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.