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Popular Projects

Popular Projects
“Project Unpopular” is a new book series for tweens about the tough times many of us associate with middle school. ‘Two middle school friends want to make the lives of their classmates more equitable, to disastrous results.’

The author, Kristen Tracy (Ph.D. Creative Writing) is excited about her new series, the first book of which was released in mid-June.

Tracy has written twelve novels for young adults and young readers, including “Lost It,” “Too Cool for This School,” “Hung Up,” "Death of a Kleptomaniac," and "Sharks & Boys."

While pursuing her Ph.D. at WMU, Tracy was able to complete several of those novels. Others are based in Kalamazoo, such as "Crimes of the Sarahs." Now a resident of Los Angeles, Tracy still finds time to visit Kalamazoo each year with her husband and young son.

"I am so happy that my time at WMU turned me into a successful writer," Tracy said. "I wrote five of my novels there. It was such a nourishing place for me."

‘A native Idahoan, Tracy has led an exciting life. In addition to falling underneath her school bus in fourth grade (and writing a critically acclaimed novel about that experience, "Camille McPhee Fell Under the Bus"), she’s lived in five states, spent several years teaching writing at WMU, and volunteered as a gardener on Alcatraz, where she helped restore the historic prisoners’ gardens and also spent a spooky night sleeping in a cell in D-Block.’

Tracy earned a M.A. in American Literature from Brigham Young University, and an M.F.A. in poetry from Vermont College. She also is a former WMU All-University Creative Scholar and two-time honoree of an Arts Fund Individual Artist Grant from the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.

To learn more, please visit kristentracy.com.