Publishing « Robin Writes

I want to introduce our new summer intern, who will be working with us from now until August. She’ll be working on manuscript selection, editing, marketing, and book launches, plus some social media and website work. I’ll let her tell you more, but want to add that she’ll be posting here on a regular basis about her experiences:

Hello all! My name is Melanie Whithaus and I’m interning with Rocking Horse Publishing this summer. I’ve lived in the St. Louis area much of my life, attended Marquette High School in Chesterfield and graduated in 2010. I’m currently studying creative writing and small press publishing at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. After I graduate from SEMO next spring, I hope to go to graduate school for a master’s degree in fine arts. Ideally, I would love to go to New York University, but more than likely I’ll be attending UMSL and staying in the St. Louis area.

A little about myself: I’ve been writing since I was eleven, but didn’t begin to take it seriously until I was in high school. My work has been featured on websites such as deviantart.com and fanfiction.net, and much of my writing can be found one my blog at melwhithaus.wordpress.com. My writing is known for its raw and straightforward voice and no-holds-barred style. I released my first chapbook of original poetry this spring. I have poetry published with Umbrella Factory Magazine and Scapegoat Review, and short stories with Crack the Spine literary magazine and The Rusty Nail literary magazine. I won the cover design contest for Southeast Missouri Writer’s Guild anthology, The Mighty Rose Anthology, and I am a co-editor for the literary magazine, Wednesday Night Writes.

But in addition to writing, I’m very interested in publishing and SEMO just happened to offer a minor in small press publishing. When I first started attending college, like most freshmen I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life; once I settled on English with the small press minor, I knew I was in the right place. Literature and writing have always been a large part of my life and I would not be the person I am today without their influences. When I graduate with my MFA, I want to work in with an independent publisher. I find indie presses to be much more personal and hands-on than working for a large press. I want to know that I’m actually making a difference in someone’s life by publishing his story.

I have one internship with SEMO’s small press already under my belt, but I want more experience in the field so I can be at the top of my game once I graduate. I contracted Robin in hopes of gaining a second internship. She was excited to hear about my interest in the press and now here I am, working for her. I look forward to this summer and the experience I will gain.

So, I have a plan: Thursdays are book days, as in my own books, REDUCED and REUSED.

[blink]

That’s as far as I’ve gotten.

Okay, okay, I’ll give it my best shot – we writers aren’t always adept at promoting our own stuff. But here are some reasons you should read REDUCED (and REUSED and, in July, RECYCLED):

Because you’re a woman.

Women in my books – although there are a few men, and male readers do seem to enjoy the books – do not take crap from anyone. They shoot, they track, they even blow up things. But all violence is directed towards the bad guys, so that’s okay, right?

Because you’re, um, older.

There are plenty of YA, end-of-the-world, shoot-em-up books on the market already which means simply that a lot of teenagers are running amok. In REDUCED, my characters are nearly or over thirty at the very beginning, close to forty at the end, and yet, they STILL don’t take crap from anyone. Why should teenagers get to have all the fun?

Because you like being outdoors.

You know, camping, hiking, maybe some extreme sports, although I don’t really go into much of the latter. But, especially since the bad guys are bent on destroying almost everyone and everything, these gals in REDUCED don’t have a lot of housing options. Tents, caves, abandoned and falling down buildings; you use what you can find, right?

Because you want to be self-sufficient.

This can cover a lot of territory: finding food and shelter and any amenities that are still lying around; able to find your way around without getting lost; doctoring injuries and illnesses. Stuff you maybe wonder if you’re capable of doing, and here, in REDUCED, you can learn some basics while escaping into an alternate reality of your own.

Does that make sense? A reader will know what I mean: you read to imagine, to feel, to put yourself in a character’s shoes and live the story with her. Even if you don’t really want to take off and live in the woods, you can imagine it all right here in REDUCED.

Because you’re a prepper.

What does this mean, exactly? Well, it means you’re ready for… whatever. Some prep for Armageddon, some for rioting and a police state, some for economic collapse – these last can certainly go hand in hand – and some for weather-related events. The point is that, in REDUCED, these folks knew something was going to happen and they were ready for it. If you had to jump in your truck and head out, where would you go? How would you live? With a group, family, friends, or by yourself?

You know how they say that you should have six months’ salary socked away somewhere? Good plan, but IF something happens, even a tornado or an earthquake, money will probably be your last concern. Not that having cash on hand, hidden away – and I’m not talking a small fortune, just some cash for immediate needs – could make things a little dicey in a weather situation. Ditto for food and water.

There’s a whole movement out there for prepping. Some are diehard preppers, most do a little here, a little there. A lot more people than you might think are getting ready… for something.

And that’s what REDUCED is about: getting ready, being prepared, and taking action. If you like action, if you like reality-based fiction, you’ll love REDUCED!

Conveniently, look over to the sidebar on the right of this page – you buy both books by clicking RIGHT THERE!