Since 1962 Immaculata has fostered a strong academic and creative environment, which nurtures future authors. Among our alumni are scores of professional writers, who work as journalists, novelists, social media and public relations gurus, poets, scientific and business experts, and non-fiction authors. Today we focus on three Spartans, whose latest works appeared in 2020. Tom Berry ’84’s specialty is historical fiction and his latest, Fire and Ash (the last in his series called Gifts of the Gods), is his sixth publication. A bank executive, who loves history and writing, Tom produced this trilogy, focusing on the Peloponnesian War in Ancient Greece during the 5th Century BC. Tom’s newest collection will be featured in Immaculata’s prestigious Chesterton Classical Studies Program, as a tool to help students better understand the roots of democracy and socialism. Tom’s other books focus on Lewis and Clark, the Alamo, and World War II.
Dana Claire Bonanne Ross ’98 attributes her love of storytelling to her late mother’s inspiration, her innate love of reading and language, Immaculata’s AP English/Journalism classes, and her English professors at University of Delaware. This December her dream of being an author was realized with the release of The Connection, her debut YA novel, the first volume in a planned trilogy. Her next novel, The Reclaimed Kingdom, the first volume in a planned series and dedicated to her Navy Seal brother, is scheduled to be out this February. Developing intriguing characters is what Dana feels is the key to a successful book. The last several weeks Dana has been involved in a marketing junket, appearing on TV, meeting with print and social media journalists, and webinars to promote her work.
Melanie Pellowski LaPlaca ’01 attributes her writing inspiration to her dad, Michael Pellowski, who has produced over 200 books and over 1,200 stories. Melanie’s latest book is The Teacher’s Guide to Self Care. A TV production teacher at Hopewell Valley High School, Melanie has also produced books on weddings, sorority life, and pregnancy. A three-sport athlete at IHS, Mel attributes her confidence and stamina as a creative professional to her experience as a softball player, basketball player, and cross country runner. “Writing satisfies my soul,” says Melanie, “and gives me a sense of purpose, allowing me to connect with people in a creative way. I look forward to writing more books, stories, and freelance pieces.”
To learn more about these authors, go to Thomas-Berry.com; Danaclairebooks.com or melaniepellowski.com.
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