Meet the Interns: Emily Beckley

Poetry Editor Emily Beckley is entering her senior year here at Arizona State pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English Literature. Upon graduating in December, she plans to utilize her degree to get herself into graduate school to study publishing. Originally from Chicago, Emily hopes to move to the northwest after graduation to follow her dream of working in the editing/publishing field and also hopes to one day publish her own poetry for the masses. This is Emily’s premier semester at Superstition Review.

1.   What is your position with Superstition Review and what are your responsibilities?

I am a poetry editor for Superstition Review. I handle poetry submissions along with my fellow poetry editor, April Stolarz. This process involves reading submissions and giving my personal feedback in terms of quality and vision as it pertains to the finished product of the upcoming issue of Superstition Review. Outside of content editing, I participate in spreading the word about Superstition Review and increasing awareness for future writers who wish to submit.

2.   Why did you decide to get involved with Superstition Review?

I am graduating in December, and I am really trying to get myself some real world experience in the field in which I intend to seek employment. I want to work in the publishing industry; this internship will definitely give me the advantage when seeking a job. Also, I will be applying for graduate school and any internship will set me apart from other applicants.

3.   How do you like to spend your free time?

I like to spend my free time reading and writing poetry. Being a literature major, I tend to always be reading something that is assigned to me. So, I cherish the times I have to read works of my own choosing. I also love seeing shows around the valley with friends or taking day trips around the state on the weekend. I am also a thrift shopping addict, yikes!

4.   What other position(s) for Superstition Review would you like to try out?

If I were to have another position, I think being an art editor would be really exciting. I don’t have any experience with art, other than my own personal interests. But, handling submissions of people’s artwork would be really exciting and interesting.

5.   Describe one of your favorite literary works.

My favorite poet of all time would have to be Gary Snyder. All of his work speaks to me on a very personal level; the calm that ensues from reading his poetry lifts my mood instantly! “Rip Rap” is by far my favorite poem of his. I think I have learned a lot from his writing, and have carried a bit of Snyder into my own style.

6.   What are you currently reading?

Currently, I am reading Shopgirl by Steve Martin and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë.

7.   Creatively, what are you currently working on?

I try to fit in as much time as I can every week to allow myself to write freely. I love writing poetry; it’s a very cathartic experience for me. I keep a portfolio of my work and try to update it every month with some solid pieces that I think will be worth someone’s time in the future when I explore writing as a career.

8.   What inspires you?

I feel that every day holds moments of beauty and poetry. I challenge myself to notice these moments and treasure them. Often, I write lyric poems praising small and seemingly insignificant occurrences or objects, even images and realizations that I think will bring a smile to my face one day going back and reading my own work. I also tend to write a lot of confessional style poetry. It can feel very cleansing when experiencing struggles in life.

9.   What are you most proud of?

I am proud of my positive attitude and appreciation for life. Not everyone can say that they are truly happy, and I take pride in knowing that I have taken the right steps to be just where I want and need to be in life.

10.   Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years I hope to be working in the publishing industry and have published some of my own poetry. I would love it if I had the opportunity to share my work with the public and make a career out of something I am so passionate about.

Meet The Interns: Mary Richardson

Mary Richardson is a sophomore at Arizona State University and is a student of the Barrett Honors College. She is pursuing a concurrent major in English Literature and European History. She is also a Fiction Reviewer for ASU’s Lux Literary Magazine. Her career aspirations are to work in editing/publishing or to be a professor.

1. What is your position with Superstition Review and what are your responsibilities?

I am the Reading Series Coordinator for the magazine, which means I organize readings events that display the works and talents of selected writers/poets.

2. Why did you decide to get involved with Superstition Review?

I’m really interested in publishing as a career possibility. Also, literature and poetry are very enriching for me, and I appreciate that this internship is centered around these subjects.

3. Besides interning for Superstition Review, how do you spend your time?

I spend a majority of my time running, doing yoga, reading, or writing. It’s also very important to be with my close friends and family.

4. What other position(s) for Superstition Review would you like to try out?

I would be very interested in the Content Coordinator position once I have more experience.

5. Describe one of your favorite literary works.

Wuthering Heights has long been my favorite novel. I’m very intrigued by Emily Brontë’s use of language to present and develop the characters. I’m also interested in how she delves into the concepts of time, memory, and human nature.

6. What are you currently reading?

I recently began One Hundred Years of Solitude.

7. Creatively, what are you currently working on?

I really enjoy writing short stories. Right now I’m in the process of brainstorming a new one.

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I see myself continuing my current hobbies and interests, while also pursuing new ones. I hope to be part of a community that appreciates the same aspects of life as I do.

Meet the Interns: Christelle Hobby, Web Designer

Christelle Hobby is an ASU senior pursuing concurrent degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Creative Writing.

Superstition Review: What is your position with Superstition Review and what are your responsibilities?

Christelle Hobby: I am one of two Web Designers, and we are basically responsible for creating, uploading, and organizing all elements necessary for getting the website up and running.

SR: How did you hear about Superstition Review and what made you decide to get involved?

CH: I received an email telling me about internship opportunities at SR and I immediately went onto the website and knew it was something I had to get involved in. It has all of the subjects I am studying, as well as the areas I hope to find myself working in some day.

SR: What are you hoping to take away from your Superstition Review experience?

CH: I am hoping to improve my skills as a web designer, and I would also like to really understand all of the elements that go into publishing. It is the career I hope to find myself in one day and I just feel like this semester with SR will put me closer to that dream.

SR: Describe one of your favorite literary or artistic works.

CH: My favorite book ever is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I have read it quite a few times and I never get sick of it. It is brutal and romantic at the same time and you find a reason to hate every character as much as you love them. It is a classic that transcends time.

SR: What are you currently reading?

CH: I am currently reading The Shack by William Paul Young. It is a fairly religious piece, which is not a style I typically read, so I am still trying to get accustomed to the prose and the somewhat predictably perfect plot.

SR: What is your favorite Superstition Review section, and why?

CH: I am a Creative Writing Fiction major, so fiction always takes the cake. I never get sick of reading a new story and the writers who have contributed to SR in the past have shown that we can only expect good things from the writers in this edition.

SR: What other position(s) for Superstition Review would you like to try out?

CH: I would absolutely love to be one of the Fiction Editors. While I am excited by the idea of putting together the whole site, like I said, I love my fiction.

SR: Do you prefer reading literary magazines online or in print?

CH: I typically visit literary magazines online, however I don’t think it ever really compares to print. There is just something traditional and wonderful about holding the pages in your hands.

SR: Do you write or create art? What are you currently working on?

CH: I am a writer, and I am currently working to improve my skills by inundating myself with the written word. While I try to continuously produce short stories I am focusing primarily on reading and studying a variety of modern day writers.

SR: What is your favorite mode of relaxation?

CH: It may sound cliché, but a glass of wine, a good book, and fuzzy slippers put me in my favorite state of relaxation.

SR: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

CH: In 10 years I hope to be working for a publishing company and have my own writing be an ever-present side project.