2008 Woodie Awards
Senior working to complete young adult novel.
Spotlight on the arts: Julie Wilson '08.
Amanda Mello
Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
|
One of Wilson's more memorable moments at the College was moving in during first-year orientation. "I was lucky to be placed in a room with Hannah Coleman '08. She's one of those people I'll be able to call in ten years, even if we're on opposite sides of the world, and talk to as if we hung out yesterday," Wilson said. Also during her first year, Wilson joined Colby Dancers. She has been a dancer and gymnast ever since she could walk, which also led her to act as vice president of the Colby Gymnastics Club last year. Most of her time after her first year, however, was thrown into the Echo where she said she "found a wonderful community of intelligent and fun students."
Wilson was drawn to the Echo her first year because of her friend and COOT leader Noah Balazs '06 and her attraction to the A&E section in particular came from a combination of things. Her father worked in musical theater on Broadway, and her sister is currently acting and painting in New York. Her mother has always been a large supporter of her family's artistic endeavors. Wilson herself took piano lessons for eight years, sang in the choir, participated in dance theater in high school and acted in all the middle school plays. "I also dabble in photography in my spare time," Wilson said. For Wilson, A&E was the perfect place to improve her writing while remaining immersed in the world of art. Her knowledge and passion of all areas of artistic talent undoubtedly provided her the experience to accurately cover the many events here at the College.
Wilson said, "I give my all to the activities I participate in." This dedication has forced her to cut down on many things that she felt she couldn't give her fullest to concentrate on her honor thesis in young adult literature. Wilson has been writing a young adult novel for about a year. "I've always gravitated to the young adult genre because I think that period of teenage awkwardness and finding yourself is relatable," Wilson said. Her story introduces the female protagonist Riley Roberts dealing with a broken family and high school, and at the same time beginning to discover and understand her connection to magic. The novel includes many aspects of magical realism and while, as Wilson said, "unlike Riley, my family's a tight unit...I've drawn on many of my experiences growing up in Manhattan to help make Riley's life realistic." Wilson hopes that this novel will the first in a series.
Be the first to comment on this story