Hello Sandra Hutcheson, where are you and what are you doing currently?

A. I live in St. Augustine, FL, USA, (the oldest city in America). I’m a columnist for the local newspaper, and I teach Creative Writing at Flagler College and at the University of Phoenix.

How was your overall experience with Warnborough College?

A. I loved my time at Warnborough. It was exactly what I needed when I enrolled.

How do you think Warnborough College helped you get where you are today?

A. I’m a better writer than I was before I enrolled at Warnborough, and that was the outcome I intended.

Do you think you had good guidance and help from your mentor?

A. Yes, my mentor (Robert Reece) was encouraging and insightful. His responses to my questions were prompt, and he took great care to let me know that he believed in me.

Do you feel you have achieved your academic goals?

A. Yes. I earned my doctorate in Creative Writing.

What have you achieved since ending your time with Warnborough College?

A. I have published my second book.

Is it what you hoped/planned it to be?

A. Yes. I intended for my creative dissertation to become a book, and it has.

What would you recommend for aspiring students in the same field as you to do?

A. If you want to be a writer, you have to write, write, write. The amount of writing required for this degree at Warnborough puts you on the right path!

What are your plans for the future?

A. I’m currently working on a screenplay based on my first book.

If so do you think Warnborough College has helped you with that?

A. Simply having a PhD in Creative Writing makes me more confident in my abilities as a writer, so yes, I think it has helped. Plus, having the degree helps me as a college professor.

What advise would you give your younger self?

A. Never give up.

Why did you choose the field you chose?

A. As a young girl, I loved reading and wished I could write things that made people feel the way books made me feel. I guess I’ve always known I wanted to be a writer.

Who or what inspires you?

A. Great writing. The feeling I have when I finish the last page of a great book and say to myself, “I wish I’d written that.”

What motivates you?

A. My kids. I want to be an example of someone who pursued what I love and succeeded at it.

Would you recommend Warnborough College to people who aspire to do what you do?

A. Yes. I needed a low-residency program for my Phd. Warnborough had exactly what I was looking for.

What do you like doing in your free time?

A. Reading, walking on the beach, playing tennis.

Could you tell me a little bit about your interests?

A. I love tennis – playing and watching. I’ve been to Wimbledon, the French Open, and the U.S. Open (several times), but right now, I prefer watching my son play for Flagler College.