Courtney Bass, Double Stuf Oreo
Courtney Bass wrote "Double Stuf Oreo" in Eliezra Schaffzin's Beginning Fiction. Although this story is the fusion of many of her own personal experiences, she wanted to write a coming-of-age story to which all could relate. "I believe that the pain of self-realization is universal, especially during the adolescent and teen years,"she says. Ms. Bass is a senior at Harvard College where she is completing her BA in history and African studies.
Eva Glieberman, Rain Skipping
Eva Glieberman wrote "Rain Skipping" in Nina de Gramont's Beginning Fiction. The piece was originally written as an exercise on an unbearably hot summer day. When she is not writing, Ms. Glieberman spends her time listening to music and reading anything by Amy Hempel or Billy Collins. She is a junior at a small high school in Providence, Rhode Island.
Natalie Grano, The Way Things Are
Natalie Grano wrote "The Way Things Are" for Erika Dreifus's Creative Fiction. Her love of turn-of-the-century New York City and fascination with the struggles of the lower class inspired this story. She is currently a senior at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, California and plans to attend an East Coast university to study international relations.
Anna Fielding Griggs, A Perfectly Good Poem
Anna Fielding Griggs is happy that her first published poem deals with writing in her underwear. She plans to employ this creative strategy more often in the future. Her perfectly good poem was written in Janet Sylvester's Beginning Poetry. In addition to writing, Ms. Griggs enjoys photography, reading voraciously, and spending time in New York City. In the fall, after graduating from her high school in suburban New York, she hopes to attend Harvard to study folklore and mythology. She will feel very foolish if she is not accepted after publicly declaring this.
Teresa Hsiao, Outcast
Teresa Hsiao wrote "Outcast" in Eliezra Schaffzin's Beginning Fiction during an exercise in which she was to imitate another writer's style. Basing her piece on George Orwell's 1984, Ms. Hsiao wanted to present the story in a fantastical and removed manner but also allow the reader to identify with the plight of the characters. Currently, Ms. Hsiao is a senior at Thayer Academy.
Marnie A. Jackson, Guidance
Marnie A. Jackson completed "Guidance" in Jane Rosenzweig's Advanced Fiction. Ms. Jackson writes in her free time between attending Suffolk University and caring for a three-year-old daughter, two dogs, two rats, a cat, and a horse. She borrows from Douglas Adams when she describes herself as "so cool she has trouble seeing over her pelvis."
Mark Kirby, Desert Stories
Before transferring to Harvard, Mark Kirby spent two years at Deep Springs College, the setting of "Desert Stories." Writing this piece for David Gessner's Creative Nonfiction allowed him to explore the cycle of grief that accompanies sudden loss. Mr. Kirby plans to graduate from Harvard in June with a degree in the history of science and hopes to continue writing.
Ian Lamont, Black Classes
Ian Lamont worked as a journalist in Taiwan in the 1990s. During that time he learned Mandarin and had several opportunities to travel extensively in China. "Black Classes" is about a young boy growing up during China's Cultural Revolution (19661967) and is set in the northern industrial city of Datong, Shanxi Province. Mr. Lamont wrote the story for Deborah Wilkes' Beginning Fiction and works at Harvard in the University Development Office.
Alexandra Moses, Mother's Oven and Catcher's Mound
Alexandra Moses gets her hands into everything, figuratively and literally, including her own poems. A sculptor and lawyer, she likes multidimensional problems and food. "Mother's Oven"and "Catcher's Mound,"written in Janet Sylvester's Beginning Poetry, were responses to a visit to Ms. Moses' childhood home. She currently studies poetry and art at Mills College.
Erica S. Perl, The Caregiver, Following the Nail
Erica S. Perl wrote "Following the Nail" and "The Caregiver" in Jane Rosenzweig's Advanced Fiction. She is an attorney with the Harvard Children's Initiative and the author of two children's books, both of which will be published in the coming year. Ms. Perl reports that her great affection for vintage clothing and thrift shops prompted her to write "Following the Nail."She is quick to advise readers of "The Caregiver"that she has never hired a cat to care for her three-year-old daughter.
Ryan Powers, The House on Cypress Street
Ryan Powers wrote "The House on Cypress Street" in Jane Rosenzweig's Advanced Fiction. The story's setting, which he describes as "a surreal little town beside the ocean,"was inspired by childhood memories of the Oregon Coast. Mr. Powers holds a degree from Northwest Nazarene University and is currently working on a novel.
Lisa Roberts, Cover Design
Lisa Roberts created the cover design for the Harvard Summer Review while in Toshihiro Katayama's Principles of Graphic Design Using Computer Technology. She began studying graphic design after realizing how perfectly it combined her longtime interest in both visual design and the written word. Before applying its principles in her current position at the Harvard University Press, Ms. Roberts worked for eight years in large-format documentary film production. She hopes to continue studying photography if she ever comes into money.
Debbie Shamban, We Are Sitting in Lawn Chairs
Debbie Shamban wrote "We Are Sitting in Lawn Chairs" in Eliezra Schaffzin's Beginning Fiction. Ms. Shamban will receive her BA in history and psychology from Sarah Lawrence College this spring and plans to attend graduate school for psychology.
Andrew Tefft, The Hive
Andrew Tefft wrote "The Hive" in Jane Rosenzweig's Advanced Fiction. Inspiration came from a moth infestation in the cupboard of his former Somerville residence, which, at last revisit, had spread throughout the building. He wishes his
friends Amy, Michele, Mike, and Colette luck in preventing "The Big Takeover."
Victoria Tse, Jaded and Cherries
Victoria Tse wrote "Jaded" and "Cherries" as pieces to be included in her creative thesis at Harvard College while in John Canaday's Beginning Poetry. She had originally decided that the theme of her thesis would be "journeys,"but then realized that what made her past travel experiences most memorable were not merely the locations but the people she traveled with. Ms. Tse has since changed her theme entirely to focus on family and families. She plans to graduate with a BA from Harvard College this spring.
Adam Zalisk, Thirty-Minute Epic
Adam Zalisk is a senior at Buckingham, Browne, and Nichols School in Cambridge and will be attending Harvard College next fall. In addition to writing, Mr. Zalisk's interests include theater, government, and education. "Thirty-Minute Epic" was written for Eliezra Schaffzin's Beginning Fiction. The idea for the story came from various late nights spent discussing reruns of old sitcoms and studying Homer and Virgil (usually not at the same time).
Sarah Zolan, Spent
Sarah Zolan wrote "Spent" for Jane Rosenzwieg's Advanced Fiction. She loved the class and owes much of "Spent"to the criticism of her classmates and Jane Rosenzwieg. Ms. Zolan is currently an undergraduate at Trinity College and likes rice very much.
