PATHWAYS
PATHWAYS HELPS YOU BUILD THE SKILLS YOU NEED FOR A PUBLISHING CAREER.
Pathways offers practical, skills-focused sessions that help participants prepare for careers in publishing. With sessions led by experienced professionals, Pathways brings hands-on, virtual workshops and networking opportunities to a broader audience. Each month, our presenters guide participants through key industry skills, practical tools, best practices, and real-world strategies for a successful career in publishing.
Whether you're exploring publishing for the first time or want to add new skills to your professional toolkit, Pathways is designed to support your journey. Participants leave with actionable insights, worksheets, and confidence to navigate the publishing landscape.
PROGRAM BENEFITS
Monthly virtual sessions: Learn industry skills from anywhere.
Industry-leading instructors: Gain insights directly from publishing professionals.
Interactive and practical: Each session includes worksheets, exercises, a Q&A, and downloadable resources to keep the momentum going.
Community building: Network with like-minded peers and potential mentors.
PAST EVENTS
Our Pathways Program has hosted a variety of hands-on workshops tailored to equip participants with essential skills for a successful career in publishing. In the fall of 2024, we began a series on freelancing in publishing, where we explored the various ways individuals can lend their talents as a freelancer. Here are just a few of our past events:
Leah Lakins on “Freelance Ghostwriting”
Join us for an in-depth look at what skills a career in ghostwriting and collaborative writing requires and how to get started.
Leah Lynette Lakins is a New York Times bestselling editor, writer, and ghostwriter who has worked on more than 100 books including the New York Times bestsellers, Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success and Jump with Steve Harvey and We Over Me with Devale and Khadeen Ellis. She specializes in writing books for and about noted African American celebrities, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders in the areas of self-help, inspiration, empowerment, and entrepreneurship.
Leah is a proud native of Baltimore, Maryland and an even prouder graduate of two of its finest institutions, Western Senior High School and Morgan State University. She also earned a master’s degree in Publishing from The George Washington University.
Monique Sterling on “Freelance "Housekeeping" ”
Join us for an in-depth look into navigating the complexities of freelancing with confidence. This session covers marketing yourself, negotiating contracts, setting rates, and understanding the tax implications of being a freelancer. It will provide clear guidance to help you streamline your freelance business operations.
Monique Sterling is an independent graphic designer with a great love for children’s books. She’s previously designed and art directed notable titles for all ages at Penguin Random House and Macmillan Publishers, including Just Help! by Sonia Sotomayor, Attucks! by Phillip Hoose, and Brown Baby Lullaby by Tameka Fryer Brown.
Kourtney Nash on “Submission Reading”
Join us for an in-depth look into the crucial role of submission reading in the publishing process. Working with literary journals, literary magazines, and small presses provide an opportunity to read and review submissions for freelance.
Kortney Nash is an Assistant Editor at Godwin Books, an imprint of Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. Going into her fourth year in the publishing industry, she has had the pleasure of working on a wide range of projects from board books for the littlest readers to novels for young adults. Recently published books she worked on include Oasis by Guojing, In Repair by Al Graziadei, and Merry Christmas, Dear Mars, written by Penny Parker Klostermann with illustrations by Estrela Lourenço. Kortney is also a prose reader at the literary magazine and press Chestnut Review, where she helps the prose editors narrow down submissions to create the shortlist for each issue.
When not reviewing submissions for Godwin or Chestnut, Kortney can be found writing. With her debut picture book, Tell Me About Juneteenth, coming out May 20th, 2025, she also has short stories featured in The Black Girl Survives in This One and What Rides at Night.
Jess Riordan, Bryn A. McDonald,and Ben Allen on “Managing Editorial”
In this Pathways, a panel of expert managing editorial professionals (Ben Allen, Bryn A. McDonald, and Jess Riordan) will speak on the ins-and-outs of the managing editorial department. If you've ever been curious to know what really goes on in the publication process, this will be an exciting discussion for you.
Jess Riordan
Jess Riordan (she/her) is the Managing Editor of Running Press’s four imprints—Running Press Adult, Running Press Kids, RP Studio, and RP Minis. She joined Running Press in 2015 as an Associate Editor and Associate Managing Editor; went fully to the editorial side of things for several years working primarily on humor, pop-culture, and licensed titles, including her career highlight, the mini Wacky Waving Inflatable Tube Guy; then ping-ponged back to Managing Editorial in 2021.
She is a passionate Eagles fan (go Birds), enjoys starting but not finishing craft projects and spending time with her kids, and feels deeply weird writing her own bio. She lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia with her husband, two sons, and Dachshund.
Bryn A. McDonald
Bryn A. McDonald (they/she) has wanted to work in publishing since her middle school Mathletes coach told her that editors get to sit around and read books all day. (Don’t we all wish that were true?) Bryn joined Hachette Book Group in 2014 as a production editor for Yen Press.
Nowadays, they are the senior managing editor of Orbit, Redhook, and Run For It, where they’ve been able to work with their one true love: science fiction and fantasy.
In their free time, Bryn reads even more SFF; sews, knits, and cross-stitches; and occasionally dabbles in baking. They live in Hoboken, New Jersey, with their wife and two cats.
Ben Allen
Ben Allen is senior managing editor of Little, Brown and Company, which includes the imprints Algonquin Books; Back Bay Books; Little, Brown; Little, Brown Spark; Mulholland Books; and Voracious Books.
He started his career at Little, Brown in 2007 as an assistant in the department he now runs. He also, briefly, was managing editor for Minotaur Books at St. Martin’s Press / Macmillan.
When not making books professionally, he unprofessionally makes bread and electronic instruments from scratch. He lives in Los Angeles with his partner and two cats.
JOIN US
Start learning with us today. Pathways is virtual and open to the public. Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Eventbrite to stay up-to-date with our upcoming events.