Authors Among Us celebrates Neumann’s storytellers

Next month, Neumann University’s Knight-2-Knight student-alumni programming, will open an exciting new chapter with the inaugural Authors Among Us, a free event celebrating the creativity and published works of Neumann alumni and faculty.

The event is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, from 6-8 p.m. in Bachmann Hall in Our Lady of Angels Convent. Designed for aspiring writers, devoted readers and anyone who has ever thought about writing a book, Authors Among Us will offer an engaging look at the many paths that can take a story from an initial idea to publication.

Throughout the evening, guests will have the opportunity to meet alumni and faculty authors whose works span children’s literature, fiction, poetry, history, memoir, higher education, artificial intelligence, and personal empowerment. The authors have pursued a variety of publishing paths, providing guests with valuable insight into both traditional and independent publishing.

The program will include an author panel and audience question-and-answer session, featuring candid conversations about writing, publishing, and the inspiration behind each author’s work. Guests will also be invited to browse author tables, discover new books, ask questions, and have books signed.

The inaugural group of featured authors includes:

• Lucille Madalion ’72, alumna, author of Eco and Frendlee Visit the Bog
• Andrew Miller, faculty, author of A Church in the Valley: Saint Thomas the Apostle; The Garden of the Serpent: A Novel of the Civil War; Williamson College of the Trades; and The Winter Soldiers
• Dominique Edwards ’22 ’25, alumna, author of I Am Just as Smart as You; What Is Different? Why Am I Different? and Until We Meet Again
• Antija Allen ’02, alumna, author of We’re Not OK: Black Faculty Experiences and Higher Education Strategies
• Lauren Shipman ’15, alumna, author of Wheeling Through a Life of Possibilities: My First Thirty Years of Overcoming Obstacles with the Determination and the Courage to Succeed
• Dr. Gail Shanley Corso, faculty, author of Silent Presences of the Buffalo and Grand Island Seamans from Zeeland, Holland: 1846–Mid-Twentieth Century; Alice McDermott’s Fiction: Voice, Memory, Trauma, and Lies; and Tendered to Us in Love: A Collection of Poems
• Dr. Najiba Benabess, faculty, author of Irreplaceable Human Intelligence: Surpassing AI
• Sara McDermott Jain, faculty, author of Wolves at Night and The Strength of Others
• Arianne Missimer ’10, alumna, author of Rise Up
• Nykaria Mitchell ’10, alumna, author of Unlocking the Unknown and Unlocking the Unknown: Second Edition
• Jim Kain, faculty, author of Playing with Words, Conversing with the Spirits
• Yana Tamba ’04, alumna, author of Twist of Fate

Tamba, a content creator, travel consultant, fashion trendsetter and makeup artist, will serve as emcee, engaging the audience and guiding the evening’s conversation about publishing.

Inspired by Shipman and Tamba, Authors Among Us reflects the heart of the Knight-to-Knight program: creating meaningful opportunities for members of the Neumann community to connect, share their experiences, and inspire one another. By bringing together writers and readers from across the University community, the event showcases not only what Neumann alumni and faculty have accomplished, but also the many ways their voices are making an impact.

Authors Among Us is free and open to the public. Registration is requested and closes on October 7 at noon. Guests are invited to come for the stories and leave inspired to write their own.