On September 24, the Penn Bookstore hosted 2005 College graduate Lindsey Palmer to discuss her latest novel, "Salt Sisters." Palmer shared insights about her book and offered advice to aspiring writers, while the event was organized by fellow alum Jamie-Lee Josselyn and moderated by College senior Sophia Hall.
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Josselyn, who is the associate director of recruitment for the Creative Writing Program at the Kelly Writers House, expressed her desire for the audience to contemplate maintaining a creative life post-college. She noted Palmer as an exemplary figure from Penn’s creative writing community who has pursued her passion successfully.
"Salt Sisters," published on July 14, features themes of grief, motherhood, and friendship. Palmer commenced the event by reading the novel's prologue, discussing how Cape Cod, Massachusetts—her home for several years—influenced her writing. She described the book as a "love letter to Cape Cod," reflecting her connection to the area.
Palmer also emphasized her passion for writing from various perspectives, highlighting her novel's dual protagonist viewpoints. Reflecting on her time at Penn, she praised the Kelly Writers House as a significant influence and credited the creative writing workshops for teaching her the importance of writing from different environments.
Her current writing group includes Penn alumni she met during a first-year creative writing course led by professor Max Apple at KWH. Hall echoed Palmer’s sentiments, noting the continuity of creative experiences across different generations at Penn.
The event concluded with a question and answer session, followed by a book signing where Palmer signed copies of "Salt Sisters". Hall expressed excitement about the opportunity to engage with Palmer, mentioning the importance of showcasing a variety of successful career paths beyond the traditional pre-professional fields promoted at Penn.