Local author and 2009 Southern Lehigh alumnus, Alivia Anders, has shown that college isn’t always necessary to follow your dreams. She took a different path and five years after graduating, she is already publishing her fifth book titled “A Shard of Ice.”

Many students know that after graduating that they either want to go to college or just get right into work. Anders decided to pursue her passion which wasn’t college and wasn’t quite a job either.

“I didn’t choose college because I didn’t feel I needed it,” Anders said. “ I already knew how to write, so going to college for writing wouldn’t have been beneficial.”

During high school, Anders had both Mrs. Marlo Spritzer and Mrs. Leigh Kern as English teachers. She also took journalism, when Mrs. Kern was still the adviser.

“I have always known, since first meeting Alivia, that she was going to be a writer,” Mrs. Kern said. “She has a very creative soul and is able to put that creativity into her writing.”

“I liked writing,” Anders said. “It was a really great time to stretch yourself into the creative writing because the typical English classes were just textbook after textbook.”

Anders started writing small short stories in middle school.  Eventually, they turned into bigger stories.

“I liked that I could tell the story how I wanted to because I  got tired of reading the same old books,” Anders said. “When I liked what I would write, I would show it to my friends.”

Anders has already written several books since she graduated. Three of the five books in her “Illumine” series are already in our school library. Those books are “Illumine,” “Obumbrate,” and “Riven.” You can expect to see the final two books, “Ethereal” and “Alacrity,” in the library soon.

“As a librarian, and someone who dreams of publishing a book, I am always extremely happy to celebrate the publishing success of former students,” school librarian Mrs. Corry Robbins said. “Having Alivia’s books in our library is a great reminder, to students and teachers alike, to follow your dreams.  I hope Alivia inspires other to follow in her footsteps.”

Along with the “Illumine” series, Anders working on another series. The first book, “A Shard of Ice,” is about five teenage girls who discover that they are reincarnated immortals and must destroy an ancient evil before it destroys them.  Released on April 14, 2014, the book is also available online and will also be available in the library soon.

“Alivia has proven to be successful. She has perseverance and drive,” Mrs. Kern said.  “I could not be more proud of her.  She will continue to grow and so will her audience.”