Rachel Di Nucci
Editorial
I am currently studying an MA in Publishing at York St John. Previously, I studied for a BA in English at Solent University and graduated in 2018. I am obsessed with books and aspire to make a career in editorial work after finishing my master’s year.
When I’m not reading, I usually take part in theatre. Either watching or performing. After being a member of a local amateur dramatics group in Southampton, I was inspired to write a script for Bram Stoker’s Dracula that accurately reflected the female characters that were misrepresented in previous versions. I hope to return to this group and have it performed in the near future. Currently, I am also a part of a writing group run by friend and self-published author Sophie Mitchell. I enjoy beta reading her work while listening to other authors develop their ideas in group meetings.
I will read anything put in front of me, but I have a particular love for fantasy, crime and Young Adult. Think Terry Pratchett, Agatha Christie, and Cassandra Clare, amongst others. I am also particularly keen to look at scripts, as well as any other form that comes my way through the submissions to the Where Ideas Grow blog.
All the best on your submissions and have fun writing them! I look forward to reading them.
Luciana Medrano
Editorial
I am currently a second year Creative Writing student from Bolivia at York St John University. As an international student, having the opportunity of following my passion of becoming an author is a dream come true. I’ve been creating and writing stories for as long as I can remember.
In June of 2023 I published my debut dystopian novel, ‘Golden’, with Editorial La Glorieta, a publishing house from Bolivia. I am working on publishing it internationally soon. It makes me so excited that it’s finally out in the world, as it is a project that I have dedicated endless hours and amounts of love to. And I am currently writing the sequel! Books are my passion, and as much as I want to be a professional, full-time author, I also strive to become part of the publishing industry as an editor and help bring out writers’ best stories.
I am the biggest fan of YA dystopian, fantasy, historical fiction, and romance stories and novels, so if you enjoy writing in those genres (or anything in fiction, really!), I will be the happiest to read the stories you’ve got that the world can’t wait to immerse into. <3
Anna Edwards
Editorial
I am in the second year of my postgraduate degree in Publishing & Creative Writing here at York SJ. I studied my undergraduate in Manchester in English & American Literature, and now I currently work part-time at my local Waterstones and art college.
I have been writing stories since I could hold a pen. As a child, I had a habit of scaring myself silly with my own stories, which still resonates with me as an adult. My favourite genres are weird fiction, the uncanny, absurdism, surrealism, bildungsroman, and horror. I don’t mind a story where either nothing really happens (to some degree), or a story where literally everything happens.
I’m currently working on my own full-length novel and a collection of short horror stories. I love being inspired by the work of others, and exploring different imaginations. Additionally, I have recently started my own publishing press, Astrea Publishing, with my university peers.
Becca Green
Editorial
I am currently in my second year studying creative writing and English literature at York St John University. I love the writer’s community that York has to offer as it has allowed me to carry on my passions of writing and reading into my studies which is all I’ve ever wanted to do. I am passionate about starting the blog this year as it has been an incredible opportunity that will help me in my search to take on a placement year within the industry during my third year of study, hopefully in editorial which is my long-term goal.
During my time at a local young writers group partnered with hive south Yorkshire, I was given the opportunity for one of my poems Grand Piano to be published in the 2023 anthology After Hours. As a group we also put together our own unpublished anthology in print, which featured 3 of my poems; Dad, Saturday, and Legacy of Your Name. Both anthologies were my first taste of having my work professionally recognised and I haven’t looked back since!
I especially love reading and writing poetry. It is my favourite form of creative writing, and I particularly favour the works of Sylvia Plath and Carol Ann Duffy for their feminist voices and raw, emotional themes that are present in their writing. I can’t wait to start reading everybody’s submissions and working hard with you all so that I can gain more skills to help me in my journey to work in publishing in the future!
Brigitta McKeever
Editorial
I am an MA Publishing student here at York St. John, and I have recently graduated from the University of York with a degree in English and Related Literature. I have always been keenly interested in books and writing, and I hope to eventually become a full-time editor.
I have been writing ever since I was little, but I became especially interested in poetry as a teenager. I was a winner of the Foyle Young Poets Award 2020, and I have had my poetry published in the Keats-Shelley Review. While I write less frequently than I used to, I absolutely love helping other writers flourish and find their voices, and in turn, I love being inspired by their work. I still hope to publish my own poetry books in the future, alongside a career in publishing.
If you are thinking of submitting to the blog, I am especially interested in editing poetry and creative non-fiction. I also love work centred around the body, nature, or familial relationships, but I am happy to read anything with an original and evocative voice.
Good luck on your submissions – I can’t wait to read them!
Rosie Parry
Editorial
I am currently studying an MA in Publishing and Contemporary literature and love all things books! I completed my BA in English at the University of Lincoln and also studied in Mainz, Germany, home of the printing press, during my bachelor’s studies. I love discovering new works of literature and am keen on my goal of working in Publishing. My interests primarily lie in the editorial and design areas of Publishing.
I enjoy all forms of literature, be it prose, poetry, or drama, and am fascinated by the way literature and culture interact. My favourite genre is definitely classic mythology or folklore retellings, and I love Greek mythology specifically. I especially enjoy feminist retellings, such as the work of Jennifer Saint and Natalie Haynes. I am also very interested in fantasy, historical fantasy, and literary fiction.
I look forward to reading your submissions, good luck!
