in the Writer’s Digest Young Adult Fiction Competition. Additional stories have been accepted for publication atThe Susquehanna Review and Weave magazine. 
Hannah is now an Assistant Editor at Transaction Publishers, a publisher of record in international social sciences, and maintains a writing and publishing blog.

Thank you to Hannah Jones and Professor Jerry Wemple for providing this profile.