Meet Piaras, one of our Spring interns!
It was the 8th of December last year; I had just stepped through the door after a long day at work and I decided to check my phone for any late emails… The effects of a tough day quickly vanished when I read that I had been successful in becoming a Publicity and Marketing Intern at The Emma Press! This amazing opportunity came as part of my Publishing MA at York St. John.
As a reader, I had admired The Emma Press for some time; the eclectic variety of authors and books being produced are what made me apply for the opportunity in the first place. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint!
My main focus was the honour of working on the publicity campaign for Toby Buckley’s exceptional debut pamphlet, Milk Snake. As a writer myself, who admires the Irish literary community and the amazing authors currently being produced, it felt surreal at times to be working behind the scenes on such a fantastic collection! I was given the opportunity to create social media posts, populate PR spreadsheets, draft blurbs and my own personal favourite – offering my suggestions during edits! (as few as there were).
The entire experience was personal and enlightening – invaluable to somebody like me who is at the early stages of their publishing career. Every Monday, I would meet with Emma over Zoom and be given a wide variety of tasks (which soon became my highlight of the week). From reading submissions to delving into the world of bookstagrammers, I was supported along the way and given excellent feedback that I will carry with me wherever I go in my career!
Overall, I am extremely grateful to have been given this opportunity – I feel like I have personally improved my understanding and more importantly, my practical skills. The placement has confirmed my dream to work for (or possibly create) a small independent publishing house. Every day seems to be challenging yet rewarding; from working with talented authors, to contemplating dazzling covers, I couldn’t imagine a more fulfilling career.
“The placement has confirmed my dream to work for (or possibly create) a small independent publishing house. Every day seems to be challenging yet rewarding; from working with talented authors, to contemplating dazzling covers, I couldn’t imagine a more fulfilling career.”
I would like to thank Emma and everyone at The Emma Press for their guidance throughout my placement. And a final thanks to my lecturer, Rob, for organising this experience as part of my MA course. The entire course has taught me so much about the publishing industry and this placement has been the icing on the cake!
You can find me on Instagram and Twitter @shakespiaras where I talk all things writing and publishing.
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