Basically:
I’m Hannah. I’m a writer, reader, and managing editor who loves all of the above plus dogs, Earl Grey tea, dark chocolate, museums, summer, and ghost stories. Seriously, I visit A LOT of museums and I’m that person who has to read everything and touch everything before I leave an exhibit. Except for the security guards. They don’t really look kindly on that.
I’m a YA/MG writer who loves writing stories with dark secrets, untold histories, stubborn characters, and the occasional spark of real magic. I am currently working on two manuscripts: one, a YA novel, the other a novel for MG/young readers.
My first book, Byberry State Hospital, (Arcadia Publishing, 2013) is a non-fiction pictorial history about the abandoned state mental hospital located in the outskirts of Philadelphia that I grew up near. I used to pass it every Saturday morning on my way to my roller skating lessons (thanks to which I can skate forwards, backwards, in circles, and with minimum injury or embarrassing falls). I used to ask my parents a million questions about the hospital and now I finally know the answers.
The Additional Facts:
My full name is Hannah Karena Jones. I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia in a pink and green house with a pink plaid kitchen ceiling and many other rainbow-worthy rooms. Every summer I was the water rat at the local swim club who would hold her breath underwater instead of obediently getting out during adult swim. When I wasn’t swimming, I was journaling in my neverending series of diaries (27 composition books and counting!), checking out the maximum amount of books from the public library, reading under the covers like it was my job, and attending various sporty summer camps in a vain attempt to improve my non-existent athletic abilities. The school year was pretty much the same: Reading Olympics, swim team, marching band, chamber orchestra, writing bad poetry for the high school literary magazine. I moved to the only official town in Pennsylvania where I read a lot (about Joan of Arc), wrote a lot (about Joan of Arc), and slept little (thanks to Joan of Arc…noticing a theme here?), ultimately graduating from Bloomsburg University with dual degrees in Creative Writing and History and a minor in Professional Writing. After that, I hung out with some of the best book nerds I’ve ever met at the New York University Summer Publishing Institute.
I’m now what some people might refer to as a “grown up” with a “grown up job” (I’m managing editor at Running Press) and I live in New Jersey with several rainbow-worthy rooms. My roommates include a cat named Gizmo and a Welsh terrier named Cricket.
Hannah Karena Jones 
Great blog :)!
LikeLike
Well thanks, freedomtights, and thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
You are a fantastic writer. If you care to swap links, lemme know. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks vanderjohn, and thanks for exploring my blog! Sorry if I seem totally ignorant of the terminology: what do you mean by swap links?
LikeLike
Hi there,
Just a quick note to tell you that I would like to pass “The Versatile Blogger Award” on to you!
I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve already received it somewhere along the line, but congrats nonetheless! 🙂
http://lovethebadguy.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/id-like-to-thank-the-evil-people/
– Love The Bad Guy
LikeLike
Hey! Thank you so much for nominating me, I’m flattered! I noticed that your post has gotten me quite a few blog hits, so thank you for that too!
LikeLike
Hello Hannah. I stumbled across your blog via freshly pressed. I am entering into NanoWriMo, 2011 will be my first attempt. Hope to see you at the finish line. Im a NYU alum, received my undergrad from there.
LikeLike
Very cool, thanks for stopping by! Good luck to your NaNoWriMo attempt too! Did you do your undergrad in writing?
LikeLike
Hi Hannah, thanks for stopping by and liking my post. It looks like you may have read the two new published stories too – excellent! I appreciate the readership and support.
I’m absolutely thrilled to be published in PANK!
Thanks,
Carol
LikeLike
Thank you for ‘liking’ my post “Do)n’t( Push”.
I’m new to the writing industry. And as I have a full-time job, sometimes I feel like writing is my secret identity (Not nearly as cool as Batman, but still cool). I like the theme of your blog…waiting. I am currently waiting on reviews of my debut novel, “Solstice Night”. Great reviews would be…well, great, but right now I’m wondering if the reviewers are even bothering to look at my manuscript.
Thanks again,
Sirrom
LikeLike
Well you’ve obviously done something right with the terrific writing placements you’ve gotten already!
This totally resonates with me, as an emerging and very busy writer-man here! 🙂 Of course I have a whole wonderfully neurotic waiting “system” that entails mostly self-affirmation and some denial too haha
Looking forward to sinking my teeth into the rest of your blog!
