Featured Writing

Empty movie theater

With This Money

by Claude Chabot Lily had found the powder room in haste, and rapidly finishing her customary ablutions before the start of the feature, hurried to the stairs. This was her ritual before every picture she had seen, and though she could resist it, she felt fully at ease only when…

read more...

Silhouette of people throwing graduation caps

6 Creative Writing Graduates Discuss Their Next Chapters

On Wednesday, June 14, 2023, Word for Word, Southern New Hampshire University’s (SNHU) online literary series, held its final event of the season, where we spotlighted six recent graduates of the Master of Arts in Creative Writing and Online Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing programs. Because of the…

read more...

Two books, a cup and saucer and flowers on a table

Instructors Lauren A. Forry and Gina Troisi Talk Writing

On Wednesday, November 16, 2022, the Word for Word Reading Series at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) presented its first annual Instructor Spotlight event, featuring two SNHU writers: Gina Troisi, an instructor in the English and creative writing bachelor’s program, and Lauren A. Forry, who teaches in the online MFA….

read more...

The Penmen Profile: MFA Student, Disney Writer-for-Hire

When Alexandra Z. Lazar isn’t working on her first novel, a re-imagining of the Fairy Godmother’s sister, she’s adapting Disney movies into children’s books. Lazar got her start as a Disney Writer-for-Hire by entering fan fiction contests for her favorite book series, “Kingdom Keepers” by Ridley Pearson.  In an interview…

read more...

The Penmen Profile: Nonfiction Storyteller Richard Adams Carey

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Richard Adams Carey wrote his 2015 book, “In the Evil Day: Violence Comes to One Small Town,” about the 1997 Colebrook, New Hampshire, shootings that claimed the lives of four people. Carey tells the story of a tragedy in a town of 2,500 people that made headlines worldwide….

read more...

The Penmen Profile: Bestseller Robin Wasserman

by Rebecca LeBoeuf “Girls on Fire,” Robin Wasserman’s first adult novel, was named an NPR and a BuzzFeed Best Book of the Year in 2016. The book also received praise from the New York Times, the Associated Press, Booklist and Cosmopolitan, among many other positive reviews. A faculty member of…

read more...

The Penmen Profile: Northern New England Author Merle Drown

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Merle Drown is the author of three novels and numerous flash fiction stories. “Lighting the World” (2015), Drown’s most recent book, pulled upon events that happened in his life and garnered praise from his peers, including best-selling authors Wiley Cash and John Searles. “The Suburbs Of Heaven”…

read more...

The Penmen Profile: Environmental Nonfiction Author Amy Irvine

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Amy Irvine is an environmental nonfiction and memoir author. Her two books, “Trespass: Living at the Edge of the Promised Land” (2008) and “Making a Difference: Stories of How the Outdoor Industry and Individuals are Working to Preserve America’s Natural Places” (2001), have been praised in reviews by…

read more...

The Penmen Profile: Highly Praised Author Ann Garvin

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Ann Garvin has been praised for the seamless humor and compassion found in her novels, “On Maggie’s Watch” (2010) and “The Dog Year” (2014). A third novel, “I Like You Just Fine When You’re Not Around,” will be released in June. “On Maggie’s Watch” achieved positive reviews from New York Times bestselling authors Jacquelyn Mitchard…

read more...

The Penmen Profile: Award-Winning YA Novelist Jo Knowles

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Jo Knowles is an award-winning author of young adult and middle grade fiction novels. Her first novel, “Lessons From a Dead Girl” (2007), was presented with The Pen New England Children’s Book Discovery Award and named A New York Library Book for the Teen Age. Knowles’ middle grade fiction novel,…

read more...

The Penmen Profile: Critically Acclaimed Author Benjamin Nugent

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Benjamin Nugent is the critically acclaimed author of “Good Kids” and “American Nerd.” His work has been widely published and is included in “The Unprofessionals: New American Writing from the Paris Review” (2015) and “Best American Short Stories 2014.” “Good Kids” (2013), described by many as a romantic comedy, has…

read more...