Publishing Intern

Crooked Lane Books / Alcove Press; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 18,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Crooked Lane Books / Alcove Press in New York City offers a full-time 3-month internship combining production and subsidiary rights work. The role is in-person three days a week with remote two days, designed to teach the entire publishing process from manuscript delivery to finished book.

You will assist with production, track contracts, prepare submission materials, and participate in meetings, gaining hands-on experience across editorial, production, and licensing functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required.
• 1–2 internships at publishing houses or agencies preferred.
• Must be organized and detail-oriented with ability to handle diverse tasks.
• Willingness to take independent responsibility for projects immediately.
• Strong spreadsheet and data-management capabilities helpful.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the production of titles and manage manuscript files.
• Handle subsidiary rights materials, packets, and licensing tracking.
• Provide day-to-day administrative support and file maintenance.
• Evaluate submissions and prepare brief reader reports for editors.
• Attend in-house meetings and contribute to cross-functional projects.

Skills

Organized

Detail-oriented

Spreadsheet skills

Research skills

Analytical thinking

Self-motivation

Independent project management

Education

Bachelor's degree (BA/BS)

Job description

Full Time, 3 months with the possibility of extending. This role is in-person in New York City three days a week, and remote two days a week. Crooked Lane Books / Alcove Press is looking for a creative, ambitious, and versatile intern to join our team. This is a unique, ground-floor opportunity with immediate chances for learning and growth. It will challenge anyone whose interests combine production and subsidiary rights responsibilities. Duties include assisting in the production of all titles, subsidiary rights work, administrative work, occasional evaluation of submissions, and attendance at in-house meetings. This is a high-level, cross-functional internship designed for candidates ready to absorb new information and immediately apply it. You will gain a comprehensive view of the entire publication process—from manuscript delivery to finished book. This role is ideal for those interested in the logistical challenges of production combined with the business and legal aspects of subsidiary rights.

Production

• Communicating with authors on needed materials and information
• Tracking contract and agreement data
• Creating and maintaining spreadsheets, reports, and files of vital information
• Contributing to cover design discussions
• Assisting with production and manuscript files

Subsidiary Rights

• Preparing materials (submission packets, pitch documents) for foreign, audio, and large print licensing opportunities
• Tracking department information, including submission responses, contracts, payments, and domestic acquisitions
• Managing narrator approvals for audio editions
• Assisting with preparation for the Frankfurt and London Book Fairs

General

• Providing day-to-day administrative support
• Occasional evaluation of new submissions and preparing brief reader reports for the editorial team
• Conduct special research projects as they arise, including comparable titles and sales analysis

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Have a B.A. or B.S.
• Have had at least 1-2 applicable internships at publishing houses or agencies with a familiarity with the general structure and workflow of the book publishing industry
• Must be an organized and detail-oriented entrepreneur who is able to work on projects that require a diverse skill set
• Be ready to take independent responsibility for projects immediately
• Love spreadsheets, numbers, and administrative tasks
• Be an out-of-the-box researcher who can take a research question and produce thoughtful data and information
• Have rigorous analytical thinking as well as the ability to monitor and support multiple projects simultaneously
• Be passionate not only about books but the processes that deliver them to readers
• Be poised for rapid professional growth
• An interest in mysteries and book club fiction is a plus