Carnegie Center Newsletter–Summer 2023

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Cassie E. Brown

Cassie E. Brown

Cassie E. Brown participated in the Carnegie Center Author Academy class of 2020-2021 “It was absolutely the best thing I have done that was just for me! My mentor, Christopher Rowe, solidly supported me from the start ” Cassie’s goal for her time in the Academy was to write the first draft of a novel from scratch “When we first met, he asked what I wanted to do for my project I said, ‘I think I might want to write a novel ’ He asked if I’d ever written a novel before I said, ‘No, I haven’t And I don’t know if I am capable of it, but I know I can’t do it alone ’ Christopher didn’t hesitate He said, ‘Then let’s write a novel ’ And I did ”

Cassie took full advantage of the breadth of the CCAA’s feature that most Carnegie classes may be taken at no additional cost. “I took easily more than a dozen classes over that year, ” she said. “I developed the skills, discipline, and perspective of a writer.” Cassie, who works full-time, began submitting to various outlets, and has several works published since then in various anthologies, journals, and magazines. For a list of Cassie’s work, go to her website www.ozarkmisfit.com.

Cassie moved back to her home state of Missouri in 2021, but still takes classes virtually at the Carnegie Center “It’s my community!” she said “Whether a one-shot class or weekslong, Carnegie classes keep me motivated and connected to great people ” Cassie also teaches classes for the Carnegie Center now “I’m very excited to teach Writing the Gothic for the first time this summer!” she shared “It will be six weeks with one of my favorite literary genres ” She added, “It’s more than just pale vampires and haunted houses, but there will probably be some of those, too ”

TheCarnegieCenterAuthorAcademy is a 9-month student-driven certificate program that provides writers with the support to grow rapidly in their craft and to prepare their work for publication The deadline to apply for the 2023–2024 Author Academy is July 15.

Questions? Visit our website, or email Author Services Coordinator Marcia Thornton Jones at Mjones@CarnegieCenterLex.org.