#inside publishing

Yeah, Open Road knows how to Halloween: The editors dressed up as our CEO, Jane Friedman. So did our unofficial mascot, Pandora the Maltese. 

We had 1/3 of the cast of Harry Potter, a Tardis, Mets Fans, a Witch...

How did you start your career in book publishing? I was a biology major in college. While I liked learning science, I didn’t want to work in a lab full-time. I started thinking about what I wanted to do after graduation, and that led me to book publishing. I always read a lot of books as a kid. I did two internships in book publishing and I loved them both!

How did you start working at Open Road? I was interning here in the marketing department last fall. After three months or so, I was offered a full-time position and I gladly accepted. I’ve been here almost a year.

Wow, congrats! What’s your favorite thing about Open Road? I like the people here a lot. It’s not everywhere you go that you can sit during lunch and talk to everyone—from the CEO to interns and everyone in between.

What does your typical day entail? I work on all different of genres, from mystery to fantasy, and action-adventure stories and westerns. I do some publicity outreach, social media, and advertising. I also pitch and write articles for our websites FeedYourNeedToRead.com and The-Line-Up.com.

How did you start working on genre fiction? Genre fiction is the biggest chunk of what I read. I love fantasy; that’s probably my favorite.

What are you currently reading? Right now, I’m reading a western we published. It’s called Little Big Man. It’s pretty funny, so I’m enjoying it.

How did you find it? I was doing research, for work, on Thomas Berger, and wanted to read something by him—for pleasure and to help me with marketing his books. So far, I’m glad that I did.

What are the most important skills for a marketer? Having an open mind to seeing and trying new things, researching new trends, understanding when something isn’t working and trying to fix it, talking to people and learning from them.

Do you have any advice for someone who wants to work in book publishing? If you want to work in book publishing, you need to really want it. It’s not the easiest industry to get into, and people who are here are very passionate about it. You need to talk to a lot of people and learn from them. Having a passion for reading is very important. It helps with understanding how to work with books and authors better.  

How did you start your career in book publishing? 

I was an English major at school. When I was getting ready to graduate, my professors and advisors suggested looking at a career in publishing. After I graduated, I took two internships at smaller publishing houses and really enjoyed them. From that point on, I knew I wanted to work in publishing and started looking for full-time positions. That’s when I started at Open Road. 

How long have you been with Open Road? 

A little over a year; I started at the beginning of last summer. 

What does your typical day entail? 

It’s always different (laughs). 

But there are things I do every day, like checking in on NetGalley reviewer requests, checking metadata, updating BISACs, supporting the integrated marketing team, making sure everything works. 

What are the most important skills for someone in Marketing Operations? 

Being really organized and being on top of things. That’s really important especially since we publish a lot of books at the same time and there are a lot of moving parts (laughs). 

What’s your favorite thing about Open Road? 

It’s a nice community, and you get a chance to know everybody. I think that having an open-floor plan makes it much easier to talk to people. 

Which kinds of books / which genres do you like the most? 

Hmm…Mostly fiction, a little bit of nonfiction. And I like historical fiction. 

What are you currently reading? 

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. I’m still at the beginning. 

Do you have any advice for someone who wants to work in book publishing?

Know how publishing works as whole, not just individual departments; know how marketing, production, editorial, and all the other departments work together. Having that broad understanding is really helpful down the road. 

BONUS question: What are some of your hobbies? How do you spend your time when you’re not working? 

(source: NYU Center for Publishing)

For everyone interested in joining the wonderful world of book publishing, here are some of the best academic programs and communities. They vary in location, length, and pricing, and focus on various aspects of the business, such as production, editorial, marketing, distribution, contracts, and so on. Here's the best part: Classes in each of these programs are taught by industry professionals who share their invaluable insights.

1. The NYU-SCPS Center for Publishing

Location: New York, New York

About: The Center for Publishing offers a master’s program and a summer program for students interested in magazine, book, and digital publishing. The Master of Science in Publishing: Digital & Print Media is a 42-credit graduate program. The Summer Publishing Institute is a six-week intensive. Industry professionals teach both programs.

