“All you got to do is love books, and it comes through. People who are book people, we know each other.”
Quick Facts
Education: M.F.A. at UNC Wilmington
Years of experience: 8 years
About
As the managing editor for Hub City Press, Kate McMullen’s role is to smooth out the publication process of every book that comes across her desk. Originally from North Carolina, Kate expanded her roots to Spartanburg, where she has lived and worked for the past eight years. With a love of books and a long-developed passion for publishing, Kate and Hub City play an important role in uplifting the untold stories of the American South.
Kate’s interest in publishing blossomed when she was working toward her M.F.A. at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. During the three-year program, she joined the university’s student-run, nonprofit publishing lab alongside classes in book building and publishing. The love she had for writing evolved into an enthusiasm for supporting writers, and when she realized working in publishing was a career she could pursue full-time, Kate pursued it.
Kate advises students interested in publishing to look at different programs, especially those offering publishing certificates. She also urges those interested to look for internships that fairly compensate the work. “Never take an unpaid internship. I think we’re better at these now in the industry,” she says. “There’s a lot of really interesting places to go, learn on the job, but just definitely make sure that they’re paying you.”
