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 [ Friday, Oct. 19, 2001 ]
Signing lets readers, author make 'Connections'
By Reid Coploff
Collegian Staff Writer
For many students, publishing a novel remains a dream they hope will be achieved some time in the future. For one senior this dream is already a reality. Stephanie Hollstein (senior-special education) had her first novel, Connections, published last April through www.iuniverse.com. She will be available to sign copies of Connections from 2 to 4 p.m. today at the Penn State Bookstore in the HUB-Robeson Center. | ||||
PHOTO: Matt Shirk
Stephanie Goldstein (senior-special education) will sign her debut novel, ‘Connections.’
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The novel is targeted toward today's teenagers, Hollstein said. It deals with such teenage issues as popularity, abuse, neglect, friendship, love, low self-esteem, letting go and connections between people. "I wanted to tell the real story of how junior high-age girls deal with relationships and find their identities," Hollstein said. She originally began to write the book in ninth grade when, after she had written a short story, she was encouraged by her English teacher to turn it into a novel. It then took her two years to write the story, an additional two years to edit and finally two more years to find a publisher before she landed at iUniverse.
The book is available online at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com and iUniverse and can also be found at the Penn State Bookstore, and at Borders in Hollstein's hometown of Lansdale, Pa. The title of the book is, according to Hollstein, about the fact that "the relationships in life that are sometimes most profound are the ones that don't last, but they're very special and change who you are." Connections is the story of the relationship between two junior high girls: the bitchy and beautiful Missy and the feeble and smart Samantha. Hollstein stressed that it is not an autobiography, although "there are some pieces in the story that are very much me," she confided. Hollstein also has a second novel in the works. She has recently finished the first draft of "Descriptions of a Girl," a story told through an all-dialogue style. It tells the story of a senior in high school that is accused of bringing a gun to school. Each chapter then provides the testimony of a different person about who the girl really was. Hollstein says the book will be about "misperception, motivation and (emotional) security issues." She plans on continuing with her writing after graduation and hopes to work her major into her passion for writing. "I'd like to incorporate things I've learned in special education into book writing and poetry," she said when asked if she plans on continuing her writing. "The idea that I can reach people I don't even know really appeals to me," she added. | ||||
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