Gratitude is a Divine Emotion: Yellow Arrow Interns
“Gratitude is a divine emotion: it fills the heart, but not to bursting; it warms it, but not to fever.”
from Shirley by Charlotte Brontë
One of the many ways Yellow Arrow Publishing encourages women writers and women in publishing is through inclusion within the organization itself. We welcome (and thrive with) our volunteers and interns, not only for our own benefit but to also (hopefully) provide a prospective future publisher with some necessary tools and knowledge about the publishing world. And even if a volunteer/intern does not plan to continue within the publishing world, the tools and knowledge of working in a women-led, collaborative organization. One that champions the different and the unique. One that looks for partners and allies rather than simple connections (see our current list of partners here).
We try to find each volunteer, each intern, space in our organization to grow and flourish in the area they are most interested in (and of course where we need the most help!). Past staff members have worked at our live events and at Yellow Arrow House. They hand bound our publications and put as much love and tenderness into each copy as we could hope. Today they focus on the ins and outs of releasing a publication, running a publishing company, and our community-driven projects. Tasks can range from editing to formatting, marketing, and putting together events and workshops. Above all else, our interns support and champion staff/board, authors, workshop attendees, and themselves. We are so thankful to have had them with us on this journey.
So let’s introduce the summer 2025 interns. Each has our appreciation.
Kristen Caruso, Program Management Intern
From Hillsborough, New Jersey
What do you do? For Yellow Arrow, I work on the promotion for upcoming events, submissions, and [workshops and writers-in-residence] applications, creating social media graphics and pamphlets, scheduling posts, and writing captions. I also read and voted on the Vignette BLAZE submissions, edited part of the Yellow Arrow website, wrote blog posts, and created the July newsletter.
Where do you go to school? I’m a student at the University of Rochester, graduating in 2027.
What are you currently working on? Outside of Yellow Arrow, this summer I’m a calculus student, a writer of poetic prose and unfinished stories, an avid public library goer, a 5k runner, and an ocean swimmer.
Kristen Caruso (she/her) is a rising junior at the University of Rochester but calls New Jersey home. As a double major in English (creative writing) and business, with a minor in French, she hopes to combine her areas of study in a career in the publishing industry. Kristen’s interest in publishing began as the editor-in-chief of her high school’s yearbook organization and continues to thrive on the editorial board of her university’s art and literature journal, LOGOS. She enjoys coffee, the color green, poetry, nonfiction about trees, the ocean, Rochester snow, New Jersey pizza, music that’s somewhat bad, and lists that are too long. Find her on Instagram @kris10caruso.
She still has two more years left of school, but hopes to continue writing and learning for now, and eventually work in the publishing industry.
What is your favorite course at school? Why did you choose to take it?
I really enjoyed both my Intro to Fiction Writing and Intro to Poetry Writing courses. They were the first times I’ve truly been a part of a writing community, and I loved talking about writing and getting feedback from my peers.
Have you read anything this year that has stuck with you?
For my poetry writing class, I read Then the War, a collection of poetry by Carl Phillips. His work is just absolutely striking, and I connected deeply with a lot of his motifs—the ocean, forests, trees. Phillips came to my school to do a Q&A and a reading, and I loved hearing him talk about his work and how his life has impacted it.
Why did you choose an internship with Yellow Arrow?
When I first heard about Yellow Arrow, I was struck by its mission. Finding a cause worth working for and being passionate about was really important to me. And after meeting and working with people, I see how passionate they all are about it too.
How are things going so far?
Things are going really well! Everyone I have met and worked with are so kind and passionate about what they do. I love that my position requires me to meet different people and work on different projects.
Sophia Graney, Vignette BLAZE intern
From Fairfield, Connecticut
What do you do? I help a lot with all the work related to Yellow Arrow Vignette this summer. So far I’ve done lots of reading and reviewing/voting. Coming up is a lot of work in terms of sending emails, creating graphics and marketing for social media and for the website, and helping organize a launch event. As well as that, I’m helping more generally on reading and voting on chapbook submissions.
Where do you go to school? I’m going into my senior year at Loyola University Maryland! Graduation is expected to be May 2026.
What are you currently working on? Outside of Yellow Arrow, I’m working at my summer job at a beach. As well as that, I’m preparing for my senior year and my incoming role as student body president at Loyola. I’m also working on a few slow projects of beginning work for my senior thesis, teaching my younger cousin to read, and taking as many photos of life as possible.
Sophia Graney is a rising senior at Loyola University Maryland double majoring in English and writing with a keen interest in Shakespearean studies. With a myriad of passions, Sophia is constantly writing, organizing, and advocating for the student body as part of Loyola’s student government or chatting with friends for hours in the on-campus Starbucks. When not studying or writing her own poetry and prose in Loyola’s humanities building, Sophia can be found at Loyola’s rock-climbing wall or at the beach in her hometown of Fairfield, Connecticut. Find her on Instagram @sophia.graney.
