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Former Southwest student Katherine Graham makes USA Today Bestseller List

By Communications and Marketing Staff 

USA Today Best Selling author Katherine Graham
USA Today Best Selling author
Katherine Graham

From fall 2006 to spring 2007, former Southwest student Katherine Graham discovered her passion and talent as a gifted writer in one of her English Composition classes at Southwest. Now she is a world-renowned author on the USA Today Bestseller List as one of the authors of the Realm of Darkness: A Limited-Edition Fantasy and Paranormal Collection (a collection full-length novels). Her book, Splitting Dawn, was released as part of the box set along with 36 other award-winning and bestselling authors.

A native of Memphis, Graham began her journey at Southwest as an English major with a concentration in creative writing before transferring as a freshman to the University of Memphis where she graduated in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in foreign language (literature and linguistics) with a Japanese concentration.   

Realm of Darkness: A Limited-Edition Fantasy and Paranormal Collection

“It was during my English Comp class with Professor John Pritchard that I found my voice and confidence to share my work,” Graham said. “He was a no-nonsense teacher, who would rather rip the band aid off with how literature, culture, and creative writing works in the “real world” than let us stumble aimlessly down a path to potentially nowhere. I cannot thank him enough for helping lay the foundation for my writing career.” While at Southwest, Graham won her first writing contest in a "What the Declaration of Independence Means to Me" essay competition. 

“It is very humbling, mind-blowing, to come from a small girl with big dreams achieving a milestone of being a USA Today bestselling author. I am proud of my time at Southwest; it is a hidden gem, with professors who truly care about their students achieving in life, not just with grades,” she said. 

Her message to students who are attending Southwest is simple: “It is a community effort. Keep your mind open for opportunities that will stretch you out of your comfort zone (and allow your professors' recommendations to be serious considerations). They have nothing to gain but watching you succeed. Be proud of your community! Be proud of who you are!”

Realm of Darkness is now available for purchase at most online retailers and local bookstores. 

Congratulations, Katherine, on your “epic” accomplishment!