Caldwell University
October 13, 2023
InkWell: Caldwell Alumni Authors Share Their Stories
Since 1939, Caldwell University has provided students the opportunity to pursue their passions. When that passion meets the page, the results are works of profound beauty and insight for truth-seekers of all ages.
Eileen Curtis ’68, Marion Goldstein ’78 and Melissa Brady Petrillo ’18 spoke with us about the importance of writing, where they draw their inspiration, and the foundation and work required to make their ideas a literary reality.
Eileen Curtis ’68
Roam: Mindful Adventuring Across the Globe
“Back in 2017, I retired from my job as the president of the Chamber of Commerce after 23 years. I viewed this as a seminal moment in my life – an opportunity to get out of my personal environment and think big thoughts. My friend Pat, who used to run an adventure travel agency, joined me; our first stop was Nepal, and then India. After traveling all over the world – to nearly every continent – we realized that we had the makings of a book.”
“Travel for me and Pat has a spiritual element. In a foreign environment, you are more aware of your surroundings, leading to more profound thoughts. This book combines the excitement of travel with the mindfulness and spiritual awakening that came into being because of it. Throughout the process of traveling and writing, I feel that the Catholic education I received at Caldwell grounded me ethically and encouraged me to care for others and respect their cultures.”
Marion Goldstein ’78
Embracing the Sign
“The intersection of science and religion has always drawn me. It wasn’t until I struggled with my own experience of grief, that questions about life after death took on crucial meaning. Embracing the Sign is a memoir that explores questions asked by both scientists and theologians: how does life begin, and what happens to human consciousness when we die? The book traces my journey as a child with unquestioning belief in God, through skepticism and doubt, and finally to a more expanded concept of God, one that allows for questions as well as answers.”
“One of the most meaningful relationships in my life was my friendship with Sister Elizabeth Michael Boyle, OP., one of my professors at Caldwell. It was in her class I wrote my first poem, and it was with her support and encouragement that I finished up my Caldwell degree with a course in Poetry Therapy at the New School in Manhattan, a course that changed my life. The therepeutic encounter is an intimate encounter. Masks are removed, layers of hurt are unpeeled, and the beauty in the heart of each individual is revealed. My experiences as a therapist not only allowed me to participate in the inner life of my clients but unloosened my own mask and allowed me to write from a deeper place.”
Melissa Brady Petrillo ’14/M.A. ’18
Sometimes
“I first began drafting Sometimes as a portion of my scholars project, completed during my senior year at Caldwell. I researched disabilities and literature for children and young adults. I learned that there is a lack of literature that features neurodiverse main characters. I wanted to create this book, in part, to help make libraries more inclusive.”
“I have been working as a special education teacher for over ten years. My experience helped me realize how difficult it is to access texts about different ability levels, and it helped me to understand what I needed to include in a story to make it engaging with readers. Working with young adults of different ability levels helped me to determine what elements to include to make the text inclusive, and I’m thrilled that readers have had positive reactions to the story. Many readers and families who have connections to the autistic community have told me they greatly value having a text to share with others. I’m grateful that my work can help children learn how to best support their Autistic peers.”