Common Read Author Kelly Link visited the campus to clear up perceptions and questions about herself and elements of her book that students read this semester, “Get In Trouble,” a combination of short stories with various genres.
Makayla Abney

Author Kelly Link came to the university to answer questions and let English students, as well as dual enrollment students from surrounding areas, get more insight to understand her stories and who she is. Link is the author of “Get in Trouble,” which was the required reading for freshman and dual enrollment English classes. 

During the Q&A on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 11 a.m., David Hanson, Head of the English Department, introduced Link to the crowd. 

“This is the most interesting Common Read author I think we have had,” said Hanson as he opened the Q&A seminar.

The students attending knew of her before she was on stage.

“I am excited to see what she looks like because I am expecting her to look different, only because her stories are weird,” said Shelby Gideon, a freshman nursing major. “I am mostly here for the bonus though.”

Link has accomplished a lot throughout her career and she touched on a few of her accomplishments in the introduction about herself. Link and her husband started a production company that produces five to 10 books a year. In the introduction, she discussed that she really enjoys having side projects separate from her writing career.

Students that attended the Q&A had questions ready to ask Link so that they could get clarity from the author.

“I want to know why her stories use weird elements and are confusing,” said Sarah Haltom, a freshman nursing major. 

The idea that Link uses confusing elements was evident throughout her stories. This Q&A was created to get students involved and get answers to their questions. 

The expectation English students had was to not get the answer they wanted, but to get a resolution out of Link. 

“I kind of expect no direct answers,” said Ashley Ghawaly, a dual enrollment student from Ponchatoula High School. “I expect her to beat around the bush. I think she is not going to answer all of our questions directly because she wants to keep the mystery surrounding them.”

Along with the confusion in her stories, Link also addressed the mystery they create for the readers. She explained to the audience how it was more enjoyable for her to write a mystery with fictional aspects than a “boring original story.” 

After the interactive Q&A was over, Link decided to share a ghost story with the audience. The ghost story happened to a friend of hers, and she thought it would be a fun note to end the lecture on. 

Once everyone filed out of the Student Union Theater, a few students proceeded to explain how they enjoyed the clarity the Q&A provided. 

“I appreciated how she puts her personal feelings into her story to make the audience feel more a part,” said Rowdy Starkey, a freshman business major. “Also in the Q&A, she made it feel personal. She’s very creative, and just hearing her talk made me like her even more.”