All Student Success Letters
Amelia Franz
Dear Gotham,
Back in 2022, after years of neglecting my fiction writing because of family obligations, I decided to give it another try by enrolling in Gotham’s Fiction Writing I with R. Dean Johnson. A couple of my short stories had been published in the nineties, but since then, I’d barely put pen to paper. I worried my writing muscles had atrophied. But Fiction Writing I with R. Dean Johnson put those fears to rest. My fellow writers were so supportive, and Rob did a fantastic job balancing critique with encouragement.
My next course, Fiction Writing II with Dalia Pagani, was also a positive experience.
Eventually, several of the stories begun and workshopped in Fiction Writing I and II found their way into my collection: The Longest Man-Made Beach in the World: Biloxi Stories, published March 1, 2026 by Watertower Press. The stories are all set in, or connected to, the small Mississippi Gulf Coast city of Biloxi, where I lived as a child.
I’m so grateful for the learning, the camaraderie, and the encouragement I received from my Gotham coursework. You played a crucial role, not only in refining my craft but also in helping me believe that these stories could someday find their way into the world–and that this fifty-something writer’s voice still resonated with readers.
Sincerely,
Amelia Franz