  Featured testimonial: “SPI [Summer Publishing Institute] taught me where to go to seek out the jobs I want and how to navigate professional functions (mixers, interviews, etc.) in a way that will maximize my connections and leave a good impression.” – Linnea Zielinski 

2. Columbia Publishing Course

Location: New York, New York

About: The Columbia Publishing Course offers students an intensive introduction to working in book and magazine publishing and digital media. Seasoned professionals teach the classes and seminars. CPC offers resume workshops, collaborative seminars with evaluations by publishing professionals, and a job fair.

  Featured testimonial: "The skills and contacts I obtained while at the course provided me the wherewithal needed to secure my first job at a magazine. The access it gives to leaders in the industry is unparalleled, making it a worthwhile investment for anyone beginning a career in publishing." – David Bazner, assistant, GQ.com  

3. Yale Publishing Course

Location: New Haven, Connecticut

About: The Yale Publishing Course is a five-day program directed toward “middle to senior-level publishing professionals who wish to advance in their careers and take on broader responsibilities.” Industry experts and faculty lead the course from the Yale School of Management. It also offers speaking events and one-on-one counseling sessions.

  Featured testimonial: “My week at the Yale Publishing Course re-energized me. It may be 'anxious enthusiasm' I have now for the future of book publishing, but enthusiasm it is! I learned so much from not only the top leaders in the business but also from my peers in the course, with whom I shared problems, ideas, goals, and an excellent esprit de corps!” – Ann Arnow, Executive Vice President, Bridge Publications, Inc.

4. Young to Publishing Group

Locations: New York City and the Bay Area

About: The Young to Publishing Group is an “initiative of the Association of American Publishers (AAP) that strives to give entry-level and junior industry employees…a chance to build a community outside of their own publishing house and to educate themselves about the publishing industry as a whole.” They offer programs such as educational events, book mailings, social events, and community service opportunities.

  Featured testimonial: “@YoungToPub Thanks for your awesome interview tips! I'm currently in the process and it was great to find a relevant article!” – Tweet from @racheldoesbooks

5. Pace University Master's in Publishing

Location: New York, New York 

About: Pace University offers a 36-credit graduate program that gives students an in-depth overview of the book and magazine publishing industries. It also incorporates digital media strategies into the curriculum. Additionally, the program offers 12-credit graduate certificate programs in: book publishing, digital publishing, magazine publishing, and business aspects of publishing.

  Featured testimonial: “Some of the highlights, besides some of my classmates, was having the guest speakers come in and hearing about what they do in their roles. Professor Soares’ Children’s Book Publishing confirmed that I wanted to be in children’s publishing and Professor Diehn’s Desktop Publishing course has helped me time and time again with presentations, and projects.” – Allegra Green, Marketing Operations Coordinator at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

6. CUNY Publishing Institute

  Location: New York, New York 

About: The CUNY (City University of New York) Publishing Institute is a five-day course for people interested in beginning their careers in publishing and for working professionals. Students will learn about digital book publishing, working at a start-up, new technologies, and more. Guest speakers who are a part of the publishing community as publishers, editors, and writers from both traditional houses and start-up companies will hold discussions. It is led by John Oakes, the co-founder of OR Books.

  Featured testimonial: “John Oakes corrals the best and brightest from the New York publishing scene to provide a terrific crash course in book business basics. I learned a tremendous amount in just one week.” - Michael Z. Wise, cofounder of New Vessel Press

7. University of Denver Publishing Institute

  Location: Denver, Colorado

About: The Publishing Institute is a four-week intensive held in the summer. Its purpose is to provide students with an overview of the book publishing industry through lectures given by industry professionals, workshops, and field trips.

  Featured testimonial: “The University of Denver Publishing Institute is one of the best life choices I have ever made. I was able to continue my education without spending several years in grad school, I learned more about the publishing industry than I could have in a semester at an internship, and I made memories that will last a lifetime.” – Madisen Rey

8. Emerson College Publishing and Writing Program

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

About: The Publishing and Writing MA Program offers courses in book, magazine, and electronic publishing. It also focuses on the intersection between publishing and literature. The faculty is comprised of publishing and writing professionals with experience in writing, editing, design, production, promotion, and distribution.

