Paris Zhang

Originally begun as a summer writing project, the work of Paris Zhang ’27 has grown into a published book now available in the Lenfest Library. Zhang recently released Drowned Voices: A Collection of Retellings, a compilation of short stories, poetry, and prose that centers on voices that often go unheard.

“At first, I didn’t really think about publishing a book,” Zhang said. “It was in the summer and school breaks that I read a lot of books and saw documentaries.” She cited Elena Ferrante’s The Days of Abandonment as her most notable summer read, highlighting its focus on internal emotional journeys. “I want to recreate the stories that I encountered over the summer,” Zhang explained.

Zhang’s book takes the form of a collection rather than a single narrative. She said the structure emerged naturally as her writing progressed: “First off, it is hard to construct a whole novel. Secondly, I didn’t consider making this collection a whole book. I just included a lot of short stories and realized that it could be in the style of a compilation.” She also incorporated poetry and prose, which are formats she enjoys writing in her downtime.

“The book is a collection of short stories, mainly to record the sounds of the soundless,” Zhang said. “For example, I included characters who faced injustice, resulting in suicides. I simply want my readers to ponder what would happen if these characters were given more depth and heard.”

Zhang said her biggest challenge during the writing process was ensuring clarity. “I think a challenge for all writers is to convey their message to the reader,” she explained. “That’s why I went through amounts of editing, making sure that my logic is clear.” She added that friends and teachers proofread the work before publication and were a great help.

Zhang used Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) to self-publish the book. “It’s just the logistics part of taxes, filling the forms, and doing the credentials that were very monotonous,” she said. Even the book’s cover required negotiation. “I also made my sister draw the front cover,” Zhang said. “Though initially it was hard, she finally complied.”

For Zhang, progress came in small steps, but each milestone felt rewarding. “Every time I finished a section of my compilation of short stories was very rewarding,” she said. “It felt like I gave a voice to a small character.”

After publication, Zhang worked with faculty from the English department and school librarians to make the book accessible to the Mercersburg community. “First, I emailed Ms. Poacelli, telling her that I published a book and here is the link,” she said. “Then I told Ms. Patterson, and she purchased a copy and added it to the library.”

Zhang said the response so far has been encouraging. “I have had a couple of faculty come up to me and say that they are going to read my book,” she said. “The people who read it loved that I made a compilation rather than a whole novel.”

Looking ahead, Zhang is already planning her next project. “I have been working on a different project, a whole novel,” she said, explaining that the idea began during Thanksgiving break.

Finally, asked why students should read Drowned Voices, Zhang emphasized its perspective. “It deviates from traditional narrative, and it empowers women,” she said. “It tells students that you can do things that seem impossible. Just do it.”