Could you write a book? How would you go about it? We asked a handful of class authors their opinions. John Mugglebee found inspiration in the “tales of [his] patchwork ancestry of Native American, African, Scots-Irish, Chinese, and Jew” he heard as a child. Neespaugot: Legend of the Indian’s Coin recounts the story of a multiracial family’s trials and tribulations set against four centuries of American immigration. John used the Indian coin, first minted in Boston in 1652, as a device to embody the “theme of transcendence, of generational sacrifice for the sake of future generations.” He anticipates the sequel will be published next year. Joe Gleason started writing fiction 12 years ago. He needed a new challenge in addition to his day job in public affairs and crisis management. (Because that was too boring?) Joe based his first novel, Anvil of God, on The Song of Roland, which he encountered in Charlie Woods’ medieval history course. It is a true story of love, intrigue, chaos, betrayal, and the pursuit of power. The book got great reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus, but suffered from the stigma of being self-published. Although Joe tries to write every day, he typically manages only several hours three or four days a week. “Like a musical instrument, writing takes consistent practice to be any good.” He is shopping agents for his second novel, on Ben Franklin, and has almost finished the sequel to Anvil of God. (George R.R. Martin, watch out!)

Nora Odendahl and Shirley Spence both say they came to write out of “serendipity!” Serendipity for Nora involved writing an article as a substitute for a colleague and then having a publishing executive see the piece and encourage her to produce a book. Creating Testwise: Understanding Educational Assessment included procrastination, as well as research, writing, and editing. The best part of the experience was expanding and synthesizing Nora’s knowledge about the field in which she has long worked; the worst is having to face volume two. Shirley attributes her professional writing to “the power of self-publishing.” Shirley has coauthored a few titles—Getting to Giving, Wealth and Families, and Learn Earn Return—and is now working on a coffee-table book with a traditional publisher.

Meanwhile, Kathleen Hayes Wildrick continues to work as a freelance editor since her husband’s semi-retirement last summer and their move to their “little house on the lake” in northern New Jersey. They bought a motor home and explored the South this winter—the coldest in 30 years. Snow in Louisiana prevented them from seeing Don Givler. They will try again next year as they combine work and travel. Reports are circulating that Jose Fernandez served as the director of the transition policy committee for New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.

David Mark Moss died on February 13 in Key West, Florida, of leukemia. His volunteer work on behalf of Habitat for Humanity eventually led to a meaningful career as executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Key West.

—Drew Kintzinger, 2400 M St. NW, Apt. 914, Washington, DC 20037; akintzinger@hunton.com; Robin Gosnell, 31 Elm Lane, Princeton, NJ 08540; robins.nest@icloud.com; Eric Edmondson, Signal Hill Capital LLC, 425 California St., Suite 19, San Francisco, CA 94104; eweedmondson@gmail.com