  Featured testimonial: “I think taking Rodzvilla's E-Publishing Overview course made me realize that there's a lot in that field that is really important to know about, and extremely practical, for any modern career in publishing. Between the basics of HTML and learning the ins and outs of CSS, I realized I still have a lot to learn, and hope to continue to do so!” – Anne Vickman

9. Portland State University

Location: Portland, Oregon

  About: The MA/MS in Writing is for students who would like to advance their careers. The Professional and Technical Writing Program and the Book Publishing Program offer courses in book editing, publication technologies, writing, and information technology for writers. Some examples of assignments include writing query letters for fiction and nonfiction books, creating book marketing plans, drafting book design proposals, and creating finished layouts.

  Featured testimonial: “…It's all about getting involved, taking every opportunity to grow further, dig deeper. What I love about the Publishing Program is that our student-run Ooligan Press provides myriad opportunities to participate in the work of an active publishing company. So much good has come into my life simply from volunteering for Ooligan and accepting assignments within the press.” – Karen Brattain

10. Corcoran College of Art and Design

Location: Washington, D.C.

  About: The MA in Art and the Book program is designed as a comprehensive survey of the history and theory of book culture “as well as contemporary techniques for creating artists’ books.” Students enrolled in the program can take advantage of art galleries such as the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Library of Congress, and Corcoran’s Printmaking Studios.

  Featured testimonial: “Attending the Corcoran has been a life-changing experience for me. I hope that prospective students will take full advantage of all the Corcoran has to offer. I never would have imaged that I would be where I am now in regards to my artwork and my career.” – Jaime Lynn Shafer

11. Simmons College

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

  About: Students in the MA in Children’s Literature program experience an in-depth study of children’s books. The curriculum incorporates other fields of study such as art, history, education, sociology, psychology, and media studies. It also addresses topics such as book publishing, literacy, and writing fiction for children. Graduates of the MA in Children’s Literature program pursue careers as authors, editors, scholars, librarians, and teachers.

  Featured testimonial: "If you love the true literary study of YA and middle grade novels and picture books — and/or if you're interested in writing them — check out Simmons. The Children's Literature program is rigorous, invigorating, and inspiring, and it changed my life in all the best ways." – Kristin Cashore, author of the award-winning YA novel, Graceling

12. University of Baltimore, Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences

Location: Baltimore, Maryland; and Rockville, Maryland

  About: The MA in Publication Design program provides students the necessary skills in writing and graphic design to become adept in designing, publishing, and navigating digital tools and the newest technologies. The program also requires its students to develop professional portfolios and learn about real-world design problems. The program is also offered in weekend and online formats at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland.

  Featured testimonial: "The faculty is amazing."

13. George Washington University

Location: Washington, D.C.

  About: The M.P.S. in Publishing program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the publishing industry. The curriculum includes courses in traditional publishing, digital publishing, editorial acquisitions, production and design, copyright, and more. The Graduate Certificate in Academic Publishing is geared toward established professionals interested in expanding their knowledge and expertise in the academic publishing field.

  Featured testimonial: "The program gave me essential information about the constantly changing aspects of publishing–both print and online. I've been able to use this information on the job, and it's made me more marketable in the field." – Jennifer Nichols, Publications Manager, The Society of American Military Engineers

From Jane Friedman, CEO of Open Road Media:

"I believe that one of the best investments a company can make in its future is an investment in its people. And certainly one of our greatest assets at Open Road is our wonderful staff. I am delighted to announce the following promotions, and I hope you will join me in congratulating your colleagues on their hard work and much-deserved recognition!"

