Writer and Professor, University of Southern California, USC Writers Conference Director

What's the most enjoyable aspect of your work?
For both of my jobs, it’s the sense of community. For my first book, [The Book of Yesterdays] which is set in a bookshop, I researched the literary history of LA. There has been and continues to be a very vibrant community of writers in LA. Becoming part of  that community has been a highlight of publishing. 

I also love my time in the classroom. The first week of the new semester is a special time where I get to know my students and understand how the class is unique as a result of the different personalities and backgrounds of the students who are in it.
I love reading my students personal essays and getting to know them through their writing.

What FCS lessons or experiences prepared you for your career?
When I was a junior, I took Laurie Novo’s elective class in fiction writing. I had always written but mostly in private. During that time, I was working on the school literary magazine as well. As a writer, that was the first time I shared my work openly and began to take my writing more seriously. The stories I wrote and the feedback I got built my confidence to keep writing. In response, whenever I’m home, I try to visit Laurie Novo’s class and share my path with her students, reminding them that it started in a class similar to the one they’re taking. 

In college, when I started getting positive feedback on both creative and analytical writing, I realized how well Friends’Central had prepared me. As a professor, I can recognize when students have received a strong secondary education in writing. 

Favorite FCS memories?
I loved the Botany class I took with Mr. Gruber. On the surface, it doesn’t have anything to do with my career, but it’s just another way that FCS inspired creativity. Mr. Gruber  would take us around campus and teach us about the trees and plants as we walked. It was such a hands-on interactive way of learning about the physical world.

What’s next for you?
I’ve started working on a new book, but I’m still in the early stages of conception, so I don’t want to jinx myself by saying too much. It’s a little different from my past books, and I’m very excited about it.