J Leigh Nelson

A writer, dabbling artist, and social media spirit guide ushering authors into the web world

Resume

Education

NYU Summer Publishing Institute
2009 New York, NY

Certificate in Publishing

University of Wisconsin—La Crosse
2005-2009 La Crosse, WI

            BA in English (writing and rhetoric emphasis) & Creative Writing minor
                        Dean’s List
                        3.92 GPA
                        Who’s Who Among Students 2009

London Metropolitan University
2007 London, England

Study abroad program

Relevant Experience

Hal Leonard Publicity/Marketing Assistant
2009-current New York, NY

Launched social media strategy
Primary publicist for 5 books each season
Scheduled author events and interviews
Wrote press releases and event invitations
Compiled lists of relevant media and contacted them regarding new releases, offering review copies, interviews, giveaways, excerpts
Circulate publicity hits daily and in monthly summaries
Worked at trades shows like Audio Engineers trade show and BEA
Managed online accounts' product pages (Amazon, B&N, Borders)
Marketed practical guides to theatres and theatre organizations
Managed the catalog creation and facilitated creating new catalog design
Submitted CIP data to Library of Congress

Archipelago Books Intern
2009 Brooklyn, NY

· Proof-read manuscripts

· Organized book tours and created flyers for those events

· Sold books at the Brooklyn Book Festival

Bleak House Books Intern
2008 Madison, WI

· Organized author Evan Kilgore’s L.A. summer book tour

· Wrote, filmed, and edited a book trailer for The Children of Black Valley (Vegas)

· Wrote press releases for new books and sent them to newspapers and magazines

The Buzz magazine co-creator
2008 La Crosse, WI

· Interviewed bands, wrote 8 articles, layout (MS Publisher), uploaded to MagCloud

Steam Ticket Literary Journal staff
2006 La Crosse, WI

· Fiction Reader: read all entries and selected the pieces for publication

University of Wisconsin—La Crosse Webmaster
2005-2009 La Crosse, WI

· Designed and maintained the English Department website (FrontPage)

· Created flyers for English Department events (Photoshop)

· Video production and web design for a colloquia event, “Not Fade Away” (Vegas)

Campus Activities Board coordinator
2005-2009 La Crosse, WI

· Publicity and Performing Arts Coordinators (riders, preparation, day-of-show, video)

English Club member and Vice President
2005-2009 La Crosse, WI

· Book drives, volunteer work, created posters, hosted open mic night, edited literary journal

Awards and Publications

Story published in The Catalyst Literary Journal
2009 La Crosse, WI

Essay published in Authors of Tomorrow
2008

Extremefilmmaker.com winner
2007 Los Angeles, CA

· Wrote, directed, filmed, and edited 6-minute film in less than 48 hours

· Extremefilmmaker chose it as 1 of 12 to be featured in their film fest in L.A.

Skills

Web tools: Dreamweaver, FrontPage Adobe Photoshop

Video tools: Final Cut, Pinnacle, Premier, Vegas Microsoft Office

CisionPoint (Bacons) some InDesign