On the ACQUISITIONS team:

Sarah Yurch has been promoted to Assistant Editor

Emma Pulitzer has been promoted to Assistant Editor

Sakina Esufally has been promoted to Editorial Associate/Publishing Assistant

In ADMINISTRATION:

Valerie Vincent has been promoted to Controller

On the MARKETING team:

Allison Underwood has been promoted to Director, Digital Marketing & Analytics

Laura DeSilva has been promoted to Senior Marketing Manager

Amy Grillo has been promoted to Senior Merchandising Manager

Jack Palmer has been promoted to Marketing & Analytics Manager

Grace Srinivasiah has been promoted to Digital Marketing Associate

And in PUBLISHING OPERATIONS:

Megan Buckman has been promoted to Assistant Managing Editor

Leily Kleinbard has been promoted to Director of Production, Open Road Distribution

Jessica Yee has been promoted to Associate Digital Asset Manager

You all make me very proud.

We've discovered a good number of Tumblr blogs dedicated to the highs and lows of working in the book business. This list features the ones that made us laugh the most. Read, click, and enjoy!

1. Copy Editor Hell

Copy Editor Hell shows us what drives copy editors (and copyeditors) crazy. Here's a post that made one of ours LOL.

2. Life in Ebook Publishing

Here's some browser humor for you.

3. Dude in Publishing

In which we learn the definition of the Hail Query.

4. English Major Humor

English majors and bookworms will get a kick out of English Major Humor. We're grateful that they brought this post to our attention. And this one, too.

5. Ebook Nothings

Ebook Nothings understands today's funny moments in the digital publishing world. We love this nerdy and relatable gif!

6. Life in Academic Publishing

Yes, Virginia, there is a lot of humor in academic publishing, including this.

7. Publishing Girl Problems

This gif accurately describes how we feel on super-important pub days.

8. Life in Production

Life in Production shares tons of funny gifs about ebook production. We think this one is pretty clever. #UTF-8, y'all!

9. Title to Come

Title to Come provides insight into the life of an author. Here's a gif that describes a quintessential writing problem. And what it must feel like to be a "querying writer."

10. Oh, So You're a Librarian?

There are a lot of witty librarian Tumblr blogs. Here's one that makes one envious of our librarian friends and colleagues.

11. Life in Small Press Publishing

Have you ever felt this way at work?

12. Life in Religious Publishing

Here's a post that reminds us not to judge a publisher by their niche.

13. Librarian Problems

Here's a recent post that makes us say, "As if!"

14. Publishing Sales Rep

It's tough out there for a sales rep. Let's give them a well-deserving round of applause.

15. Better Book Titles

How did you find out about internship opportunities at Open Road Media?

Fordham College at Lincoln Center offers a class called Publishing Theory and Practice. Mary Bly teaches it. Each class, she brings in established professionals who work in the book and magazine publishing industries. She invited Julie Blattberg from Open Road to be on one of the panels. Later that week, Professor Bly told us about the Book Industry Guild’s event “Anything Is Possible on the Open Road” with Jane Friedman, its CEO, and she posted an internship opportunity on our class Tumblr. After hearing Jane Friedman and Julie Blattberg speak, I knew I wanted to apply.

  What does your typical day as an intern look like?

I spend five minutes pestering Julie Blattberg in the morning (just kidding). After that, I make my way through a list of projects that she gives me. Sometimes she’ll send me more projects via email. They mostly pertain to researching and helping to produce drafts of social content posts for sites like BuzzFeed and Tumblr. Every now and then, someone from the marketing team will grab me for another task. 

  What are some of the projects that you liked working on the most?

Can I say all of them? I haven’t disliked any of the projects.

  Which project are you most proud of?

It’s a tie between the BuzzFeed posts I worked on and the “Inside Publishing” series of interviews for Tumblr, because of how much effort I’ve put into those projects. For BuzzFeed, I spent a lot of time researching the science fiction author Octavia Butler, bookish phone apps, and library cards, and going through rounds of edits with Julie and Erin, the marketing copyeditor. It’s kind of like working on a research paper with a professor or submitting work for a creative writing workshop. So seeing them go live is pretty rewarding. With the “Inside Publishing” series, I stepped out of my comfort zone. I’m really shy, so speaking with people I don’t know makes me nervous. It forced me to somewhat get over my fear.

