Penn alum talks debut novel, journey as an author at Kelly Writers House

2016 College graduate Alina Grabowski discussed her debut novel “Women and Children First” with the University community at the Kelly Writers House on Sept. 23.

Grabowski read excerpts from her story, discussed her journey as a writer, and detailed sources of inspiration for her book in a panel with KWH Associate Director of Recruitment Jamie-Lee Josselyn and creative writing instructor Karen Rile. The program also offered light snacks and sold copies of the novel.

“Women and Children First” follows the paths of ten women as they process the death of a young teenager at a house party in coastal Massachusetts. The book was published in May through SJP Lit, a program run by actress Sarah Jessica Parker and Zando Projects to promote “international and underrepresented voices.” 

Before publication, the novel was named The Most Anticipated Book of 2024 by Oprah Daily, Vogue, and Debutiful and A Most Anticipated Book of Spring 2024 by the New York Times. However, Grabowski said that she values her reader’s feedback more than media attention.

“I think the best thing is just when someone comes up to you and tells you what the book means to you,” she said. “I've had this really surprising experience of people telling me the book got them back into reading.” 

Grabowski's connection with KWH began before she arrived at the University as a first year. While in high school, she reached out to the program about its recruitment initiative, which selects writers from across the U.S. to become potential University students. After an email exchange with Josselyn, who still directs the program today, Grabowski entered KWH's first class of recruits in 2012.

Grabowski also credited the University and KWH with her journey as an author. With more individual access to the school’s writing faculty, she said she opportunity to develop more personal relationships with her mentors. She recounted a spring break fellowship with Buzz Bissinger, a University faculty member and author of “Friday Night Lights,” as especially formative in her writing journey.

“I got a lot of writing done,” Grabowski said. “I really feel like it was just a lot of professor support. I think I got lucky in that what I was writing kind of just aligned with who I was working with.”

Rile also reflected on the panel about the growth of Penn's creative writing opportunities over the past decade. She said that she started her journey at the University feeling that resources in her field were limited, noting that less than ten courses for creative writing were available at the time.

However, after KWH formed and put the recruitment process in place, Rile said that she gained full confidence in the University's writers and now recommends writing opportunities at the University to incoming students.

“When Al [Filreis] started Kelly Writer's House, it became this rogue entity in the university…the level started going up then,” Rile said. “And then it really went up when Jamie started recruiting."

Many KWH alumni go on to become editors, journalists, agents, and other professionals in addition to writers. While there are many well-regarded books accredited to University graduates, very few debut novels from this sector receive such instant mainstream recognition, according to Josselyn.

“Alina's also relatively young to be having a novel published and getting this much attention,” Josselyn said. “So, on one hand, this is a very special moment for me and for the [Kelly] Writer's House and for Alina, but it's also a jewel in the crown.”