Are you looking for an opportunity to learn more about publishing? Consider becoming an intern for one of the many book or magazine publishers in the Twin Cities! Join the Minnesota Book Publishers’ Roundtable for the 2019 Internship Fair, where publishers will be on-site to answer your questions, take résumés, and discuss the opportunities available at their companies.

A variety of internships are available in editorial, design, marketing, production, and other areas, including paid positions and those for academic credit; semester, summer-break, and flexible-schedule work; and opportunities for nontraditional students and experience-based and non-degree-holding applicants.

Event Information

The event runs from 5:30–7:30 p.m. We will have handouts with details on all participating companies. Bring at least ten copies of your résumé and be prepared to give a brief (five-minute) informational interviews. RSVP This event is free but limited to 150 participants. Please reserve your space at this event on Eventbrite.

PARTICIPATING COMPANIES

1517 Media Christian. Non-profit. Publishing. We create resources for Christian worship and faith formation, for academic study and professional development, and for individual edification and spiritual growth. We have always embraced the media of the day to meet people where they are, in their lives and in their communities.

Internships offered: For the summer program: Accounting, Animation, Editorial, Graphic Design, HR, IT, and Marketing. We are happy to work with you to coordinate a part-time internship in the Fall or Spring as well.

Compensation offered: Summer interns earn $12/hour and Fall/Spring internships are solely for credit.

Beaver’s Pond Press Beaver’s Pond Press is a hybrid publisher that has been turning interesting people into independent authors since 1998.

Internships offered: Our typical editorial internship includes proofreading press-ready manuscripts, reviewing submissions, and promoting our authors on social media.

Compensation offered: We offer a small stipend at the end of service.

Coffee House Press Coffee House Press is an internationally renowned independent book publisher and arts nonprofit based in Minneapolis, MN; through their literary publications and Books in Action program, CHP acts as a catalyst and connector — between authors and readers, ideas and resources, creativity and community, inspiration and action. Our mission is to create new spaces for audiences and artists to interact, inspiring readers and enriching communities by expanding the definition of what literature is, what it can do, and who it belongs to.

Internships offered: We offer a general internship that will introduce interns to all aspects of a small literary publisher, and will give skills that can easily transfer to larger publishing houses and other careers, both in the arts and elsewhere.

Compensation offered: $1,200 stipend, $100 of books.

Exile Press Exile Press is a Minneapolis based, small publisher of award-winning books and apps in ESL, Korean language and culture, Children’s Early Readers, Graphic Novels & Poetry. Founded in 2006, we’re dedicated to what we can learn from beyond borders, to culture in communication and to what we may discover in the microcosm of word’s art, the complex beauty of the English language and the cultural diaspora of the global village. Our books are about inspiring an adventurous spirit in others and joining them on their journey. Our specialties include language acquisition, travel journals, philosophy, art books, and poetry. Our scope is global and beyond.

Internships offered: Social Media/Publicist, Sales/Promotions, Web Designer/Developer, and Graphic Designer internships are available; 10-20 hours/week (minimum 3-month commitment)

Compensation offered: Small stipend at the completion of the internship

Freelancers Corner (Interview only) Meet freelancers and discuss the experience, skills, and knowledge that led them to forge solo careers.

Free Spirit Publishing Free Spirit Publishing is the leading publisher of learning tools that support young people’s social-emotional health and educational needs. We help children and teens think for themselves, overcome challenges, and make a difference in the world. Our publishing house is located in Golden Valley, Minnesota. We publish 25 to 30 books annually in the categories of early childhood, bullying & conflict resolution, gifted education, character education & service learning, and teacher resources & professional development.

Internships offered: We offer a publishing internship that focuses on editorial, sales, and marketing work in an entrepreneurial environment and exposes the intern to a range of other areas of publishing at Free Spirit, including production, design, and publicity.

Compensation offered: Upon completion, interns will receive a small stipend.

Graywolf Press Graywolf Press is a nonprofit literary publisher of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and work in translation. We are committed to the discovery and energetic publication of twenty-first-century American and international literature. We champion outstanding writers at all stages of their careers to ensure that adventurous readers can find underrepresented and diverse voices in a crowded marketplace.

Internships offered: Graywolf offers four to six focused departmental internships per session: two editorial internships, one or two fundraising/development internships, and one or two marketing and publicity internships.

Compensation offered: Unpaid

Growing Communities for Peace: Smart Tools for Life Memorable and engaging books and music for young children that support personal peace and wellbeing. Skills for problem-solving, empathy, and compassion empower children. Through our books and music, they can sink deeply — for life — into children’s hearts and minds.

Internships offered: Blogging and social media, Kickstarter and/or GoFundMe campaign development and management, writing news releases, build the brand on social media, grant writing

Compensation offered: Variable

Jump!, Inc Jump! publishes children’s nonfiction with a focus on curriculum-aligned subjects for emergent through early-fluent readers. Our books combine vibrant colors with captivating photography and corresponding text to draw readers into the subject and encourage reading success.

Internships offered: Sales & Marketing, Editorial

Compensation offered: $12-$15/hour

Lerner Publishing Group Lerner Publishing Group creates the highest-quality nonfiction and fiction content for children and young adults in a variety of subjects and formats. Based in Minneapolis since its founding in 1959, Lerner Publishing Group is one of the nation’s largest independent children’s book publishers.

Internships offered: Marketing; Design; Digital & Editorial C

ompensation offered: We pay minimum wage and fulfill any requirements needed for school credit. The intern is responsible for determining if and how school credit can be earned as part of their internship.

