Creative Writing Clinic Features Local Authors

3 local authors were invited to meet and advise students on creative writing during a 2 hour session, held on May 13, in the Campolindo library. Featured adult authors included Alexandra Sirowy, Amanda Conran, and French teacher Ed Willy. Student authors included junior Meera Ramesh and sophomore Lexie Reinecke.

The first hour and a half was dedicated to a question and answer session led by book club vice presidents Katie Nunn and Maya Ramesh. The authors spoke about their backgrounds, inspirations and writing strategies. Afterward, each author sat at his or her own table to sign book copies and speak with members of the audience one on one.

“I didn’t really start writing straight away. By the age of 17, I felt that I wasn’t capable. There was something about being at school and having to write a certain way, I just felt that I wasn’t good enough. It was when I got a lot older that I finally realized that I didn’t want to say: ‘What have I achieved? Have I missed out on what I was supposed to be doing.’ I really believe that the thing you really wanted to do at the age of 10 to 12 is probably the closest to who you really are,” said Conrad. Her newest novel, The Lost Celt, is a book for preteens, who she finds to be the more in touch with their identity than people of other ages.

Sirowy’s books are aimed at a teenage audience, focusing on themes of adventure. During the library event, she told the listeners that her characters are mainly women and emphasized the strength of femininity.

Willy has written many works, his latest being a novel. From his beginnings in high school writing articles for the newspaper, he has continued a vast literary career. Willy writes articles, short stories and full length books for publication.

In addition to the adult novelists, several student writers also presented their works to the authors and guest writers at the event. junior Meera Ramesh attended with her sister Maya, presenting copies of her published book Of Penitence and Sin about a fallen angel and the seven deadly sins in Christianity. When reflecting about her writing, Meera stated that a significant part for her was “when I didn’t even realize I had an idea and then suddenly it is there on paper or a computer”.

Reinecke is aspiring novelist who says that she writes religiously, with a thousand words as her average per day. Other student writers from Campolindo and other schools came with their parents and with friends.

“Me and Ms. Morgan are doing this to get the word out about literary clubs on campus. We really just want people to come because I feel that there is some really interesting writing here that isn’t being pursued,” said Nunn. She feels that the way to get people engaged is through the support of the school book or poetry club.