SLU Graduate Student Publishes Bilingual Story
01/10/2022
Saint Louis University M.A. in Spanish student Adria Concannon has recently published her first book, entitled "An Aztec Story of Friendship: The Road to Liberation and Empowerment." The story is an allegorical tale addressing the themes of sexuality, feminism, empowerment, inclusion, friendship and solidarity. Originally written in Spanish, the book has now been published in a bilingual version.
Concannon, who was born and raised in Mexico City, Mexico, has always been an avid reader of English and Spanish literature with aspirations to become a writer. She recognized, however, that she needed the correct academic preparation. According to Concannon, SLU's graduate program in Spanish not only prepares students for careers as educators but also professional positions in such fields as international relations, translation, business and publishing. "By throwing myself into this degree, I have literally focused on an academic path that is giving me the skill to be able to write literature… and the necessary confidence to publish my story."
Though honing the craft of writing is an ongoing and lifelong process, Concannon is thrilled to launch her first book. She anticipates that she will continue to develop her writing skills as she completes her master's degree, and she expects to create more stories in the future.
When Concannon enrolled as a graduate student at the St. Louis campus, she was looking forward to studying abroad at SLU's campus in Madrid, Spain. COVID, however, threw her a curveball, so she was not able to attend classes in Madrid. "Even if I have not been there physically, I am so glad to have been able to be an asynchronous student and to complete various courses from the Madrid Campus," she said. She values the richness of having taken classes with professors from both campuses.
Returning to the classroom after more than 20 years has also presented Concannon with important life lessons. While adapting to new programs, different technology and the challenges of the global pandemic, she has developed the will to never stop pursuing her dream to become a published author. Her book is now on sale on Amazon.
More on Concannon
As an undergraduate, Concannon studied business administration and started her career in the marketing department at Unilever in Mexico. She later decided to pursue a master's degree in international relations at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom before moving to Milan to work as an English teacher. After returning to Mexico and opening a jewelry company, she ended up settling down in St. Louis, where she works periodically as an interpreter and a Spanish teacher, all while pursuing her M.A. in Spanish and her passion for writing.