Program: MAWP

Graduate Assistant Role: Associate Editor, Poetry East

Publications:

McNamara, Andrew. “Ahead of the Curve.” Montgomery Living, September 2009, pp. 26-28.
McNamara, Andrew. “The Art of Jewelry Making.” Montgomery Living, June 2010, pp. 18-20.
McNamara, Andrew. “The Art of Words.” Montgomery Living, June 2009, pp. 22-23.
McNamara, Andrew. “Field of Dreamz.” Montgomery Living, March 2010, pp. 44-47.
McNamara, Andrew. “Harboring Food and Fun.” Montgomery Living, August 2009, pp. 16-17.
McNamara, Andrew. “Pigeon Forge: A Family Hot-Spot.” Montgomery Living, July 2010, pp. 58-60.
McNamara, Andrew. “Playing Together.” Montgomery Living, December 2009, pp. 36-38.
McNamara, Andrew. Review of Snakeskin Road, by James Braziel. First Draft Reviews Online, Alabama Writers’ Forum, November 2009.

Favorite Authors: David Sedaris, Nick Hornby, Philip Roth, and Tim O’Brien.

Favorite Genre of Writing: Though I love a good work of fiction, I’m partial to nonfiction and creative nonfiction—essays, memoirs, travel writing, arts journalism, and popular histories.

Plans for the school year: I plan on balancing mainly writing and publishing workshops geared towards my career goals of writing for magazines and professional digital publishing. I also plan on joining the English Graduate Student Association and attending their various events.

I graduated magna cum laude from Huntingdon College (Montgomery, AL) in 2007 with a B.A. in English and History. While at Huntingdon I served as captain of the men’s soccer team and was actively involved in Greek life and English departmental student affairs. After college I spent a year bouncing between jobs as a soccer coach and official, a Starbucks barista, and a financial services representative, before making the decision to follow my heart and make the written word my career of choice.

In 2008 I took a giant leap of faith and joined publisher NewSouth Books as an unpaid intern, and that risk paid off when I was hired into the editorial department after a few short weeks. I worked in the editorial department for two years, where I was responsible for everything from proof reading and copy editing to blog writing to author relations and publicity.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at NewSouth, where I was fortunate to meet and work with many wonderful and talented authors. While there I also served as a contributing writer for local southern lifestyle magazine Montgomery Living, and I also contributed book reviews to the Alabama Writers’ Forum. I’m excited to work with Richard Jones as associate editor of Poetry East, and I look forward to the rewarding experience of graduate studies in writing and publishing. When I’m not writing or working, I enjoy attending concerts, jackleg photography, traveling, running, watching and playing soccer, Auburn University football (War Eagle!), and taking my Weimaraner/Lab puppy Lucy on walks through Lincoln Park.