STUDENT SPOTLIGHT!
Get to know MAWP candidate: Savy Leiser!
1. What program are you in, and how did you choose DePaul?
I am in the MAWP program! MAWP is the only program I’ve found that combines all of my passions: creative writing, editing, teaching, and journalism. It was also important to go to a school where I could be a graduate assistant, since I couldn’t afford to pay tuition or take on more loans at this time. My assistantship at the writing center has been amazing, and makes me even more grateful to be a part of this program.
2. What is a fun fact about yourself?
I am a huge Back to the Future fan. That means 2 things: 1. I have a tattoo of a DeLorean on my left arm, with the last line of the first movie written under it (“Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.”) and 2. I proposed to my husband on October 21, 2015 (the day Marty and Doc travel to in Back to the Future Part II) by taking him on a time-travel-themed scavenger hunt.
3. What is your favorite thing about DePaul so far?
I love the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center, which is part of the business school. As a writer, I have found their resources to be helpful as I approach being an author from an entrepreneurial perspective. In 2017, I started my own business, The Furever Home Friends, which I use to produce the children’s books I write about real rescue dogs, as well as related merchandise. I love combining the logistical challenges of being a business owner with the creativity of being an author, and I hope to continue pursuing this angle.
4. Can you tell me a little bit about your career aspirations and what you hope to do after the program?
My goal is to be able to run the Furever Home Friends as my full-time job, along with writing young-adult and new-adult novels. Basically, my goal is to be able to make a full living from my writing and my business!
5. What is your favorite TV show?
Star Trek (both the original series and the Next Generation). I could go on for hours about this, but I’ll spare you (for now).
6. What is your favorite genre to write and why?
I’m a big fan of young-adult and new-adult fiction. There’s something magical about taking on the voice of a young person during a transitional period in their life. Generally, I like to keep my writing fairly contemporary, although I do enjoy getting to add sci-fi flairs and elements to my work. I prefer to write novels over short stories. I also work as a music journalist, so I have to give a shout-out to that genre as well.
Interview by Ex-Libris contributor Ava Tews (MAWP)