Those wanting to hear about a great opportunity for aspiring writers and publishers are invited to the third bi-anual Publishing Festival on Wednesday, Oct. 15.
SUNY Oswego welcomes three notable SUNY graduates who presently work in the publishing industry to share their experiences and why they chose the world of publishing. The itinerary consists of a panel at 3 p.m. in the Marano Campus Center auditorium (room 132), followed by a reception at 4:30 p.m.
This is the first Publishing Festival with an all-SUNY panel, which includes two Oswego alumni talking about the experiences and opportunities that they had at this university, and what students should take advantage of before they graduate. Organizers said the overall festival will offer helpful information and experiences for anyone who is interested in the world of publishing.
Senior panelist Becky Oliver DiGenova, a 2007 SUNY Oswego graduate, has worked as a content strategist, writer and editor for Forbes magazine and is currently a senior editor at Fitch Ink. DiGenova has shaped content strategy for clients in healthcare, technology, finance and more. Along with Forbes, DiGenova works with Seeking Alpha, a magazine that focuses on the economy. DiGenova graduated with a degree in creative writing and attended NYU’s Summer Publishing Institute during her time at Oswego.
Panelist Susan Velazquez Colmant graduated from SUNY Oswego in 2016 with a degree in creative writing and a minor in gender studies. Colmant was published in the Great Lakes Review three times over her years at Oswego. She presently manages translation and audio rights for her agency as a literary agent and sub rights director at JABberwocky. Colmant also pursues her own personal client list, focusing on authors in romance, romantacy, fantasy and other related genres.
The other panelist is Shannon Plackis, a 2016 graduate of SUNY New Paltz who majored in English and minored in creative writing. She has edited bestsellers and worked with acclaimed authors, such as Kate Clayborn, Annie Rains and Katie Siegel. A PEN American Literary Award finalist, Plackis is presently a senior editor at AvonBooks, and she has collaborated with authors that have won titles like Indie Next and Library Reads picks and Book of the Month selections.
Organizers hope the event provides professional advice and opens doorways into publishing that some students might not yet even know about. The panel represents an amazing opportunity for all creatives to see what the industry is like at present, along with how to break into a notoriously difficult field. This panel will provide people with ideas for opportunities and experiences that they can seek out on their way to creating a career. Questions for the panelists are encouraged.
-- Submitted by the Publishing Festival Committee