While a student at UMBC, Hasina Jamal Stearns ’09, computer engineering, founded the publishing company Fred & Barrel, Inc.  Now, the company’s first book, Guy, a philosophical play by Cinna, is available in the UMBC bookstore. Stearns is the editor-in-chief and illustrator.

Guy—a hybrid novel, play, and movie script—tells the story of Guy, a tall handsome tennis player who thinks deeply about mankind and life. At least, he does in the first act. He would continue to ruminate about such things if he weren’t so swamped with homework and projects. He spends most of his time in an old children’s insane asylum, which is now being used as a studio and research center by architecture students. One day, he decides not to return to campus and instead opts let his whim take him to wherever he is destined.

Other UMBC alumni contributed to the book: Truc Nguyen ’07 helped connect Stearns to its designer; Andrew Shoenfeld ’07 took the cover and illustration photos; Tim Brosius ’08 created the website and Hariklia Karagiannis ’09 edited the website.

Stearns is currently a graduate student at American University studying producing for film and video. One of her inspirations for this course of study is this book, which she hopes to turn into a movie.

Another book that Stearns hopes to eventually publish was written Jamie C. Heard, a UMBC student who passed away in 2008. She is working with Issa Legall ’09 to make this a reality.

- Originally published on UMBC Insights

Steven Fischer ’98, visual and performing arts, a filmmaker profiled with several other director alumni in the September 2011 issue of UMBC Magazine, has been interviewed by the Lincolnshire Review.

Read the Q&A in the Lincolnshire Review here.

The two-time Emmy-nominated writer/producer and the creator of Steve & Bluey recently released a new documentary entitled “Old School New School” in which he interviews artists he respects about the nature of creativity and how to sustain a career in the arts.

In photo:  Fred Weil, videographer, Steve Fischer, director, Brian Cox, actor and Chris Cassey, director of photography for “Old School New School.” Photo by Marlayna Demond ’11.

Steven Fischer ’98, visual and performing arts, a filmmaker profiled with several other director alumni in the September 2011 issue of UMBC Magazine, has been interviewed by the Lincolnshire Review.

Read the Q&A in the Lincolnshire Review here.

The two-time Emmy-nominated writer/producer and the creator of Steve & Bluey recently released a new documentary entitled “Old School New School” in which he interviews artists he respects about the nature of creativity and how to sustain a career in the arts.

In photo:  Fred Weil, videographer, Steve Fischer, director, Brian Cox, actor and Chris Cassey, director of photography for “Old School New School.” Photo by Marlayna Demond ’11.

The Iowa Caucus turned made for an entertaining evening. Mitt Romney prevailed with a microscopic win over Rick Santorum. The two candidates came within just 8 votes of each other.

Technically, Romney won but… this is a huge boost to Santorum who in December was a side note and a gross joke on the Internet. With only one week until the New Hampshire Primary with the South Carolina Primary only ten days later, lots of changes in the pecking order could take place.

Romney is the heavy favorite in New Hampshire but the Mormon Governor’s hopes look bleak in South Carolina where he will have to contend with deeply conservative and Christian voters. Newt Gingrich currently leads in many southern states including South Carolina but his lead is shrinking.

We want to know what you think, who in the field would get your vote?

Take our Poll…