BU lecturer inspired by local community in first novel

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – A member of the Binghamton University community is using her love of the campus to tell a story about revenge, gender roles, and the ambition to follow your dreams.

BU Alumna and Associate Director of Writing Aggeliki Pelekidis is publishing her first novel “Unlucky Mel.”

The story follows Melody in her final year of her PhD studies at Vestal University as she deals with her father’s dementia diagnosis as well as betrayal from her best friend. Readers will recognize hometown staples such as the B-U campus, Lost Dog Cafe, and Lourdes Hospital.

Pelekidis has been writing Unlucky Mel since she graduated from Binghamton with her doctorate in 2012. She urges writers to never give up.

“If anyone has aspirations to be a writer, don’t ever give up. It took me a long time and I went to school for this. So, the persistence that you need to be a writer, it’s incredible, it’s ridiculous. You have to develop a thick skin for rejection and don’t give up because you failed, just keep trying and keep persisting,” said Pelekidis.

Pelekidis says she hopes readers can sympathize and relate to the characters. She also hopes the book helps readers realize they can pursue anything that makes them happy.

Unlucky Mel will hit the shelves on September 15.

You can find it anywhere books are sold. It is also available for pre-order through Cornell University Press .

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