She takes the podium with a stride and a smile.  Parneshia Jones is not your average guest here at The University of New Haven; she is here to provide insight and knowledge to the students here looking to be published or in the world of publishing.

Parneshia has worked for Northwestern University Press for nine years, and her current position is a sales and subsidiary rights manager for the publishing company. In her position, she executes and manages an author’s book tours and marketing events, coordinates and attends conferences, exhibits, and sales calls to pitch and promote lead-title books and events in theater, fiction, poetry, Chicago regional and philosophy. She also acts as a liaison between the press, book distributors, retail accounts including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Baker, and Taylor, and independent bookstore communities for book information and publicity purposes.

As she stated in her lecture to the students “Being responsible for selling all subsidiary rights, including TV/film, translation, serial, and territory to major trade, national, and international publishers, and agents is a very challenging job but each job is unique and an exciting opportunity”

Parneshia does a lot in the world of publishing, but still stays true to her creative writing roots. She is currently working on two novels and a manuscript of poetry. As she gave the students an insight into her writing style by reading her poem titled French Kiss, we came to see the 360 degree view that was Parneshia Jones. Her heart lies within the writing always rooting her and her publishing career gives her the many opportunities to spread literacy through the nation and the world.

Her visit and lecture here at the University of New Haven gave the student body a chance to see beyond writing into the wide world of publishing and editing bodies of work. Parneshia gave the students an in depth and very personal view into not only her life but the lives of publishers everywhere. Parneshia would like to thank Dr. Randall Horton, The Elm City Review, and The English Honor Society for hosting her visit to the University of New Haven.