As you all know, the Ignytes have been run by a very busy and very tired two-person team since their inception: L. D. Lewis and Suzan Palumbo. This past year in the wake of significant changes in both our lives, we had to pare down offerings by eliminating the online ceremony (we’ll bring it back this year!), and the fulfillment of trophy shipping from L’s new dining room has been slower than ideal.
We don’t want the awards to go away. But our lives are also becoming busier as we pursue the work we came to publishing to do in the first place. Our writing careers are taking off, which means it’s time to open up to new team members!
We have been delighted by the enthusiasm for our little spite project over the years, so I know this ask will come easily. And in keeping with FIYAHCON’s traditions, we want to pay anyone we bring onboard for their time.
Two positions are currently open: one to support Suzan, and one to support L. View the details for both roles below and complete a short and minimally invasive Airtable application form by March 8, 2024. Each role offers a $400 honorarium paid at the completion of the award cycle.
ROLE 1: Comms Support
- Management and supporting communications with award jurors (spring)
- securing jurors and guiding them through the reading and selection process
- Supporting communications with finalists (spring, summer)
- shortlist notification
- trophy shipment coordination
- ceremony participation coordination
- Supervision of longlist vetting team (spring)
- This team reviews longlist selections to ensure eligibility according to criteria
- Ceremony-related duties (summer, fall)
- modifying the script
- arranging orientation sessions for ceremony participants
- cat-herding finalists around ceremony participation
- Drafting and issuing press releases
- General “customer” support (year-round)
ROLE 2: Fulfillment Support
- The count! (spring)
- Assisting with scoring of longlist to generate shortlist
- Updating the website (spring, fall)
- shortlist announcement
- generating bookshop.org affiliate links
- winner announcement
- The Bluesky account
- posting relevant updates including shortlist and winner announcements
- following and amplifying finalist/winner activities
- Graphics generation (spring, summer, fall)
- shortlist announcements on socials
- ceremony graphics
- trophy card layout
- winner/finalist decals
- Assistance with trophy packaging and shipping (fall)
- exactly what it sounds like, which is the in-person aspect of this hybrid role