The Loft Literary Center Founded in 1974 (incorporated in 1975), the Loft is a haven for readers and writers; one of the largest centers of its kind in the country. Our mission is to advance the artistic development of writers, foster a thriving literary community, and inspire a passion for literature.

Internships offered: The Loft usually has internships dedicated to Wordplay (our annual book festival), marketing and communications, and our summer youth program.

Compensation offered: Interns receive a $1,000 stipend.

Mayfly Design Offering book design and production services for publishers and self-published authors.

Internships offered: Book cover design; book page design; typesetting

Compensation offered: Hourly

Mighty Media Mighty Media is a publishing and packaging powerhouse. We produce exciting, engaging books for top clients in the children’s educational book market.

Internships offered: Editorial internship and a graphic design/production internship

Compensation offered: Stipend

Milkweed Editions Milkweed Editions is a nonprofit, independent book publisher specializing in literary nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. We believe that literature has the potential to change the way we see the world, and that bringing new voices to essential conversations is the clearest path to ensuring a vibrant, diverse, and empowered future. Learn more: milkweed.org/our-story

Internships offered: Milkweed Editions offers a four-month intensive introduction to independent book publishing. Over the course of the session, interns will assist with projects from all areas of our operation, including editorial, publicity, marketing, online and community engagement, and development (nonprofit fundraising). We try to tailor project assignments to individual interests as much as possible, but please keep in mind that one goal of the internship is for participants to develop an understanding of how each department functions within the context of the others. The comprehensive approach of our program — working behind the scenes with books from the pre-acquisition stages through to the final point of sale — offers both breadth and depth of experience and introduces interns to a wide range of career trajectories across the industry. Learn more: milkweed.org/internships

Compensation offered: Positions are unpaid, but interns receive a modest transportation reimbursement along with free books, mentorship, and a range of professional development opportunities.

Red Line Editorial Red Line Editorial is a full-service editorial house serving traditional and digital publishers. Each year our team produces more than 500 books, most of them for the K–12 educational market. We work with publishers big and small to concept, develop, and produce content that engages and enlightens.

Internships offered: Editorial-focused and design-focused internships

Compensation offered: Hourly

Red Sofa Literary Red Sofa Literary is a boutique literary agency originally established in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area. Our mission is to celebrate a life of reading and geek culture, where brains always win over the brawn. For more info on our agency, please see our submission guidelines and posts at www.redsofaliterary.com.

Internships offered: Our internship is a combination of social media, marketing, publicity, contracts, and market research.

Compensation offered: Unpaid

Redleaf Press Redleaf Press is a nonprofit book publisher of high-quality resources for educators of children ages birth through eight. Our books improve the lives of children by strengthening and supporting directors, trainers, professors, teachers, and the families who care for them.

Internships offered: Redleaf offers three internships: two focusing on editorial and production and one focusing on marketing and publicity. Interns are exposed to all parts of the publishing process and leave the program with marketable skills.

Compensation offered: Unpaid. Internships can be applied toward college credit if arranged in advance.

Stanton Publication Services, Inc. dba Bookmobile Digital book printing and publisher services Seeking applicants for paid, permanent positions.

Storm Literary Agency A boutique literary agency representing quality children’s literature and art from exceptional authors and illustrators

Internships offered: Manuscript reading/screening, editorial database updating, postcard/portfolio mailings

Compensation offered: Unpaid

Strive Publishing Strive Publishing exists to solve two problems: One is the lack of culturally relevant children’s books in our schools, libraries, and community programs; and the second is the underrepresentation of African American children’s book authors. We are striving to help solve these problems, and we are dedicated to ensuring that this important work moves forward. While giving all children the opportunity to see African American culture from different perspectives, Strive Publishing promotes and creates avenues for local African American authors. Moreover, we value collaborations and partnerships with advocates in the areas of literacy, education, arts, equity and inclusion. Working together we can ensure that contemporary children’s books written by and about African Americans are abundant in our schools, libraries, and community programs. Strive Publishing officially launched in August 2018 with three founding authors. Ricardo G. Peters released his first YA Fantasy novel, “Under a Cloven Sky” in January 2019; Linda S. Miller will release her first children’s picture book, “Isaiah’s Sunglasses” in February 2019; and Donna Gingery will release her first children’s picture, “Red’s Adventures: The Egg Pie” in February 2019. Strive’s next African American children’s book author will be chosen in the spring of 2019, through a writing contest in partnership with Free Spirit Publishing.

Internships offered: Part-time (10–15 hours per week) internship working directly with Strive’s founder and publisher, with the opportunity to focus in the intern’s particular areas of interest, such as acquisitions, editorial, marketing, or production. Training available in editing, book design, copywriting, social media promotions, and market research. The intern will have opportunities to represent Strive to local writers and readers. They will contribute to the growth and development of a unique publishing program focusing on emerging African American authors of children’s and young adult literature.

Compensation offered: The internship is unpaid, but can be completed for college credit if arranged with the student’s school in advance. Benefits also include training in publishing software and processes.

Twin Cities Geek Twin Cities Geek is an online news and culture magazine for geeks in Minnesota, particularly focused around the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. It is our mission to represent as many of the voices within our community as possible in both writing and editing. We strive for diversity in race, gender, sexuality, disability, and other identities present in Minnesota geek communities.

Internships offered: We welcome applicants for ongoing editing and writing work as well as those interested in editing internships

Compensation offered: Twin Cities Geek is 100% volunteer run