MCLA Bookshelf

AMANDA BRAUNEIS ’06 “PROJECT NEW WORLD”

Idona Sweetie is a typical college student. But after making a wish, her life is suddenly invaded by the characters from her favorite book series. Can she convince them to return to the safety of the books’ pages? Or will they stick around, and destroy her entire world?

GEROL PETRUZELLA ’01 “THE CRUELLEST MONTH: 30 DAYS OF MICROFIC FROM THE PANDEMIC ERA”

Enjoy Gerol Petruzella’s latest collection of microfiction and poetry, written daily through April 2020. The Cruellest Month, is a series of imaginings built on the uncertainties of worlds, and lives, disrupted.

ROB CAMPBELL ’90 “AT EASE. ENJOYING THE FREEDOM YOU FOUGHT FOR — A SOLDIER’S STORY AND PERSPECTIVES ON THE JOURNEY TO AN ENCORE LIFE AND CAREER” CHRISTY BUTLER ’89

For all who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, there will come a day when it’s time to separate — to “retire” or otherwise hang up your uniform, and to transition to a civilian world you may know little about. So now what?

TABATHA BESHEARS ’07 “KONSTANTINE” BOOK 1 “HAVOLINA” BOOK 2

Havolina Greene is a ginger at the crossroads in her film career who is offered a job on a reality TV show. Mason Porter is a cowboy who keeps screwing up. Havolina and Mason weren’t sure what to expect, but the last thing they

were expecting was each other.

“BERKSHIRE DESTINATIONS”

Hikers and families looking for fresh ventures, will locate exciting and satisfying destinations appropriate for every person’s interest and ability. Around every corner and within every season, “Berkshire Destinations” provides natural landscape or cultural locations that invite exploration. If you’re an author and would like to see your book listed in a future publication, or know of an alumni author with a recently published work, please contact alumni@mcla.edu.

DISCOVER MCLA AUTHORS

Visit www.indiebound.org to order one of this issue’s featured books.

INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR TOM RIMER ’06

BY SHANNON CAHILL ’18, ALUMNI COMMUNICATIONS & ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

Tom Rimer ’06 has come into the fold of debut authors of 2020. The first installation of Rimer’s young adult science fiction trilogy, The Glowing, published in April by Shadow Spark Publishing, follows a particularly resilient high school astronomy club and their quirky science teacher after they survive a global alien invasion. Set in the Berkshires, “The Glowing” begins on the summit of Mount Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts, for a school field trip to view a meteor shower. When the meteors turn out to be an alien race hurdling toward Earth to conquer and destroy the planet, the astronomy club members find themselves among the few worldwide survivors. “The setting was crucial to the story,” Rimer says, noting that the altitude of the mountain was integral to helping the students survive the extraterrestrial attack. “You needed to be able to see the stars. It’s also secluded and difficult to get to,” he said, referencing the vast forests and steep mountain hills the Berkshires are known for, and which his characters find treacherous to navigate. The sequel, “The Glowing 2,” published in August 2020, follows the same cast of characters through their increasingly dangerous mission to save the world from a murderous alien race. Although Rimer was not thinking about it while attending MCLA, his experiences on campus would later give way to literary fodder—not just through the geographical setting, but also the smaller details. In book two, Rimer describes two college students that survived the alien attack because they were in their college’s radio station. As a student, Rimer was a DJ for MCLA’s radio station, 91.1 WJJW. He said he chose to include a college setting (based loosely on MCLA) so prominently in the series because “MCLA was incredibly formative for me. I love it there.” Before becoming a published author, Rimer was a teacher at various institutions, citing these experiences as incredibly influential to the writing of the story. “I knew this particular series would largely involve teenagers,” Rimer said as to why he chose to write a young adult novel. Rimer reflects on how the global pandemic has influenced his experience publishing his first series; COVID-19 has made it profoundly difficult for him to participate in marketing activities that used to be standard for authors. “I can’t plan book signings at stores or anything like that. It makes it really hard to do any kind of events or publicity,” Rimer says. However, the author has also had impactful virtual discussions and meetings about his books with readers and other media outlets. “The entirety of the trilogy will be released in a pandemic, which is difficult to navigate,” Rimer says, noting that the third and final installation of The Glowing will be published in November 2020. When asked what he wishes people knew about The Glowing, he said: “It’s just for fun. Sometimes you just want to watch a bad horror or monster movie and not take it too seriously. I’m a big fan of books and films that don’t disguise themselves. They’re just fun.”

I’M A BIG FAN OF BOOKS AND FILMS THAT DON’T DISGUISE THEMSELVES. THEY’RE JUST FUN.”

READ FOR YOURSELF:

bit.ly/TomRimer

MCLA ALUMNI FIND SUCCESS AT BERKSHIRE STERILE MANUFACTURING

HIRE MCLA

Becky Cohen ’04, a graduate from MCLA, manages the production schedule at Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing.

As Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing (BSM) in Lee, Mass., has grown, many MCLA alumni have grown there, too. Founded in 2014, BSM provides smal-scale sterile manufacturing services, analytical method development, and stability studies for pharmaceutical and biotech companies that are looking to put new life-saving and life-enhancing therapies into clinical trials. This year, BSM broke ground on a major expansion project that will enable the company to broaden its mission, increase its production, and serve more clients. “The expansion will come with a lot of growth in a lot of different areas,” said Jim Donnelly, BSM’s HR recruiter. That expansion and increased capacity means more jobs in the Berkshires— jobs that not only expand STEM in Western MA, but jobs that also offer management and experienced positions. Several MCLA alumni currently work in manufacturing, quality assurance, and project management. Although STEM degrees, including chemistry, microbiology, and engineering majors, are preferred, business-oriented majors can support administrative roles, and sometimes there are open positions in offices like HR and accounting. “People who have a liberal arts education or a business background could be a great fit for that,” Donnelly said. Besides education or related experience, what makes someone a good fit at BSM? Because so many people are involved on single projects, “the one word that always comes to mind for me is collaborative,” said Donnelly. “That’s one thing we’re always looking for, someone who can come in and work as part of a team.” BSM Master Scheduler Becky Cohen ’04 joined the company in 2019. A North Adams native, she is appreciative that BSM regularly hires locally. “It has been rewarding to work for a company that plays a direct role in the testing of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19,” she said. “I look forward to developing and advancing my career in biopharmaceuticals, where I can continue to build relationships with companies that are developing drugs making a huge impact in the healthcare field and ultimately in patients’ lives.” Tanya Romero ’18 majored in biology at MCLA with a pre-med concentration. She began as an intern, and was recently promoted to lead associate in BSM’s manufacturing department. “My science

I HAVE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE STUDENTS, THEIR INTEREST IN OUR COMPANY, AND THE QUESTIONS WE GET. THEY’RE VERY ENGAGING—MCLA IS A GOOD RESOURCE FOR US.”

—JIM DONNELLY, BERKSHIRE STERILE MANUFACTURING

knowledge was a basic background that helped me take the step to apply for an internship at BSM,” Romero said. “I continue gaining valuable skills at BSM. After my graduation, I wanted to stay close to home and spend quality time with my family. It’s been amazing to be part of BSM; I enjoy been part of the team and I am fortunate to work alongside great people.” Donnelly has visited MCLA in his recruitment efforts, tabling at career fairs and during career events in the campus center. “We love getting candidates that are local,” he said. “I have been very impressed with the students, their interest in our company, and the questions we get. They’re very engaging—MCLA is a good resource for us.”

Located in Lee, Mass., Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing Manufacturing recently broke ground on a major expansion project.