One Year of Penumbra

by Dianna L. Gunn

When I emailed Celina Summers to ask about an internship with Penumbra last September, I didn't expect a response. When she invited me to join the Musa team, I expected six months of reading submissions then be sent on my way.

My expectations couldn't have been more wrong. At the end of October I was assigned to work with a team of interns on creating the third issue of Penumbra. My duties included editing and interviewing Homer Eon Flint's granddaughter and Musa author Vella Munn. I had great fun working with the other interns—and I am not a fan of group projects—and was thrilled with our December issue.

Since then, I've worked on several issues of Penumbra and interviewed a number of authors—including William Horwood, a hero on my personal bookshelf. I've also managed the blog, corresponding with authors to round up posts. I've even helped update Penumbra's Facebook and Twitter.

When I signed up as an intern, I didn't expect any of these opportunities. Sure, it's ended up being more complicated than what I originally signed up for, but it's also been a great learning experience. I've learned so much about writing, publishing, and how much work really goes into your favourite magazines. Even better, I've had the opportunity to meet and interview dozens of authors—both Penumbra authors and authors from each of Musa's imprints.

But what really stands out about working with the Penumbra team and the Musa staff isn't the lessons I've learned or the opportunities I've been given. It's the feeling that I've been brought into a big, happy family. Big staff meetings don't stress me out—instead, I look forward talking to the team and working to create our next issue. We've all been brought together by a love of fiction and a belief in the things Musa and Penumbra stand for—turning writers into authors, providing readers with great fiction, and paying our authors professional rates while keeping our fiction affordable.

I've had to take a step back from the actual Penumbra issues due to other commitments, but I'm still here working in the background. I've watched this magazine grow so much; I love each issue more than the last. I'm proud of what we do here at Penumbra and I hope to stay with this emagazine for years—both because I love the emagazine and because I love the people behind it.

Dianna L. Gunn is a young Canadian fiction writer who specializes in dark fantasy. She also writes poetry, generally dark, which is her way of dealing with life. This insightful author hosts a website covering every aspect of fiction writing and interviews with noted guest authors.

Learn more about Dianna L. Gunn on her website and follow her on Twitter.