English Department
Q & A with recent English graduate Miala Leong
Q: What are you doing now?
A: I am currently in my second quarter in Portland State University’s Masters in Book Publishing program. This particular masters program is unique and highly specialized; students learn about all aspects of the publishing process, from acquiring a manuscript to marketing to bookselling. Under the guidance of our instructors, students actually run a publishing company, Ooligan Press, that produces a variety of books each year. I hope to intern with a local publisher in the next school year so I can experience a traditional publishing environment. I’m also pursuing a part-time job as a bookseller so I can learn about yet another facet of the publishing industry. Though I hadn’t always intended to make a career out of book publishing, I love everything I’m learning, and I plan to earn a living in the publishing industry.
Q: How has your literature degree helped you get to where you are now?
A: In terms of being accepted into the PSU publishing program, I would say that my degree has helped tremendously. Though I haven’t been a part of PSU’s publishing program for long, I know that success in the publishing industry is largely based on relationships and effective communication skills. Writing-intensive literature courses at Pacific helped me to hone those essential communication skills. I also credit my success in graduate school to all the personalized attention I received from my professors as an undergraduate student; all the knowledge that my B.A. represents was made possible largely by those professors.
Q: What do you want to be doing in the next five years or so?
A: In the next five years, I will have earned my Masters of Science in Book Publishing. I hope to return home to Hawai`i to work for a publishing company there. Though I’m currently undecided in terms of what role I’d like to play in the publishing process, editing has been my forte since high school. Still, I plan to keep an open mind and continue to learn everything PSU’s program has to offer. With such a specialized degree in hand, I hope I’ll look like an extremely appealing and qualified individual to potential employers. I also want to travel to places like New Zealand and Tahiti to learn more about publishing trends in the countries of the Pacific Ocean.