We are thrilled to share the recent success stories of our writers and instructors!

Donna Adelman, book inc student and Free Write participant
Published her first novel, One Decision Away, available now on Amazon!

Sarah Congress, PWN instructor
Her play, “Melting,” is to be produced this October at Siena College. And her screenplay, “I Can’t Hear You,” which she co-wrote, won BEST COMEDY in the 2024 Jersey Shore Film Festival and 2nd place in the APin3 Film Challenge in Asbury Park.

Liz deBeer, PWN instructor & book inc writer
Attended NJ SCBWI Conference and Philly Pitch Fests and her latest flash has appeared in or is forthcoming in Sad Girls Diaries, Every Day Fiction, 10 by 10 Flash Fiction, Lucky Jefferson, and an essay is forthcoming in Brevity Blog on September 11.

Lizzie Finn, screenwriting instructor
Along with her co-director/co-writer John Leary, and producing team (Michael Etra, Amy Etra, Kristen Vaganos), has received several awards for their short film 100 Proof Warlock, including Best Film at the Bergen International Film Festival, Honorable Mention from the Bread & Roses Film Festival, Best Short Ensemble Cast at the Jersey Shore Film Festival, Best Horror Short at the International Motion Picture Film Festival, and Best NJ Drama at the Brightside Tavern Film Festival.

Caitlin Flanigan, book inc writer
Had her essay “Seven Minutes to Grieve with Bluey” published on Today.com.

Nancy Francese, Memoir Intensive student
Had her third piece published, a memoir piece called “The Gift” about a birthday gift her then 6-year-old granddaughter, Molly, gave to her late husband for his 75th birthday. It will appear in The Dewdrop in September or October.

Tina Goodyear, book inc PAL and PWN outreach instructor
Had her essay, “The Culling,” published in HerStry and “Voice Lessons,” published in READ HER LIKE AN OPEN BOOK, where she shares how she lost her personal writing voice and then rediscovered it through community.

Lisa Hartsgrove, PWN program coordinator
Had two poems published in June—“Apartment 5” and “In-Between Thoughts”—by Garden of Neuro Publishing in “A Safe and Brave Space Vol. 3,” and another poem published by Discretionary Love on September 7—“The Blue Pill.”

Tina Hudak, Lunchtime Write-In student
Published a memoir, Frannie, available now on Amazon! Also had a flash fiction piece, “Waiting,” published in the Spring eZine for Siren’s Call, and a poem, “Footpaths,” published in Open Door Magazine.

Liz Jannuzzi, PWN program and operations manager
Had a piece, “Writing Memoir—It’s a ‘We’ Program,” published in The Brevity Blog.

Céline Keating, PWN instructor & book inc writer
Won first place in fiction from the National Indie Excellence Awards in Regional Fiction/Northeast and a finalist in their literary fiction category. Also won a bronze medal from Independent Publisher Book Awards in Regional Fiction/Northeast and was a finalist in the Eric Hoffer Book Awards in general fiction. Her recent novel, The Stark Beauty of Last Things (2023), was the bronze winner in the Independent Publishers Awards in regional fiction (northeast) and the gold medal winner in the National Indie Excellence Awards in regional fiction (northeast). It was also a finalist in the Eric Hoffer awards for fiction.

Pooja Makhijani, PWN instructor
Had her essay “Postpartum Depression Was Sinking Me. My Family’s Food Was My Lifeline” published in Bon Appetit on August 19.

Jennifer Marra, PWN student
Had her piece, “Can You Hear Me,” published in The Forge magazine.

Shanda McManus, book inc PAL
Became a finalist for Trio House Press’s 2024 Aurora Polaris Award! Also a finalist for Missouri Review‘s Perkhoff Prize.

Jenny Morelli, PWN student
Since last August, 2023, she’s gotten 36 pieces published, 25 of which will be in print by December (in Bottlecap Press, Spillwords, Red Rose Thorns, Writer’s Journal, Mobius Blvd, Sixfold, CC&D) and 11 of which are available in her first-ever published chapbook!

Arlene Placer, Lunchtime Write-In student
Had four poems published in Spillwords Magazine—“The Last Day,” “A Fairy Tale Birth,” “The Preciple,” and “Bad Feeling.”

Eileen Toomey, PWN instructor & book inc writer
Had her piece, “Canaryville Girls,” placed second in Cleaver Magazine’s 2024 Short Creative Nonfiction Contest, judged by Clifford Thompson, and attended the historic Bread Loaf Writers Conference at Middlebury College in Vermont—the nation’s oldest of its kind. She says it changed her life. “The opportunity to connect with diverse, talented writers from all walks has expanded my creative community beyond my wildest dreams.”