By Jace Gibson, ’26
As a part of a semesterly guest writer series, Shenandoah University’s English Department invited Alicia Cahalane, author of the novellas “Room Service Please,” “Restless,” and “The Faeries of Fable Island,” to the Smith Library to read and discuss her work and share her experiences as a professional writer.
Alicia’s poetic prose reminds us of the importance and intensity of the individual moments that sum to our lives. From the first line of ‘Restless,’ we are transported not only into a world, but a mind, and even more important, a heart.”
– Jon Udelson, Ph.D., associate professor of English and faculty adviser of Shenandoah’s Avalon Literary Magazine
Cahalane was preceded by four student writers, who each read from their own projects, before she took to the podium. Alicia read excerpts from “Restless,” a nontraditional story centering on the 18-year-old protagonist, Emilie, living on the streets of 1903 Paris. The story is written in a prose-poetic form, and follows the perspectives of multiple characters in a stream-of-consciousness style of writing that each give unique, character-driven windows into the developing story.
Following the reading, Cahalane opened the floor for questions, where she shared valuable information with students about her writing process, publishing, and what it takes to be a professional writer.
I decided to publish these novellas myself rather than seek traditional publishing because I wanted each character to have their own voice, their own identity, their own book cover, and their own marketing pitch. Novellas are rarely published by first-time authors but I want to offer these character-driven narratives as an alternative to the much-anticipated plot-driven stories we tell.”
– Alicia Cahalane
Alicia Cahalane’s novella, “Restless,” is available for purchase on Amazon, and more information about her and her other works can be found on her website: https://www.aliciacahalanelewis.com/work
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About Shenandoah University
Shenandoah University was established in 1875, and is headquartered at the top of Virginia, in Winchester, Virginia, with additional educational sites in Clarke and Loudoun counties, and online offerings. Shenandoah is a private, nationally recognized university that blends professional career experiences with wide-ranging education. With approximately 4,400 students in more than 200 areas of study in six different schools, Shenandoah promotes a close-knit community rich in creative energy and intellectual challenge. Shenandoah students collaborate with accomplished professors who provide focused, individual attention, all the while leading several programs to be highly nationally ranked. Through innovative partnerships and programs at both the local and global level, there are exceptional opportunities for students to learn in and out of the classroom. Shenandoah empowers its students to improve the human condition and to be principled professionals and leaders wherever they go. For more information, visit su.edu.
