Meet The Interns: Katie McCoach

Katie McCoach is in her senior year at Arizona State University majoring in Communications and Creative Writing with her focus in Fiction. Katie is originally from a small town in Maryland and decided on a whim to attend college 2000 miles away from her childhood home. She has had a nonfiction piece published in Kalliope and currently writes for a volunteer newsletter.

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

Katie McCoach: This is my first semester with Superstition Review as a Nonfiction Editor. It is my job to solicit submissions, correspond with authors, review submissions, and decide on which pieces will be published in the magazine. And at the end of the year we have our launch party for the issue.

SR: Why did you decide to get involved with Superstition Review?

KM: I am very interested in the publishing business/world and there is no better way to learn about than be apart of it. I love that I get to be a part of the decision making process of what is published; it’s great to be able to show readers what these authors have in them and be a part of that.

SR: Besides interning for Superstition Review, how do you spend your time?

KM: A lot of my time is spent on schoolwork and at my part-time job, but also a lot of it is spent writing; I’m completing my capstone in fiction and I write nonfiction and blog on the side. Besides that I love just being able to grab a margarita with my friends and unwind.

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

KM: I think interview editor would be a neat position. In my nonfiction class this summer I got a taste for interviewing and I also write mini interviews at my part-time job; I find interviewing different people so interesting because they all have stories to tell.

SR: Describe one of your favorite literary works.

KM: I’ll have to say my favorite author instead, which is Augusten Burroughs. I’m pretty sure I read Sellevison first which is his only fiction piece and it’s hilarious, besides that I’ve read all his nonfiction works and love them. He is an incredible memoirist and my favorite pieces happen to be the simplest moments versus his crazy childhood or alcohol addiction. I love when memoirists make the small moments the most interesting and that is what I reach towards and will hope to find in submissions this semester.

SR: What are you currently reading?

KM: I just finished a young adult series by Scott Westerfeld called Uglies. Even though I should have outgrown young adult fiction by now, I think that they are the most enjoyable works; my favorite part of reading is just letting go and with Scott Westerfeld’s work I can do just that.

SR: Creatively, what are you currently working on?

KM: Right now I am working on my capstone project, which is a few fiction short stories and revising them a lot. And another longer project I’m working towards is a themed short story collection.

SR: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

KM: In 10 years? That’s too far to know! I am not one to overly plan my future because I know things never go as planned completely, but I do hope to be published, living in California and working with a publishing company or in the background of the movie industry. As long as I never stop writing and am happy–if in 10 years I can say that, then I’ve reached success.

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7 thoughts on “Meet The Interns: Katie McCoach

  • October 18, 2010 at 2:43 pm
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    Augusten Burroughs has a very distinct style and taste. I’ve read his novels Dry, Sellevision, and Running with Scissors, and I find that when I’ve discussed his work with people, they usually love him or hate him. Dave Eggers is another author I like that makes small moments defining and interesting with his eccentric descriptions.

    It’s great to hear about your passion for writing!

  • October 18, 2010 at 8:45 pm
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    Thanks for the name of Augusten Burroughs, as I’m always looking for nonfiction authors to add to my list of favorites. And congratulations on being published in Kalliope!

  • October 18, 2010 at 9:46 pm
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    You’re never too old for YA fiction! I haven’t read Westerfeld’s Uglies series, but I enjoy some of the other YA fantasy (who doesn’t like Harry Potter?). If you like Uglies, you might try the trilogy by Libba Bray that begins with “A Great and Terrible Beauty.” The books are definitely young adult-ish but totally worth it for a fun read.

  • October 19, 2010 at 11:16 am
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    I admire your courage! I’ve been trying to convince myself to go out of state for grad school. Just have to figure out where.

    Good luck with your capstone!

  • October 19, 2010 at 4:52 pm
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    Katie-

    I believe that the most difficult part of the writing process is revising. I am also a fiction writer and hope to pursue it at the graduate level next year. I believe a piece is never perfect, or never finished, but of course, there has to be a stopping point. Good luck in all of your endeavors!

    -Maria A.

  • October 20, 2010 at 2:15 am
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    How are you liking the Uglies series? I’ve eyed them a few times over the years but haven’t ever picked them up.
    I agree about YA fiction- I took Nilsen’s YA Fiction class last semester and it was great to reread old favorites and find out what’s new. I recommend the Hunger Games trilogy if you are looking for a fun read- its a relatively new YA series.

  • October 20, 2010 at 11:23 am
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    Thanks for the comments everyone! And I love the Uglies series, it was actually my second time reading them, I put a few years between. Actually, anything by Scott Westerfeld is great.

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