Meet a Staff Member: Sydney Alexander

This year, a publications fellowship was created at Yellow Arrow Publishing to give a woman-identifying creative the opportunity to experience how a publishing company runs. We are grateful to everyone who applied and interviewed for the position and are excited to introduce Sydney Alexander, our inaugural publications fellow. Sydney grew up in the Baltimore area and graduated from Middlebury College with a joint degree in English and geography. At Yellow Arrow, she previously served as an intern, an editorial associate, and a reader. She has also worked at New England Review and Galiot Press.

Sydney says, “It’s really special to be able to look at Yellow Arrow’s bookshop and remember each of the publications I worked on, knowing that I was able to contribute to putting something so tangible together. I’m excited to work on Yellow Arrow’s forthcoming publications and meet all the new authors.”

Tell us a little something about yourself:

I recently graduated from Middlebury College and will be moving to New York City at the end of the summer.

What do you love most about Baltimore?

I love the bookstores of Baltimore. Atomic Books in Hampden and Greedy Reads in Fells Point are my two favorites, and I love that they curate weirder, more experimental fiction than your typical bookstore. I feel like this speaks to Baltimore’s sort of alternative scene and the way that weird art thrives here, which is my favorite kind!

How did you get involved with Yellow Arrow and what do you do for us?

The summer after my freshman year of college, I interned at Yellow Arrow, where I was first introduced to its many publications, authors, and staff members. At the end of my internship, I joined the staff as a reader and editorial associate and stayed for several years. I’m excited to be back as the inaugural publications fellow, and I look forward to the administrative and logistical experience it’ll bring. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes of a literary magazine and publisher, and I’m excited to contribute! I think Yellow Arrow’s devotion to its mission of uplifting women writers is really meaningful, and I love how it connects me to Baltimore’s literary community.

What are you working on currently?

I’m currently working on a collection of magical realist short stories.

What genre do you write and/or read the most and why?

I love speculative fiction and magical realism. I don’t know why, but I love reading weird, magical books. Some of my favorite authors include Karen Russell and Carmen Maria Machado. I also love really winding, beautiful prose, like what Joyce Carol Oates and Janet Fitch write.

Can you recall an early memory that might have sparked your love of writing/reading? ‍

When I was in elementary school, my dad got me to read a lot of high fantasy classics: The Belgariad, The Once and Future King, Firebrand, you name it. I don’t really read much high fantasy anymore, but I remember those as being really formative. I also read tons of comics: Gunnerkrigg Court, Bone, and Calvin and Hobbes, to name a few. I think all these together developed my love for weird, speculative lit.

What book is on the top of your to-be-read pile?

I just picked up Little Nothing by Marisa Silver at Greedy Reads the other day. I had never heard of it before, but when I saw it on the shelf I was really drawn to the cover.

Who has inspired and/or supported you most in your writing journey or in everyday life?

My family, my friends, and my college professors.

If you could have a workspace anywhere, where would it be and why?

Somewhere with either a view of trees or a view of a city skyline, but preferably trees. I’ve also been collecting postcards and bookmarks over the years, and I also often find inspiration in having those up on my walls around my desk. Otherwise, somewhere near windows that let in a lot of natural light.

What advice do you have for new writers or anyone starting a new adventure?

Read a lot. Watch movies and television. Read the news. Strike up conversations with random people and learn about their lives. Be open to the world. There is so much to be gained from engaging with art and with people. Otherwise, follow your natural interests wherever they may lead you.

What’s your vision for Yellow Arrow in 2026?

My vision for Yellow Arrow in 2026 is to continue growing and uplifting the voices of women writers.

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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.