Salena Loveland, a student at Dickinson State University (DSU), was recently notified that two of her writings are to be featured in Z Publishing House’s Emerging Writers fiction and nonfiction anthologies.
Z Publishing House, based in southeastern Wisconsin, got its start online, publishing various authors’ works in the form of a blog in 2015. After experiencing incredible growth, the company decided to open a physical location and publish in print. Z Publishing boasts a number of different publications, from anthologies of poets writing from specific American states to compilations based on themes, like nature and love. Their website states, “By producing anthologies of multiple authors rather than single-author volumes, Z Publishing hopes to foster a community of readers and writers, bringing all sides of the industry closer together.”
Loveland’s many interests have shaped her academic career and involvement on and off campus. She is seeking a Bachelor of Arts in English on the creative writing track, and she is completing minors in communication and graphic design. She tutors for the Academic Success Center between classes, mainly working with students on their writing. Loveland has also been an intern for the Office of Communications & Public Affairs at the University for nearly one year, and in the spring, she will switch from a writing focus to graphic design. She is a part of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society new to campus this fall. In the past, she has been a part of the Heart River Writers’ Circle, the CommUniversity committee, New Student Orientation Leaders, and has participated in different productions for the DSU and community theatres.
The pieces that were picked up by the publishing firm include “Houses,” a work of fiction, and her nonfiction short story, “Plain Heart.” She had submitted her writings to a few different publishers as part of a creative writing class; she knew her efforts were successful when she was publishing in DSU’s Impressions magazine. This latest bit of good news came not too long after. “Z Publishing House actually contacted me,” Loveland stated, “with an email saying they noticed my creative nonfiction piece in Impressions and was wondering if I’d be interested in submitting work to these anthologies.”
“’Plain Heart’ is about my life growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness and not being able to celebrate holidays,” Loveland explained. “As an adult now, celebrating holidays, I’m reflecting back on what my life was like as a child.”
Loveland wasn’t as forthcoming on her other piece, “Houses.” “Well, I don’t want to give it away; I want people to read it!” she started. “The gist of it is a woman reflecting on a moment in time when she was a child that she spent with her father, about building a playhouse.”
Loveland is continually working on other pieces she’d like to submit to publishers in the future. She plans to pursue a Masters in Fine Arts after her graduation this spring. The Emerging Writers anthologies will be published Oct. 30, 2018. The books are available for pre-order on https://www.zpublishinghouse.com/.