Best,
Pete Armetta
(a.k.a. You Can’t Take the Boy Out of Jersey!) haha
LikeLike
Thanks Pete! Writer’s need lots of self-affirmation–and coffee…and chocolate–to stand against the tide of rejection and keep pursuing their writing goals! I’m excited to see you around the blog :] Good luck with your waiting!
LikeLike
Oh, I’m so envious. I’m still in the can’t-get-it-into-an-envelope-because-I’m-too-frightened room! I’m going to like your blog (and probably you and all your cool writerly friends) and check in on you now and then. Maybe I can get to the waiting room, too!
LikeLike
I hope the room you’re hanging out in is super productive and encouraging! The door’s always open to the waiting room :] It’s a big club.
LikeLike
Hey, Hannah . . . thanks for checking out my blog. I look forward to visiting this place often and reading your take on writing!
Cheers,
Simon
LikeLike
It’s great to follow your publication process on your blog, Simon. Thanks for stopping by here too :]
LikeLike
I’ve read just a few of your posts this evening, and they’re SO informative and well written. I will definitely be back!!
LikeLike
Well thank you! It’ll be nice to see you around :]
LikeLike
Hi Hannah!
I have nominated you for The Versatile Blogger award. You can find more information about it at:
http://robincoyle.wordpress.com/category/in-search/
Have a great weekend!
Robin
LikeLike
Thank you! You’re so kind! I’ll have to follow the instructions and post about it this week :]
LikeLike
It has been fun for me today and I have had quite an increase in my traffic. That is not why I accepted the nomination but it is a nice benefit!
LikeLike
Thanks for the like on my short work! I feel flattered. I’m definitely going to follow you. Although my interests lie in higher academics, I’ve always got a pet creative piece that I want to get published, like every English major. Seems like you’d be a great go-to of information!
LikeLike
Of course! Thanks for sharing your work :] We English majors are rather creative people. Hope you have a zoo of pet projects to keep you company :] And thanks–I hope to offer as much helpful information to other writers as possible!
LikeLike
Hi Hannah, just wanted to pop by and say thanks for liking my post tonight. I hope you’re doing well. Also wanted to say the Thursday posts on “So You Want to Be In Publishing” are ENJOYABLE and INSIGHTFUL. Please keep up the great work on those!
Best,
Carol
LikeLike
I nominated your blog for Versatile Blogger. Do with this what you will!
http://sailingthevoid.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/the-first-of-many-awards-versatile-blogger
LikeLike
Thanks Dan!
LikeLike
Hi Hannah,
Love your blog. I do miss you and this is one way of keeping up. Miss You! Alice Fink
LikeLike
Alice! I’m so glad you like it and keep up with me this way. Feels one-sided though. Let’s catch up! :] Miss you too
LikeLike
Thank you visiting my blog back in May. I’m sorry it took me so long to make it to yours, which is very great! Best wishes with your book!
LikeLike
Hi!! I nominated you for several awards so please just choose the ones you like 🙂 It’s on my blog at http://arabwriterchick.com/. Thanks 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
here i was following you and forgot to say hello
David in Maine USA
LikeLike
Well it’s nice meeting you, however belatedly.
Hannah, NJ
LikeLike
Hey, thanks for liking my Working Routines post!
LikeLike
Hi Hannah,
I am glad I came across your blog. I especially enjoyed reading the “So you want to work in Publishing” posts. I am an English major who has been out of college for a while and am hoping to break into the publishing industry. I am thinking of attending a summer publishing program in either NY or Denver. Your blog has been very helpful. Thanks again!
LikeLike
Thanks for the like on my blog, Hannah. Congratulations on your book! Best of luck to you. 🙂
LikeLike
Hello Hannah!
Just dropping by to present you with The Liebster Award! Congrats! 🙂
Drop by my blog for the details.
http://lovethebadguy.wordpress.com/2013/01/09/id-like-award-with-you/
Cheers!
LikeLike
Cheers! Thanks :]
LikeLike
Thanks for liking my post, “I was wrong”. I’m flattered. I love your blog idea and will be stopping by frequently. It’s definitely more fun to wait with someone than all alone.
LikeLike
You’re welcome! Thanks for posting it, enjoyed the read. And truth! Writing is rather lonely. And the non-writers in my life are less interested in my rather broken-record conversation topics about waiting…and writing…and query letters, lol. Better to find a different audience!
LikeLike