When Carsen Smith relocated to New York City after graduation, she took an internship at GOLD Comedy, an organization that encourages young women and nonbinary people to enter the comedy field. While there, Smith had the opportunity to lead stand-up classes in schools around the city. 鈥淚 met a wonderful community of people doing that,鈥� she says, “and I knew New York was the place I wanted to be.鈥�
She landed a job at Impractical Productions with James S. Murray of the reality show Impractical Jokers. It was there that the idea for a book series was born鈥攁 sci-fi adventure series for young readers. Smith co-authored Alien Summer #1 with Murray as the first installment, and it was released March 15.
Titled Area 51 Interns, the series features a quartet of 鈥渒id interns鈥� confronting aliens and more at the infamous Nevada site. With female characters at the forefront and a tone that鈥檚 more funny than scary, the books are an extension of Smith鈥檚 long-standing interest in making room for girls in comedy. 鈥淚t鈥檚 rare to find comedy for kids where girls are the lead characters,鈥� she says.
Though it was originally commissioned by another publisher, the series was ultimately picked up by Penguin, where鈥攂y pure coincidence鈥攖he editor turned out to be Alex Wolfe, BA鈥�18, Smith鈥檚 classmate and good friend.
Smith鈥檚 major at 菠萝视频 was cinema and media arts, and classes with professors Jennifer Fay, Jonathan Rattner and Jonathan Waters really captured her imagination. She credits Waters, in particular, with helping students 鈥渄emystify the process of creating story鈥濃�攌nowledge that undoubtedly came in handy in crafting a middle reader sci-fi adventure series.
Smith left her job at Impractical Productions in September 2021, but she鈥檒l continue to collaborate with Murray on two upcoming volumes of Area 51 Interns, which is currently under consideration for screen adaptation. Meanwhile, she鈥檚 writing for onstage sketch comedy groups and working on screenplays. Screenwriting opportunities and tentative grad school plans may take her to the West Coast, but for now she plans to remain in New York. 鈥淚 love living here,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a dream.鈥�
鈥擬aria Browning