William H. Wandless is assistant professor at Central Michigan University, where he specializes in British literature of the long eighteenth century (1660-1820). In 2006, near the end of the extra-long eighteenth century, he returned to writing poetry and speculative fiction. His verse appears in Brooklyn Review, Cincinnati Review, New Delta Review and a number of other literary journals. His short fiction appears in Realms of Fantasy, Whispers of Wickedness, Dark Realms, and other nifty places.
Bill, I stumbled upon your blog, and I’m thrilled to have found it and to learn of your burgeoning literary success — I look forward to reading your work very soon (now that I know where to find it!)
You may not remember me, but you were extemely kind to me during my first years of grad school, and you saved my Am-lit ass repeatedly during my quals summer. So, belatedly, THANK YOU!
All best,
Melissa
Ahoy Melissa! I certainly remember you. I inherited much kindness at Emory, and I’m glad I had the chance to pass it on, gladder still to know I once was useful.
We’ll see what happens as I mosey down the rabbit hole; I like to think I’m just beginning.
Good luck to you in all you do; I hope you have a sunny Spring spread out before you.
Hi Bill…
Melissa passed along the link to your blog to me, and I agree with everything she says above, especially about your overall goodness as a mentor, colleague, etc.
Be well,
Emily
Ahoy Emily! Like Melissa, you are too kind: I only hope I paid some of the kindness I was shown back at Emory forward.
Because I always do what Haley Joel Osment tells me to do.
Take best care,
B.
Dr. Wandless!
You may not remember me, but I was in your Gothic literature class at JSU. It’s so great to finally find you. After you left JSU, my life was not the same. I can honestly say that your Gothic Lit class was so inspirational! I finished my Master’s in Literature and am seriously toying with the idea of a PhD in the Gothic.
At the moment, I am teaching English at GSCC. I am also working with the Upward Bound program. I attribute much of my success to you. I am also toying with the publishing idea – who knows.
At any rate, I just wanted to let you know that your fans are out here eagerly awaiting your return. Stephanie and Erin also send their regards.
Lara K. Sisk
Ahoy, Lara! Thank you very much for the kind words, and congratulations to you for finishing up the M.A. I’m glad that you feel the course has had lasting value, and I hope your degree opens up countless doors for you.
There are plenty of programs out there that offer interesting ways of cracking into the Gothic, and I hope you find one that suits you. The Gothic represents a rich field of scholarly prospects, with connections to cultural studies, feminism, genre studies, and other conceptual territories, so you certainly won’t lack for options. If you decide to pursue the Ph.D., please feel welcome to drop me a line. I did some program research to help a student find a good fit a few years ago, and I’m sure I could dig it up in short order.
Good luck to you in Upward Bound and in your publishing excursions; you never know how things will play out until you give them a go, as my own experience attests. Please give my best to Stephanie and Erin (and Brantley, and Paige, and all the other folks whose names I’m forgetting at the moment), and take care.