She’ll [soon] be applying to graduate schools for funded English PhD programs!
What is your favorite course at school? Why did you choose to take it?
I can’t exactly choose one. I have two favorite courses that I have stuck with me. One was a civic literacy writing class where we learned about lots of issues facing literacy rates in our country and ways around Baltimore that were helping aid in the pursuit of reading and literary access. It was a service-based class that was taught by my favorite teacher and seemed like a no brainer to take. My other favorite class was my Shakespeare Histories and Tragedies class. I just love Shakespeare and learning about my favorite plays in a college setting was really exciting.
Have you read anything this year that has stuck with you?
On Photography by Susan Sontag.
Why did you choose to do an internship with Yellow Arrow?
Yellow Arrow was introduced to me by my friend Mel Silberger who had an internship with the press when I was a first year and she was a junior. She carried on with the group her senior year and to me, it just felt like something I wanted to be a part of, especially when I learned more about the mission of Yellow Arrow. Feminism and gender-based advocacy is a niche I have carved out for myself throughout my time in college and being a part of a woman-identifying press that aims to uplift voices is so important to me and just seemed like something I wanted to be a part of, even if just a little.
How are things going so far?
Excellent! I’m really loving the work that I’m doing. It didn’t feel like much in the beginning, just because it was a slow and steady stream of work. Now it’s more a cohesive list of objectives to complete, and I can start to see my work and its tangible effects which is always super awesome.
Kate Tourison, Publications Intern
Lives in Ellicott City, Maryland
What do you do? So far, I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with [editor-in-chief Kapua Iao] to read, format, and edit for Yellow Arrow chapbooks and Yellow Arrow Vignette BLAZE, create social media graphics to promote publications and writers in the community, engage with the Yellow Arrow website, Instagram, and Facebook, and begin writing some of my own pieces for the Yellow Arrow blog.
Where do you go to school? I go to Loyola University Maryland and will graduate next year, in May 2026.
What are you currently working on? It’s been a slow summer for me. I’ve just finished my fourth (and final) summer orientation at Loyola as a part of the new student and families programming. It’s always a highlight for me to help welcome the incoming class of first-year students and prepare for the fall semester. Aside from that, I’ve mostly been focused on graduate program research and working at my local ice cream shop.
Kate Tourison (she/her) is a rising senior at Loyola University Maryland where she majors in English and communication with a specialization in advertising and public relations. As a lifelong book lover, she is thrilled to join the Yellow Arrow team and engage with an inspiring community of women writers. During her spare time, she enjoys watching old episodes of Gilmore Girls, taking long walks with her dog, and, of course, reading! You can find her at @katetourison on Instagram.
She would love to continue working in publishing after graduation in some capacity, but being an English professor has also been a life-long dream. So I guess we shall see!
What is your favorite course at school? Why did you choose to take it?
This is a really tough one. I’m going to have to go with a tie between my seminars on Banned Books and James Joyce. The course on banned books was a no-brainer for me because I have always been passionate about reading and promoting diverse voices in literature and having conversations about the influence of modern politics on censorship. The class was an absolute blast. The class on James Joyce, on the other hand, was somewhat of a last minute decision. Ulysses was one of those books that felt impossibly daunting, even as an English major. The class, however, was such a rewarding experience with the most wonderful professor, and I can now confidently say that Joyce is one of my favorite writers.
Have you read anything this year that has stuck with you?
My gosh, I’ve gained a few new favorites this year. One that has really stuck with me is one of my first reads of the year, Yellowface by R.F. Kuang. The book follows June Hayward, a white woman and failed writer, after she steals a manuscript from successful Chinese American author Athena Lui and publishes it as her own. Kuang satirizes the U.S. publishing industry, commenting on the “push” for racial diversity and exploitation of minority stories and voices while simultaneously shedding light on the dangerous world of social media and “cancel culture.”
Why did you choose to do an internship with Yellow Arrow?
A friend of mine had previously interned for Yellow Arrow, and told me about their very positive experience. Combined with my interest in the company’s mission and ethos, working with Yellow Arrow was my top choice.
How are things going so far?
Amazing!
*****
Thank you to everyone who supports these women and all writers who toil away day after day. Please show them some love in the comments below or on social media. If interested in joining us as an intern, you can learn more at yellowarrowpublishing.com/internships.
Yellow Arrow Publishing is a nonprofit supporting women-identifying writers through publication and access to the literary arts. You can support us as we BLAZE a path for women-identifying creatives this year by purchasing one of our publications or a workshop from the Yellow Arrow bookstore, for yourself or as a gift, joining our newsletter, following us on Facebook or Instagram or subscribing to our YouTube channel. Donations are appreciated via PayPal (staff@yellowarrowpublishing.com), Venmo (@yellowarrowpublishing), or US mail (PO Box 65185, Baltimore, Maryland 21209). More than anything, messages of support through any one of our channels are greatly appreciated.