Pacific Undergrads Publish Anthology

They say the best way to learn is by doing — and that’s exactly what Pacific University students in the editing and publishing minor have done.

Upper-class students in the Book Design course, taught by Professor Kathlene Postma, sought out and wrote essays for a book they designed and published. Then, they marketed it, creating a professional website, complete with author interviews and purchasing options.

“Write at the Crossroads” is an anthology of 19 stories written by Pacific University students. The essays center on turning points in college students’ lives.

“Students write about surviving bullying, sexual assault, and debilitating depression. They sort through the loss of a parent, grandparent or beloved pet. They examine what it means to attend a Native American Boarding School or be a white students at a high school where the majority of the students are Black,” says the website for the book. “The mine their experiences in order to offer something of value to readers.”

The 142-page book is being printed by Espresso Book Machines, using the On Demand Books program — meaning your paperback is printed when you order it. Order through Powell’s Books or directly at On Demand. The book costs $10, and profits will benefit Write Around Portland, a nonprofit organization offering writing workshops for people needing help to tell their own stories.