Kasey Nugent is an important part of the Living Faith editorial team. She currently holds the longest tenure for time spent working on Living Faith. We’re happy to share this interview with her.
ABOUT YOU
Living Faith: Describe your vocation in life…
Kasey Nugent: I’m a detail-oriented person who enjoys working “behind the scenes” to make publications come to life!
I’ve been married for 27 years and have a 15-year-old son, and we live in St. Louis. My detail-oriented habits carry over to help keep our household running smoothly. Personally, my husband and myself are learning to navigate high school with my freshman son in this season of life.
LF: Would you offer more about your work here, or what “a day in the life” looks like?
KN: For more than 12 years, I’ve served as assistant editor at Creative Communications for the Parish, and help produce Living Faith and Living Faith Kids as well as many books, booklets and other products. In my work I am helping to plan, offer copy edits, work on booklet layouts and proofreading all versions of what we publish.
LF: How long have you been working in this field?
KN: I have worked in Catholic publishing since 1994. I began as an editorial secretary at Liguori Publications. I was there until 2007. I also served as a production editor and production manager for them.
While taking time off when my son was born in 2008, I began freelance proofreading for Living Faith, Living Faith Kids and Creative Communications for the Parish. In 2010 that turned into a full-time editorial role. And I am still here to this day!
LF: Do you reach out online via a website or social media?
KN: Just through participating in this blog and other features of the Living Faith website and social media.
LF: You’ve worked to help publish books and booklet, name a favorite that you’ve enjoyed reading.
KN: Believe it or not, I read so much for my job that I don’t read a lot outside of work! When I do read, I enjoy either historical biographies or thrillers. But since I can’t listen to music while editing or proofreading, I enjoy many types of music and musical theater.
LF: Where do you live today, and is that different from where you grew up?
KN: I’ve lived in the St. Louis suburbs for 27 years, about 10 miles from the offices in Fenton, MO. I grew up about 30 miles south of St. Louis in the Festus/Crystal City area. I went to college in Springfield, MO. So I’ve lived in Missouri my whole life! I do love to travel and could see moving to another, warmer, state after my son is out of school.
LF: Three words your best friend would use to describe you….
KN: Organized, dedicated, helpful
LF: Is there anything else you would want Living Faith readers to know about you that we haven’t covered above?
KN: Our household is very “cat centric.” We currently have two furbabies, Artemis and Salem, that we adore. Over the last 27 years, we have always had two or three cats in our family.
We also love to travel as a family, both in the states and abroad. We are currently on a mission to visit as many states as possible before our son graduates high school. Last year we did a Northeast road trip and hit 10 states. This summer we are headed West to pick up Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah.
ABOUT FAITH
LF: When did you first know that God loved you?
KN: My aunt was a Sister of St. Joseph. Growing up, she was a big influence in mine and my sisters lives. We spent many summers hanging out with her at the convent and the Catholic high school where she taught. She was an English teacher and was the influence for me getting my degree in English. I think the confluence of that exposure to the Catholic faith and reading/writing landed me in this career path.
ABOUT THE BIBLE
LF: What’s your favorite Bible story, psalm, proverb, or parable and why?
KN: As a vertically challenged person, I have always related to the Zacchaeus story.
ABOUT LIVING FAITH
LF: How long have you been involved with Living Faith?
KN: I’ve been working on Living Faith in some capacity since January 2008.
LF: Do you ever get to meet your Living Faith readers? What do you talk about?
KN: Not really, but I get to hear the feedback that comes through our customer service center, and I read all the comments that come through our website. I like to hear others experience of our publication.
LF: Name one thing you love about Living Faith…
KN: I think it is really cool that our founders came up with a formula that has stood the test of time! For the most part, Living Faith is exactly the same as it has been for 40 years.
