Michael Ciccarelli-Walsh, a double College of Communication and Information (CCI) alumnus and CCI Marketing and Communication Coordinator, has recently released his third book in The Zoboros Series, Beyond the Rift.

Ciccarelli-Walsh described the series as a superhero space opera saga, “think Star Wars meets X-Men.” In this installment, the characters find themselves on the run, seeking refuge in a mysterious realm beyond the Rift—an expansive space, nearly impossible to cross that challenges their very survival.

In his adolescence, Ciccarelli-Walsh was inspired by filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino, longing to make movies. However, during his time in the Digital Media Production program, he discovered that his true passion was in the writing itself.

Recognizing that the literary industry revolves around connections, he enrolled in an online screenwriting program at the University of California, Los Angeles. This opportunity allowed him to experience being in a writer’s room. “That’s where I really got the foundation for how to craft a story, start to finish,” said Ciccarelli-Walsh. “I learned that it’s so much more important to hone your craft than to network. Not to say networking isn’t important. It’s very important in this industry, but it’s not worth anything if your writing isn’t worth anything.” As he developed his writing skills, his confidence in building a network naturally followed.

One of the biggest hurdles Ciccarelli-Walsh faced on his journey to becoming a self-published author was overcoming the imposter syndrome that came with identifying himself as a writer. “If you want to identify as a writer, it has to be a daily experience for you, you have to be giving yourself time daily to write and to read,” he advises. “Get the words on paper, practice. Run it by people. Get feedback. Watch videos on YouTube. It’s free to learn this craft. Take a course if you want to. All the tools are out there for you to succeed.”

Currently, Ciccarelli-Walsh is working on the fourth book in this series as well as a standalone children’s book. He continues to optimize marketing and communication efforts at the College, as it “funds the dream.”

He encourages anyone who is interested in learning more to reach out to him on LinkedIn.