Whether you’re a freelancer building relationships with publishers or an in-house employee seeking a reliable network of collaborators, this conversation between experts will provide a thoughtful perspective on what makes partnerships and projects truly thrive.

At its core, the success of publishing relies on communication and lasting collaboration amongst professionals. During this event you will gain insight into cultivating strong, sustainable relationships between in-house publishing teams and freelancers in order to problem solve, manage tasks and execute successful projects together!

What You’ll Learn:

• How freelancers and in-house teams can connect, build trust and form relationships
• Common red flags — and how to avoid them
• How to turn one-off projects into sustainable working relationships
• What makes a freelancer someone an in-house team wants to hire again
• What makes a client someone a freelancer wants to work with again

Who Should Attend?

• Freelance publishing professionals
• In-house publishing employees
• Publishing students exploring freelance or in-house career paths

This virtual panel will take place March 18, 2026 at 12:00 pm (CT). You can register at the link below. We are looking forward to seeing you and learning together!
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/march-virtual-event-freelance-and-in-house-collaboration-building-a-successful-working-foundation 

The final 10 minutes of the session will be dedicated to a live Q&A.

The session will be recorded.

About the Panelists:
Based in the Twin Cities, Mandi Andrejka got her start in publishing as an in-house editor at Lerner Publishing Group and has since made the shift into full-time freelance editing. Since 2020, she’s been an editor for self-publishing authors, querying authors, and publishers. She’s done freelance editing for Minnesota publishers such as Lerner, Bearport Publishing, and Capstone Publishing in addition to others including Harlequin, Sourcebooks, Charlesbridge Publishing, and Levine Querido. Her primary focus is fiction for middle grade, young adult, and adult audiences.

Ashley Kuehl (she/they) has worked in publishing for about twenty-five years, most of these as an in-house editor and editorial director, as well as five years of editing and writing as an independent contractor. In their current role as editorial director, Bellwether Media, at FlutterBee Education Group, Ashley is responsible for managing the production of about 225 hi-lo and emergent reader school/library titles each year. This role includes planning and coordinating production schedules and workflow, hiring freelancers, representing the group in sales and marketing efforts, and supporting the editorial team.

Jaime Willems is a Graphic Designer at Capstone Publishers. With 12 years of both freelance and in-house design and illustration experience across publishing, film, and advertising, she is an experienced creative and an eager collaborator. She is a graduate from Minneapolis College of Art and Design, with a BFA in Comic Art. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband, son, and two needy cats.

Tickets
Webinars are $5 for members and students and $15 for nonmembers.

Where & When
Zoom online meeting platform

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

12 pm (Central Time)

Registration Information
The program starts at 12 pm (CT) on Zoom. You will receive an invitation link and password via email on Tuesday, March 17. If you don’t see the link by the end of the day Tuesday, remember to check your spam folder. If you have registered for multiple attendees within your organization, don’t forget to pass on the Zoom information to all registered attendees. Downloading the Zoom app for your computer or device is recommended, but instructions for joining via web browser or phone are included in the invitation.

Reservations accepted until Monday, March 16, at 5 pm (CT).