Check back here for frequent stories about interesting accomplishments and endeavors of Pingree alumni.
July-August 2010
Lily King Publishes New Novel
"One of the most richly satisfying and haunting novels I have read in a long time."
—Richard Russo
That's what well-known author Richard Russo says about Pingree alumna Lily King's new novel, Father of the Rain.
Lily recently wrote to friends and fans, "Many of you know too well what a struggle it's been for me to wrestle this book onto the page. Kingsley Amis wisely said that "the art of writing is the art of applying the seat of one's trousers to the seat of one's chair," but he didn't say what to do with the head, which really shouldn't be face down on the desk as often as mine was.
It seemed to take all my strength and a lot of raw emotion. There was nothing easy about it, and even when it came out swiftly I'd have to take long breaks to recover. I know this sounds dramatic, but if you read it, you'll see why being in that world might be unsettling.
The narrator is Daley Amory, and the novel follows her life and loves and deep, deep struggle with her relationship with her father, Gardiner, for 34 years, from Nixon to the Obama. It is a bit of a wild ride. Gardiner is a complicated, winning, manipulative, engaging, martini-loving man and Daley loves him as much as she wants to change him—into a father who can behave more like one.
For a long time I called it my 'kitchen sink novel' because everything gets thrown in there: race, class, politics, divorce, fried dough, alcoholism, AA, anthropology, Philip Roth and Judy Blume, tennis, and what my second Amazon customer reviewer claims is 'inelegant' sex.
Because it's not officially released until today, it hasn't been reviewed in the newspapers yet, but it's gotten some nice (and sometimes hilarious) reviews in what my publishing house calls 'the glossies': Elle, Marie Claire (this is the funny one), More, O Magazine, and Vanity Fair, so far. I don't like to play favorites, but this is a book I've wanted to write ever since I started writing, and I think I like it best.
I hit the road this Sunday. The very best part of a book tour for me is seeing one of you or seeing a stranger come up to me and tell me he or she is a friend or a sibling or a parent of yours. I love connecting those dots, meeting your people. First stop is Cleveland, then Chicago, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis. I do a West Coast leg the last week of July: Santa Barbara, San Francisco, and Seattle. In August and September it's back to New England: Portsmouth, NH; Martha's Vineyard, MA; North Haven, ME; Blue HIll, ME; South Dartmouth, MA; Exeter, NH; Portland, ME; Boston, MA. You can find the dates and locations of my readingson my website [ http://lilykingbooks.com/ ]lilykingbooks.com and (can't believe I'm writing this) on my Facebook Author Page.
Would you mind spreading the word to people you know in those places and to people who may know people in those places? I know it is a drag to forward emails, but I'm begging. Just picture me in Milwaukee reading to some very inexpressive chairs.
Word of mouth is crucial at this moment, and I would not be at all adverse to you sending this email to everyone you've ever met.
Happy, happy summer.
Lots of love,
Lily"
Frealick'99 Speaks Out Against Skin Cancer
Heather Fraelick ‘99 was featured in the June issue of Ladies Home Journal in the first of a three-part series the magazine is doing on skin cancer. Heather, a two-time Melanoma survivor, has made it her mission to educate the masses on the dangers of skin cancer and her volunteer work with the Melanoma Foundation of New England is just one way she's doing that locally. "For the past few years I have participated in the Your Skin is In program sponsored by the foundation. We speak to high school students throughout New England on the dangers of tanning and UV exposure. More than 10,000 students have signed the pledge not to tan before their prom and, at every school I have spoken at, I believe I've made an impact. Education is power and the statistics speak for themselves - Melanoma is the most common cancer among women aged 25-35 and people who use tanning beds once a month before the age of 35 increase their melanoma risk by 75 percent.
Heather, a graduate of Wheaton College, is an Account Supervisor at PerkettPR.
April-May 2010
Soursourian '04 Wins Environmental Award
Matthew
Soursourian ’04 will be named an Earth Day Champion on April 30 at the eighth
annual Breakfast of Champions sponsored by Clean Water Action. The event
celebrates the achievements of Rhode
Island’s environmental leaders of 2009. The other
four recipients of the award are Providence Councilman Seth Yurdin, State
Senator Walter Felag, State Representative Frank Ferri, and Providence City
Recycling Coordinator Daisy Diaz.
Matthew
graduated from Brown in 2008 with a degree in Urban Studies. He started interning
at the Mayor's Office in Providence
during his junior year, first for the Advance Team and then for the Chief of
Policy & Legislative Affairs. After graduating, he began working full-time
as Policy Associate. Within the Policy Office, Matthew focused primarily on
sustainability, writing Greenprint:
Providence, the City's first comprehensive climate action plan. He also
wrote a successful grant to the EPA for $565,000 in diesel retrofits, and
helped complete the City's first greenhouse gas emissions inventory.
This
month, Matthew began working at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco as a Research Associate in
their Community Development department.
March-April 2010
Alum Authors Two Volumes
Chris Reardon graduated from Pingree in 2005. He was
diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was 8 and has been bound to a wheelchair
since age 10. He wrote recently to Beth Savarese, to talk about the books he
has authored and to remind her that he still hates math!
“Some of you may know and some may
not, I self-published a memoir titled Inside
The Pinball Machine,” wrote Chris. “Once I got the hard copy in front of
me, I realized it stunk- there were grammar, structure issues and it was just
poor writing. So, for the next couple years I spent revising [a lot] and
writing new stories. This resulted in my book now for sale online titled Spawning Gray. The book is 90% new
material, since I didn't even look at my other book during the process. This
book is 6x9, with big typewriter font, and has a pretty nice cover. This
book is more sophisticated and psychological (if that makes sense). The link to
see the book's description and purchase the book is https://www.createspace.com/3433157.
