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Alumna Has First Book Published

Novel by Margie Gelbwasser, M.A. '03, had its origins in her master's thesis

A book that had its genesis as a master’s thesis in a William Paterson classroom has brought success to Margie(Gurevich) Gelbwasser, M.A. ’03, the author of Inconvenient, a young adult novel that was published in November.

“The thesis started the process,” Gelbwasser explains. “The idea and the major elements of the story came from that.”

The novel is about fifteen-year-old Alyssa Bondar, of Russian Jewish heritage, who must deal with her mother’s alcoholism, and her father’s indifference, while coping with the day-to-day struggles of being a teenager.

As a result of her efforts, Gelbwasser has a two-book deal with Flux Publishers, and has just submitted her second young adult novel. She is currently at work on a third book aimed at children in grades four through six.

A graduate of the University with a master of arts degree in English, Gelbwasser, who also holds an undergraduate degree in English from The College of New Jersey, says the William Paterson program offered her the creative writing element that she was looking for.

“The program taught me how to be more creative, to take something I know and expand on it,” she says. “It was a very supportive and nurturing environment.” She is thankful for her thesis advisor, Philip Cioffari, professor of English, and the feedback he gave.

“He told me what worked and what didn’t work,” she recalls. “He loves his job, and his students.”

A middle school teacher in the Rockaway Township district by day and a graduate student at night, it took her four years of part-time study to complete her degree.

These days, Gelbwasser, who is currently retired from teaching and residing in Fair Lawn, juggles her growing career as a writer with raising her young son.

“I want to have this career as a full-time writer and be a mom too,” she says. “I want to sell a book a year, and eventually to teach at the college level.”