Elizabethtown College English Department

For Richard Fellinger, writing and publishing a novel is the hardest thing he’s ever accomplished. “I’ve ran seven marathons in my lifetime. I’ve dealt with the mob and I’ve dealt with the Klan. But, writing and publishing a novel remains at the top my list,” Fellinger said.

A Novelist

As Elizabethtown College Writing Fellow and director of the Writing Wing, Fellinger lives and breathes writing. Prior to his debut novel, “Made to Break Your Heart,” Fellinger published a collection of short stories entitled “They Hover Over Us.” This publication made him the winner of the 2011 Serena McDonald Kennedy Award for Fiction. But as a dedicated writer, Fellinger just couldn’t stop there.

“I need to create a little every day,” Fellinger said. “I consider myself a realist, and I like to write about what I know. Writing is my passion.”

Yet, even as a passionate writer, Fellinger still hits the occasional roadblock. “Made to Break Your Heart” took roughly eight years to write, publish and market. Reflecting on this experience, Fellinger is using “Made to Break Your Heart” as a template for his future novels.

“Don’t go into publishing light-hearted,” Fellinger said. “It’s a tough business and such a hard market.”

He is currently in the process of starting a new novel, one centered on more controversial and topical issues.

A Journalist

“Being a journalist has played a big role in who I am and how I write,” Fellinger said.

Fellinger grew up in Altoona, Pennsylvania, an old railroad town built by the coal and steel industries. Emerging from Pennsylvania’s rust belt, Fellinger graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and shortly after became a journalist. Fellinger spent roughly 15 years as a journalist in southern Philadelphia and then in Harrisburg.

A Professor

Along with his writing, Fellinger currently works in the Learning Zone at the College. He also teaches classes within the English Department of the College. His classes at E-town include Writing and Language, Advanced Writing and Writing and Analyzing the Short Story.

“I really enjoy teaching and talking about what I do on a daily basis,” Fellinger said. “I believe writing is so important in any fields of study, anywhere you go.”

Junior mathematics education major Katey Mowery took Fellinger’s Writing and Analyzing the Short Story class. As someone outside of the English curriculum, she enjoyed his class and the opportunities it gave her.

“Mr. Fellinger made the class interesting and extremely enjoyable because of the creativity we could use,” Mowery said. “I also enjoyed how he gave his students the opportunity to express themselves through their writing. He really cares for his students.”

Fellinger cannot stress enough just how difficult a strong career in writing is to achieve. He wants his students to be successful, and he is more than willing to help them along in any ways he can.

“My best advice for students is to be a plugger,” Fellinger said. “Be prepared for the long haul, and read a lot. Collect lots of feedback on your work and always be professional. The professionals are the ones that make it in the world.”

Author Bio:

Melissa Spencer is a junior English-Professional Writing major at Elizabethtown College. She also has minors in mathematics and data analytics. On campus, Melissa is the News Editor for the College’s student newspaper, The Etownian. Melissa’s work has been featured in both The Etownian and the College’s literary magazine, Fine Print. She hopes to one day become a writer who can combine her passions for English, mathematics and big data altogether.