ISSUED: 26 March 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Hans Fogle
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Shepherd University’s English program, in partnership with the University’s National Writing Project (NWP) site, will highlight the work of English alumna Lilli Sutton during an April 1 event.
Sutton, who graduated from Shepherd in 2019, is now a contemporary adult fiction writer based in Colorado. She published her debut novel, “Running Out of Air,” in November 2024 through HarperCollins Publishers.
“Running Out of Air” tells the story of two sister mountain climbing in the Himalayas as they encounter the costs and risks of pursuing their dreams.
Sutton will read from the book on Tuesday, April 1, at 6 p.m. in the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education.
Shepherd English faculty and NWP members are ready to welcome the alumna back to campus.
“We’re excited to have her [Sutton] back for this event,” said Dr. Carrie Messenger, professor of English at Shepherd. “We are very proud of what she has accomplished.”
Sutton said that Shepherd is the perfect place to share her new book because her time there was crucial to her development as a writer.
“The professors in the department of English, history, and modern languages at Shepherd helped me build a strong foundation as a writer, from analyzing literature to receiving feedback on pieces in creative writing workshops,” Sutton said. “I’m looking forward to connecting with current students.”
The National Writing Project is a network of teachers, university faculty, researchers, writers, and community educators working to advance writing and the teaching of writing. There are currently 175 NWP sites housed on college campuses across the nation.
The Shepherd University NWP site was established in 2023.
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