Re-Meet a Staff Member: Alexa Laharty
Yellow Arrow Publishing would like to reintroduce Alexa Laharty (she/her), our creative director (started in 2019 as an editorial associate, became creative director in 2021, and now in an expanded role). Alexa is a designer and sometimes archaeologist living in Berlin, Germany. She grew up in Portland, Oregon (just a few blocks away from Gwen [Van Velsor], Yellow Arrow’s founder!), before moving to Boston, Massachusetts, for her bachelor’s degree, and then the United Kingdom for her master’s. She spent most of the last decade as an archaeologist, before finally making the switch to a career in design. You can find her on Instagram @alexaelisabeth.
Alexa says, “It has been so exciting to see the way Yellow Arrow has grown over the six and a half years that I’ve been part of the team. I’m really looking forward to using my expanded role to help us find and solidify a strong visual identity that aligns with the ethos of our organization. I’m also very excited to have the opportunity to work with more members of our staff.”
Tell us a little something about yourself:
Creative work and hobbies take up a huge portion of my life, one of my favorites being knitting. My big knitting goal for this year is to make my first ever Aran/cable-knit sweater.
What do you love most about where you live?
There is a lot to love about Berlin: the abundance of interesting, artistic people from all over the world, the never ending list of incredible restaurants, cafés, and bars, some of the best museums I’ve ever been to, and, of course, the bike lanes! But the thing I love the most is how the city comes alive with joy and excitement on the first warm, sunny day each year. How people flock to the parks and canals with music and picnics, and how that atmosphere maintains itself all through the summer.
How did you get involved with Yellow Arrow?
I worked with our Editor-in-Chief, Kapua Iao, on an archaeological project in Greece for several years, and it was through her that I found out about Yellow Arrow and first came on as a reader and editor for Yellow Arrow Journal. A year and a half later I became the creative director, which at the time primarily entailed cover art creation for our publications, as well as a bit of logo and merchandise design. My role is now being expanded, so I will be working on a wider range of projects both on the publication and branding side. I care a lot about Yellow Arrow, so I am thrilled about the chance to take on a larger role and be involved in more areas of our work.
What are you working on currently?
My wedding anniversary is coming up, and each year I design a poster to commemorate the occasion. I love designing posters (they are my favorite thing to create in the realm of graphic design), so this is a long form project I’ve started to show how my husband and I change over the years as well as how my design style and interests develop.
What genre do you read the most and why?
When reading, I love to feel transported to different times and places, whether those be real or fictional. I am a huge fan of fantasy novels, though I also read a lot of literary fiction. Currently I am reading Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb, and a recent book that I loved was The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden.
Can you recall an early memory that might have sparked your love of writing/reading?
I loved playing with dolls as a child and would make up very elaborate storylines for them. This progressed into writing plays for my friends and I to perform when I got a little older, which in turn progressed into writing short stories, and now I am taking a stab at writing a novel. I can’t pinpoint the true beginning of it all, I just know that I’ve been coming up with narratives for as long as I can remember.
What books are on the top of your to-be-read pile?
My top two contenders are Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier and My Friends by Hisham Matar (both came highly recommended from friends whose literary taste I have a deep trust in).
Who has inspired and/or supported you most in your writing journey?
I have so many incredibly talented friends who inspire me to pursue my creative dreams, but my number one source of daily support and encouragement is my husband, Andy.
If you could have a workspace anywhere, where would it be and why?
I would love to have my own office in my house or apartment. It would be lined with bookshelves and have enough storage space for all of my crafting supplies. There would be a big wooden desk in front of a window overlooking a garden or some kind of water, and in the corner I would have a big cozy chair for reading and knitting.
What advice do you have for new writers or anyone starting a new adventure?
Don’t be afraid to talk about your writing/creative dreams and goals with your friends/family/loved ones. You will get more encouragement than you might expect.
What’s your vision for Yellow Arrow in 2026?
This year I hope that we at Yellow Arrow are able to reach even more writers and artists than in previous years and continue to help their work be seen.
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Yellow Arrow Publishing is a nonprofit supporting women-identifying writers through publication and access to the literary arts. You can support us as we LUMINATE a path for women-identifying creatives this year by purchasing one of our publications or a workshop from the Yellow Arrow bookstore, for yourself or as a gift, joining our newsletter, following us on Facebook and Instagram, or subscribing to our YouTube channel. Donations are appreciated via PayPal (staff@yellowarrowpublishing.com), Venmo (@yellowarrowpublishing), or US mail (PO Box 65185, Baltimore, Maryland 21209). More than anything, messages of support through any one of our channels are greatly appreciated.