Rome, Ga. — Shorter University senior English major Hannah Cauthen continues to build success as a writer. A creative flash nonfiction piece she wrote titled “In-Betweens” was recently accepted for publication in the “Beautiful Things” section of River Teeth: A Journal of Nonfiction Narrative.

“Publishing with a journal like River Teeth, one of the most prestigious creative non-fiction publications out there, speaks volumes about Hannah’s talent and her keen editorial eye,” said Dr. Angie O’Neal, who serves as the Joan Alden Speidel Chair of English, associate professor of English, and chair of the Department of English, Modern Languages and Liberal Arts at Shorter University. “Hannah is a thoughtful and deliberate writer, and I’m delighted to see others embracing her work. She is definitely one to watch!”

“Creative flash nonfiction isn’t a widely known genre,” Cauthen said. “Some only think of nonfiction as bland, straightforward writing, but creative nonfiction includes the captivating language and storytelling we associate with fiction. It’s a compelling genre that I encourage people to seek out.”

To be considered a flash piece, a work must be 250 words or less, she added.

Cauthen was also one of five Shorter University students to have their poetry accepted for the forthcoming anthology, “Georgia’s Best Emerging Poets,” which is being published by Z Publishing. She has also had her work featured in The Chimes, Shorter’s literary magazine and the university’s longest running publication.

“As a writer who is just getting into the vast, intimidating world of publishing, it’s an incredible feeling to see your work published,” Cauthen said. “Simply put, it means someone read your work and thought, ‘This is good. This means something. The world needs to see this.’ It’s the validation everyone needs to keep pursuing his or her passion; no matter what your passion is, you want to feel like you’re offering something to the world.”

Dr. Fabrice Poussin, associate professor of English and French at Shorter, praised Cauthen’s ability as a writer. “The power of Hannah’s words comes from the delicateness with which she conceives her writing. A seemingly shy person, it is evident that she reserves her immense courage, passion, and warrior-like motivation for the pen. The publication of her work in at least two different magazines, as well as an anthology, is a testimony to that caring warmth which she excels at painting through her lines.”

He added, “Hannah does not appear to seek out success; it finds her. Her poetry and flash fiction can now be read throughout the world. She represents what Shorter University does every day, and that is to lead students to the highest level to the highest level of achievement in the field they have chosen.”

Cauthen credits the instruction and encouragement she has received from Shorter University faculty with preparing her for success as a writer.

“I would not be published if it were not for Dr. Angie O’Neal and Dr. Fabrice Poussin,” she said. “I’ve had five writing classes with Dr. O’Neal so she has obviously had a huge impact on my writing during my time at Shorter. Looking back at my writing from freshman year, I’ve changed and improved so much, largely due to her inspiring teaching and encouragement. Dr. O’Neal has also been published in River Teeth’s ‘Beautiful Things’ series, and I consider it the highest honor to be featured in the same publication.”

Cauthen added, “Dr. Poussin is one of the most encouraging and helpful professors at Shorter; he has always reassured me of my abilities and is continually willing to give advice and find resources for students. It’s obvious that his main goal is to see students succeed and celebrate their accomplishments. Dr. Kathi Vosevich has also taught me so much about professionalism and critical thinking that I feel confident in my ability to enter the workforce and potentially market myself as a writer in the future.

“If it weren’t for Shorter’s incredible faculty, I would not be where I am today,” she said.

In addition to majoring in English, Cauthen is minoring in Professional Writing. She has plans to marry her fiancé, Jonathan Hannah, who is also a student at Shorter, in the summer of 2018. “We’re planning on staying in Rome. I have a job lined up that has nothing to do with writing, but that’s the way it is for a lot of writers. I would love to work in the writing/publishing/editing field eventually, but I think it’ll be good for me to work outside of the writing world for now. Some of the best writing I’ve read has been by doctors, social workers, teachers, etc.; the most impactful writing is often concrete and relatable, and that comes from interacting with the world on a daily basis.”

Cauthen serves as editor in chief of The Chimes and is a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She is the daughter of Bob Cauthen and Virginia Cauthen of Villa Rica.

Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christ-centered, four-year liberal arts university committed to excellence in education. U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review annually include Shorter on their lists of best Southeastern Colleges. The university offers traditional bachelor’s degrees in 40 areas of study, online courses and degree programs, undergraduate programs for working adults, and master’s programs.

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