Fall is in full swing here at 629 Noyes — the trees are starting to shed their bright, flaming leaves and the sun has, tragically, been making its exit increasingly earlier in the day. But we at NU Press have all been very brave despite the growing scarcity of Vitamin D, and this fall has kicked off to an inspiring start here thanks to all our partners and authors. We’ve been keeping ourselves busy and engaged, with several exciting new releases and more on the way. As Thanksgiving Day approaches, we asked our staff to take a contemplative break from the daily grind to share what they’re grateful for (spoiler alert: it’s Courtney’s incredible baked goods).
Anne Gendler, Managing Editor and Director of EDP: The opportunity to make myself useful, working closely with a dedicated group of individuals who love books and are kind to one another. #grateful
Charlotte Keathley, Publicist: I am thankful to Anne for the reading recommendations, to Courtney for keeping us well fed with homemade Italian pastries, to Kuani for somehow making all the numbers come out even, to Faith to bringing the phrase “bog standard” (and many other new ones) into my life, and to Chris, Maddie, and Kristen for their infinite patience with me—I’ll stop there!
Chris Bigelow, Metadata Coordinator: I’m grateful for so much this year! Joining the Press this year has been so incredible, and I’m endlessly grateful for the opportunity to work with such incredible folks. I’m thankful for Maddie and Faith for all of the laughs; for Kristen, Charlotte, and Megan and their patient ears; for Kuani and Maia as excellent office-neighbors; for EVERYONE. I’m also grateful to work for a press so dedicated to highlighting marginalized voices.
Courtney Smotherman, Rights and Permissions Officer: I’m grateful for the mutual support among our team – knowing that I can always ask a question or for help from anyone and that they feel they can do the same with me – it helps me not only to do my job but also to continue learning every day. (Also, I am honestly very grateful to have a group of people who will eat my baking!)
Dino Robinson, Production Manager: Thankful for the exceptional team we have at NUPress. The talent, experience, outside interests that complement our work, and the diverse authors we have the opportunities to work with, makes this an exciting and fulfilling experience.
Esther Lim, Marketing Intern: I’m grateful for the chance to get an inside look at the clockwork of a university publishing house’s publicity and marketing side as an intern at NUP! Getting my hands on some really incredible manuscripts and ARCs is certainly an added bonus, too >😊
Faith Wilson Stein, Acquisitions Manager and Senior Acquisitions Editor (Scholarly): At this time of year, in particular, I am grateful for conference organizers, who put in untold hours of work to create multiday gatherings at which hundreds and even thousands of scholars can gather to share their research. Publishers get to platform that intellectual labor in due course, but at conferences we also get to celebrate our authors and contributors face-to-face and also see the newest directions in which their fields are headed. The academic and administrative workers who put these myriad moving parts together and put out any number of fires along the way deserve all our thanks!
Kristen Twardowski, Director of Sales and Marketing: I’m grateful for how much care my colleagues put into each and every book. Everyone shepherds titles into the world with thoughtfulness and affection, whether those are innovative poetry collections, philosophical treatises, imaginative fiction, or serious lit crit. And I am equally thankful that my coworkers put up with occasional whimsy in the office. If we can’t have fun while marketing, then what are we doing?
Kuani White-Lascelles, Director of Finance: Family and amazing supportive friends
M Romanova, Graduate Assistant: As a graduate assistant this year at the Press, I’m thankful for the opportunity to see great titles get published by a dedicated team of lovely people as well as Courtney’s yummy baked goods that always seem to be in abundance at the office on Tuesdays.
Maddie Schultz, Marketing Coordinator: I am thankful for the opportunities to grow professionally and personally amidst my work here at NUP. To bring the blog to life each week is such a joy, and I’m thankful for you, reader, for taking the time to read this! Finally, I’d be remiss not to mention all the dogs I get to see every day on the sidewalks and this wonderful city I get to call home; I’m thankful for you, Chicago!
Maia Rigas, Project Editor: I am thankful for our wonderful authors. They push the envelope forward on the issues of the moment, and I’m proud to be part of the team supporting them.
Marisa Siegel, Senior Acquisitions Editor (Trade): I’m profoundly grateful to my authors for trusting me with their books—and for the books themselves, which remind me daily of the power language wields. This Thanksgiving, I think it’s especially important to recognize the importance of a diverse, inclusive, and uncensored publishing industry that allows for books that challenge and expand our cultural conversation.
Mary Klein, Production Editor: Coworkers who make me laugh every day, making books for a living, working in a creaky old Victorian house, Courtney’s space heater
Megan Stielstra, Senior Acquisitions Editor (Regional): The teachers, librarians, and booksellers who show us how books can make this world better.
Parneshia Jones, Director: Making books for a living, while working in spaces with the most gifted, curious, and artistic minds is not just something to be thankful for, it is truly a saving grace. I am thankful our work allows us to celebrate beautiful literature and expression; no matter what way the world decides to turn.
All of us here at NUP wish you a restful and gratitude-filled Thanksgiving! The blog will return on December 4th, 2024.