William Allegrezza’s love for literature originated when he was in a punk rock band. He spent his high school years as the lead singer, but it was short-lived. He found that he enjoyed writing the lyrics more than anything, and that was just the push he needed to start writing poetry in college.
Allegrezza's band inspired a new world of literature for him and for his readers to experience as well. He started one of the first online poetry journals, "Moria Poetry and Book," and at the time, he did not think it was going to do well.
“I remember at the time people were like, ‘Nobody's gonna read stuff online, they don't trust literature online.’ Within six months, we were getting readers in like 50 countries,” Allegrezza said.
Flash forward to now, Allegrezza works at Indiana University Northwest (IUN) and is a writer and publisher of his own books. He has been the English Department Chair, an Executive Committee member, an Advisory Board member, Vice President of the faculty, and a professor. His teachings vary from a wide selection of literature: creative writing, professional writing, poetry, and composition.
When Allegrezza is not teaching, he is writing literature. So far, 16 of his books have been published, and he has written five more with one on the way. Out of the books he has written, “Fragile Replacements” was his favorite.
“When I finished writing it felt like a key was turned off…then I couldn't touch it again. It was like I was locked out. It felt so complete, so well put together that I just left it,” Allegrezza said.
Literature plays a big role in Allegrezza's work life as well. IUN just started the Dunes Literary Series on Zoom.
“We haven't had luck with doing reading series in the past, but for the online reading series on Zoom, we have been getting really good attendance, so that's kind of transformational,” he said.
The virtual literary meetings are not the only thing that came out of the pandemic: it has affected the way literature is being obtained. Now, books are being published more than ever in human history.
Allegrezza even thinks he likes books more than he likes people. Despite him being a professor, he is an introverted person. When he reads and writes, he feels like he is allowed to be himself, freely. He does not tend to write about his feelings, but he will write words closest to how he expresses things in his head.
“When I write, I don't have to have a mask on like I don't have to have my teacher mask on. Because your students need you to talk and actively be there,” he said. “When I'm writing, I feel like I can just take that mask off, and the words can come out however they need to come out.”
Allegrezza believes literature teaches empathy. He thinks this is the strongest argument as to why literature should be studied in school. Literature helps you understand that people make mistakes and that it is not a big thing to make mistakes.
“I learned it's okay to screw up. People are going to be alcoholics, people are going to do drugs. It doesn't mean it defines who they are. It's a part of life sometimes,” Allegrezza said. “I think it helps you think not too black and white and lets you see the complexity of life a little bit.”
Literature also fueled Allegrezza’s passion for nature. He does a lot of hiking, whether it is locally in the Indiana Dunes or on a trail in Mexico, Sweden, or Brazil. His passion for protecting life as much as possible runs deep. Allegrezza was in the Green Party for a while and is vegetarian.
“I do think vegetarianism actually ties into literature in a weird way,” said Allegrezza. “It's this idea that literature is about protecting life and vegetarianism is about protecting life and trying to live in harmony with things.”
Allegrezza’s writing has slowed down but for good reason. He is a dedicated father who wanted to spend time and focus on his children.
“I want to focus on my kids and having them be strong and do their own thing. I have two girls and I want them to be like, ‘Girls kick tail, and we're going to take over the world,’ and that's where they should be,” Allegrezza said.