Kim van Alkemade, a professor of English at Shippensburg University, recently published her new book, “Orphan #8.”

The book proved to be an immediate success, with more than 100,000 copies already in print.

The novel has already entered its fourth printing cycle and is in the process of being translated into 10 different languages, including Romanian, Turkish and Italian.

Approximately 100 people, including SU President George “Jody” Harpster, filled the seats at SU’s Old Main Chapel on Sept. 17 to hear Professor van Alkemade read from her new book. Van Alkemade began her event with a special thanks to SU professor Neil Connelly for his role in the creation process. Connelly had given her some early advice, such as lengthening certain parts of the story and allowing the reader more access to the main character’s interior.

Van Alkemade also gave a warm thank you to SU for supporting her research financially — SU paid for her to attend the New York Pitch Conference, which ultimately led to her meeting her editor.

After a brief introduction, van Alkemade read aloud from her book, employing skills she learned at an improvisational comedy class she had taken over the summer. In her excerpt, Rachel Rabinowitz, the book’s protagonist, meets the person responsible for conducting horrific medical research on her during her time at a Jewish orphanage. Only this time, years later, the tables are turned and Rabinowitz is given the opportunity to either exact her revenge or show mercy and forgiveness. Van Alkemade said she chose this scene because it allowed listeners to identify the protagonist and antagonist and it shows how the two come together.

After the reading, van Alkemade set time aside for questions from the audience. SU student Angel Barfield was one of the first to speak. She asked van Alkemade for advice on beginning and ending stories.

“I want to publish my own books someday,” Barfield said. “So I like to find out how other authors do it. I feel your perception of a story always changes when you hear it by the person who wrote it versus reading it yourself.”

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