The clicking of a keyboard, the spark of an idea, the overwhelming need to put all the words that overflow out of your head on paper, but the courage to share these thoughts with the world- the difference between a writer and an author lies. One D219 staff member found the courage to publish her work in 2023 with her first-ever novel, “Cold Girls.” The book has earned a Kirkus Star Review and a spot on their Best Young Adult Books of 2023. This staff member is also a Lambda Literary Award finalist. Though she uses the pen name Maxine Rae, in D219, she is known as first-year history teacher Maxine Lapin.

The first question that might come to mind is: Why? Why did Lapin choose to use Rae instead of her given last name? Lapin explains that she decided to use her middle name, Rae, because she wanted to keep her two careers separate and found that having two names was much more practical for that endeavor.

Your next question might be: What is this book about, and why did Lapin choose to write her book? The young adult book is about the main character Rory Quinn-Morelli’s healing journey after she loses her best friend, Liv, in a car accident. The novel explores how the two became friends, survived high school as two teenage girls and eventually, how Rory learns to survive in a world without Liv. Lapin wrote”Cold Girls” based on her experience after losing a close friend at 19 years old to a drunk driver.

“Cold Girls” is not Lapin’s story, but she based the novel on the same feelings she faced after losing her friend. Lapin chose to write this story because writing has always been the best way to express her feelings.

“I was always a writer. I was always writing stories in school, specifically during math class, when I wasn’t supposed to. I have always been really into reading, journaling and writing things down. I knew that I wanted to pursue writing and one day become a published author. I also knew that I wanted my book to be centered around girlhood, growing up and being different from the typical girl. But, when I lost my friend, I combined all those themes together to create ‘Cold Girls,’” Lapin said. 

When attending Tulane University, Lapin took a course taught by college professor and author Jesmyn Ward, who saw Lapin’s spark and talent in the trade and encouraged her to write her book. After college, Lapin became a paraprofessional teacher, and over her first summer break in 2017, she wrote her book. In 2019, she polished it up, sent it to agents that year, got over a hundred rejections and finally got an agent in 2021. In 2022, Lapin sold it to a publisher, and after fixing it up once again, it was published on Aug. 22, 2023.

Junior and US history student Riddhima Brahmbatt was astonished to learn that her history teacher is a published author and fully intends to read “Cold Girls.”

“It’s pretty exciting and surprising to learn that your own history teacher is an author. I already thought that Ms.Lapin was pretty cool, and her being an author has made me like her even more. I’ve already put it on my TBR (To Be Read) list in Goodreads. I specifically think that books that explore grief are essential to literature because they help people understand that they aren’t alone and that grief can look different for everyone,” Brahmbhatt said.

Fellow history teacher Christina Kokoris met Lapin over Zoom when they both attended classes at DePaul in 2020.

“Lapin was someone who stood out to me way back then because she always had very thoughtful things to say. She is a very genuine human being with an amazing sense of humor. I think that Ms. Lapin is a great history teacher because she truly cares about the content she is teaching as well as her students. She goes above and beyond to support her students’ learning. Ms. Lapin is also very good at making connections between historical events and contemporary issues, showing her students how important history is,” Kokoris said.

Growing up, Lapin understood what it felt like to be different and hopes that she can now be a safe place for others who feel like they don’t fit in. 

“My story is that I was gay and closeted when I was in high school.. Coming out is a personal decision because, in high school, some people can’t become their true selves yet. They’re just trying to survive. So my advice to anyone who might be experiencing what I felt is this: at least be out to yourself. Don’t conform to the point where you don’t know who you are. You should be on a journey of figuring out who you are because that’s what your teenage years are about,” Lapin said.

Lapin’s journey has truly come full circle because she now seems to be leaving the same inspirational influence she received from Ward on her students.

“She’s inspired me to continue pursuing the things I’m passionate about, and this year, I’ve found that with her help, I’ve really started to enjoy history. Ms. Lapin is a really warm and open-minded teacher. Some of my favorite memories are when she attempts to make goofy teenage jokes but completely misses the mark,” Brahmbhatt said.

Lapin is currently writing another book that is inspired by her experience of being queer in ballet; the book does not yet have a release date.