  You’ve tweeted a bunch of #internperks. Which was your ultimate favorite “perk”?

I think my overall experience here is my favorite “perk.” In my classes at Fordham, we discussed how women are underrepresented in leadership roles. That’s something that really strikes a chord with me, because I’m about to join a profession that consists of only 33.3% women. So being Julie's–the Executive Director of Consumer Engagement–intern is awesome because she’s an intelligent woman. And the Chief Marketing Officer, Rachel Chou, is an intelligent woman. And the CEO, Jane Friedman, is an intelligent woman. Open Road is filled with them. I find it pretty inspirational.

  Also, I think I got lucky with this internship. I know a fair amount of people with internships that sound awful: fetching coffee, cleaning out storage closets, working on the weekends, and things like that. Those aren’t learning experiences. So, when I tweet about #internperks or post a personal Facebook status about how much I adore Open Road, it’s 100% genuine.

  You’ve just graduated from college. What’s next?

I’m headed off to law school!

  Do you think you’ll be able to apply some of the skills and strategies that you learned at Open Road in law school or in your work as a lawyer?

Definitely! I think I’ve learned how to pay better attention to detail. I’ve also learned that taking the time to thoroughly research a project is better than rushing through it. Julie also challenged me to learn how to speak to people (haha). Every authoritative figure that I’ve met has told me that building connections and reading and writing well are important skills needed to excel in law school and as a lawyer. I’m fairly certain I can win over anyone now—well, as long as they have a social media account for me to look at first.

  Do you have a favorite Open Road author?

I have a few favorites, but I’ll mention one: Irene Cao. I would love to write like her.

  What are you currently reading?

I’m reading I Feel You by Irene Cao (thanks, Amanda!) and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz.

  Do you have a favorite place to read?

I love reading underneath the trees by the reflecting pool at Lincoln Center.

  Bonus question: Do you have a favorite quote about reading or writing?

About reading: “I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.” —Jorge Luis Borges

How did you start your career in book publishing?

I went from undergrad to the Summer Publishing Institute at NYU. During SPI, we took a tour of Open Road. We heard Jane Friedman speak and I was really thrilled about Open Road’s mission, and its environment. One of the program directors had once worked here and she put me in touch to apply for an internship. I interned in the marketing department with the literary fiction team for six months, and from there began working with the sales team.

Do you have any advice for someone who wants to work in book publishing?

I would say to read up on industry news in magazines and newsletters like Publishers Weekly and Shelf Awareness. Also, when I was first starting out, it was important to learn that there are more ways to get into publishing besides working in editorial. There are so many different departments that allow you to be creative and involved with books. 

Do you have any upcoming projects that you’re looking forward to working on?

I’ve been working on projects for the upcoming ALA [American Library Association] conference, and then I’ll be looking forward to the Brooklyn Book Festival in September.

What does your typical day entail?

My days vary a lot because I assist everyone in the sales/retail department with different tasks. I work a lot on reports, recording where our books are placed with various online retailers. I update grids with info for different accounts and retailers, write posts for the blog and prepare social media content about sales, and send mailings out. Lately I’ve been enjoying working on pitch letters. 

Do you have a favorite Open Road author?

Sherman Alexie is amazing. Flight is awesome–it’s funny, heartbreaking, and one of the most imaginative things that I’ve read. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven is a great short story collection. I also love Alissa Nutting’s Unclean Jobs for Women and Girls. The stories remind me a lot of George Saunders and Karen Russell.

What’s your favorite thing about Open Road?

One of my favorite things is the layout of the office: It really promotes interpersonal communication. The open-office plan makes it easy to ask questions, collaborate, and learn from people in all different departments. It’s such a positive environment.

What are you currently reading?

I’m reading Mansfield Park. One of my favorite professors from college is giving a talk on the book at a Colgate alumni event soon. I’m also reading MFA vs. NYC by Chad Harbach.

Do you have a favorite place to read?

When it’s warm and sunny, I love reading outside, especially in Central Park.

Bonus question: Do you have a favorite quote about reading or writing?