#FellowFriday with Rose Heredia

Rose Heredia hosted our Instagram on Friday, March 24 for our #FellowFriday series. Below are a few questions that we asked Rose.

Latinx In Publishing (LxP): Why did you decide to apply to the Latinx in Publishing Fellowship program? 

Rose Heredia (RH): I thought long about what I wanted to do in publishing and saw this opportunity pop up on my social media feed, especially since I was in the middle of editing an anthology. Even my friend sent me the opportunity! I almost didn't apply because of my imposter syndrome (would I get this? who do I think I am?!) but I ultimately put in effort to demonstrate my interest, which is words. I was enjoying working on this project and saw this as my future: helping folks mold their stories and keeping their voice intact.

LxP: What has this experience meant to you? 

RH: It's been everything I've wanted and more. It's my foot in the door. It's demystifying the publishing industry by talking to folks in different departments. It's understanding the business side of publishing so when I'm ready to publish, I got some insider knowledge that I can share with newbie writers wanting to publish traditionally. It's seeing the path to working with words, which is what I've wanted to do since I was a young adult. 

LxP: What advice would you give to anyone applying to the program?

RH: Application wise: include more than just liking words and books. Really identify why you want to be an editor and translate that on the page. Also, shoot your shot. What's the worst that can happen? 

LxP: What's one of your favorite things you've learned during the fellowship? 

RH: Being able to talk shop with someone in the industry (my mentor) in the same way I was able to do with my MFA cohort. I missed that tea/gossip/chisme/sh*t talking aspect about the publishing industry that I don't have with anyone locally. Like a colleague, equal, homie, bestie, friend.

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Rose Heredia is Afro-Dominican born and bred from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, where she helps lawyers save the Earth. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of San Francisco and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Writing. She is a VONA and Las Dos Brujas alumna. She is a Culture writer and editor for Epifania Magazine, Assistant Non-fiction Editor for VIDA Review and has been published by the Dominican Writers Association and HeadFake. Rose recently edited The Washington Memoir Project published by DWA Press. She has since moved back to her neighborhood after a decade living in California. You can follow Rose on Twitter and Instagram: @bkwriter4life.

#FellowFriday with Sarah Marie Jette

Sarah Marie Jette hosted our Instagram on March 3rd for our #FellowFriday series. Below are a few questions that we asked Sarah Marie.

Latinx In Publishing (LxP): Why did you decide to apply to the Latinx in Publishing Fellowship program? 

Sarah Marie Jette (SMJ): I applied for the Work in Progress Fellowship through Latinx in Publishing because I knew my manuscript had potential but I needed help getting it polished up. A year ago, several agents asked for my full manuscript, but ultimately passed. Based on the bits of feedback I received, I knew there were areas in my manuscript I wanted to target (pacing and character development), but I needed support. This fellowship has given me that support. 

LxP: What has this experience meant to you? 

SMJ: This experience has meant the world to me. I am not exaggerating. I have had to tone down my enthusiasm and excitement.—The first few weeks of this fellowship, I spent hours upon hours revising and sending material to Jess. She helped me pace myself. 

After receiving rejections when querying my manuscript, I now have the Latinx in Publishing team and Jess by my side as I continue my writing journey, and it is amazing. In the past 6 months I have grown not only as a writer, but also in my understanding of the publishing industry.

LxP: What advice would you give to anyone applying to the program?

SMJ: My advice to anyone who is interested in applying is to take the chance and apply. Polish up your manuscript as best as you can and complete the application. When I got the acceptance email from Latinx in Publishing, I read it multiple times to make sure I was reading it correctly. It seemed too good to be true!

LxP: What's one of your favorite things you've learned during the fellowship? 

I think the favorite thing about this fellowship is getting to know my editor, Jess. She is an editor, but she doesn't just edit. She writes proposals, meets with different departments within her publishing house (acquisitions, sales, marketing, etc.). She also reads through submissions. She does so much! 

LxP: What book are you currently working on or reading?

I am currently reading The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes. It is so good! [Read our review here]

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Sarah Marie Jette has the best job in the world, teaching 3rd graders. In 2022, Sarah Marie was honored as a semi-finalist for the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year recognition. Sarah Marie is Mexican-American and grew up in Lewiston, Maine. Her first book, What the Wind Can Tell You, was published by Islandport Press in 2018. When she isn't teaching or writing, she plays board games with her 3 kids and snuggles with her 4 cats.