Read more: Local, Community, Alex Boles, Unwrittenlettersproject, Letters2ourfallenheroes, Truman State University, Blog, Kirksville
KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- A local college student is publishing her first book based on an online blog that she started in April.
Truman State University junior and St. Louis native Alex Boles is the creator of the online blog 'Unwritten Letters Project.'
She says her website allows bloggers to submit letters of any length and any subject.
Since its creation in April, the website has received more than 40,000 hits and over 500 letter submissions.
“I just wanted to provide people with a medium and an outlet for expression that was safe, judgment free, a place where they can come just to get everything off their chest without having the feeling that they have to be judged by others,” said “Unwritten Letters Project” Author Alex Boles.
Boles says the site is a way to anonymously express your feelings to any person. They can be alive, deceased, real or fake.
Her book is a collection of more than 100 letters submitted to the online blog.
Rather than writing in a diary or journal, this is a way to allow the entire world to read your letter.
“Having the feeling that knowing it's going to be read by somebody is cathartic, it's healing, it's just, it's a wonderful feeling and so that's why I did it while I was growing up and I did it to see if other people did it too and it took shape and people started doing it so I think it's successful,” said Boles.
Boles says she has more plans to expand unwritten letters in the future.
“Letters to our Fallen Heroes” is her next project. The site is brand new and awaiting submissions for the site and a second book for 2010.
We asked Boles what it's like to be one of the only Truman students to publish their own book.
“It's kind of overwhelming. Dr. Paino the provost said in his 25 years he's never seen an undergrad publish a book, have a book signing, and be as successful as this has turned out to be. It's just kind of... I've been taken a back,” said Boles.
Boles says she's thankful to the Truman community for all their support.
Here are links to her blogs: Unwritten Letters Project, Letters 2 Our Fallen Heroes
