Local Woman Becomes Head
of Major Publishing Company

Jane Doe : January 2017

ST LOUIS, MO: Leah Hurt, a former resident of Evansville, Indiana, recently became the head of one of the most prominent publishing companies in St. Louis.   Hurt, a 2007 graduate of Millikin University, says that she's "excited to rise to this new challenge" and "hopes to maintain the company's well-respected status while introducing new ideas."  

  Hurt majored in English Literature at Millikin, but says she was undecided on a career until her sophomore year. "I tried several different paths, but none seemed appealing as a lifelong career until I was finally introduced to literary editing.   My goal since that point was to create a portfolio diverse enough to ensure a job at the publishing company of my choice."

  Hurt has been working in the company for ten years, and has also been writing on the side. "For the longest time, creative writing was my least favorite aspect of studying English.   I couldn't seem to convey my thoughts into words."   Hurt says she owes her growth in writing to her friends and teachers who "challenged [her] and allowed [her] to grow."

Group of Recent College Graduates Land Spot on Best-Sellers' List

Jane Doe : April 2009

NEW YORK, NY: A close group of friends gather in a coffee shop to chat and share memories.   To any casual observer, these friends might seem like every other group of Twenty-Somethings who frequent coffee shops and laugh too loudly.   However, on closer inspection, one would find that this group is anything but ordinary.

  I had a chance to meet with the six authors of Don't Not Talking , and I can easily see how their charisma and humor could become a catalyst for one of the best-selling books in the nation.   Christopher Bailey, 25, Julie Lawton, 24, Max Evans, 24, Matt Jarboe, 24, Leah Hurt, 23, and Staci Anslinger, 23, have been friends since high school.   Some met earlier than that, but they say this particular group formed during their high school years.  

  Hurt says that the book was fated to be written.   "Several different times, Christopher had mentioned writing a book together, but we never thought anything would come of it.   Well one day he got a package in the mail from some publishing company who practically said that if he wrote a book, they would publish it.   That got us all thinking about it again, and this time we actually planned some chapters.   But then nothing came of it and so we all stopped thinking about it. I guess no one really forgot it though, because we all worked on our sections a little at a time, and before we knew it, we had a book!"

  The group has big ambitions and they say they wouldn't mind seeing a screenplay made from their novel. However, for right now, they seem happy with their success and their friendship.

  They have not decided if they will be doing another book together, but Christopher and Leah both stated that they've been tossing around ideas for individual projects.   Look for Don't Not Talking in bookstores nation-wide.

Local College Student Uses Literature to Teach Preschool

Jane Doe : August 2006

EVANSVILLE, IN: A local college student has been using her knowledge of literature to help teach her preschool students at Bethany Christian Daycare.   Leah Hurt, who will be returning to Millikin University for her senior year, has been teaching at Bethany for the past four summers.   "I love working with the kids, and it means a lot to me to be able to share my favorite stories with them," says Hurt, while picking up crayons and glue sticks from a messy, scribbled-on table.

  Hurt studies literature at Millikin and hopes one day to be a literary editor for a publishing company.   However, for right now she is content to start her pupils on the path to reading with some of her familiar favorites.   "Dr. Seuss and The Berenstein Bears were very influential in my childhood, and I love that I can share that with others now."  

  Hurt says that it was some of her classes that got her thinking about bringing more literature into her summer classroom.   "I actually took a course titled 'Writing for Children' and I remember thinking 'Wow, my kids would love these stories!'"   Hurt also says that she has found herself including her students in many of her writings.   "Now when I write, I tend to associate what I have learned as a teacher with what I am learning as a student.   Teaching literature to kids just barely learning to read has really affected my reading and writing."   Hurt plans to try another children's book sometime in the future.   "Hopefully this one will make it to a publisher," she jokes.

Untitled Editorial

Leah Hurt : September 2005

DECATUR, IL:   I used to think of writing as a sadistic means of torture that professors used when they felt the semester was getting too easy.   Or too hard. Really, they just used it to make us sweat and suffer and stress ourselves to the point of exhaustion.   But writing was never my biggest fear.   Simply writing something was actually pretty easy for me.   It was the fact that others would be reading my writing and analyzing it that made me squeamish.   So when Dr. George approached me with the opportunity to create, edit and write for a brand-new newsletter for the English Department, I was certainly leery.

  I decided to help Dr. George because I want to be a literary editor, and there's no way that will happen unless I conquer my fear of having people read my work.   This is a great opportunity for me for so many reasons, but my personal goal is to gain comfort in writing.   So I apologize to you, my little guinea pigs, but this the best way to teach myself a lesson.   I hope you enjoy our hard work, and please, be gentle.   I'm new to this.