As children we were swarmed with questions of what we wanted to be when we grew up. We had dreams and ambitions of becoming doctors, teachers, firemen or musicians. Few of us, though, thought that our names would appear in Oprah Magazine and in The New York Times.

Not for DePaul Professor Hannah Pittard, however.

DePaul’s fresh new face in the English Department is coming out with her first novel, “The Fates Will Find Their Way,” on Jan. 25, 2011. The book will be reviewed in O Magazine, The New York Times, and Elle, just to name a few.

The eloquent, yet witty, Pittard, 32, began as an instructor in the English Department in August 2010, teaching reading prose classes and fiction workshops. Having studied English as an undergrad at the University of Chicago, Pittard received a Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing from the University of Virginia.

However, her passion for writing started at a very young age.

“I had friends, but enjoyed time by myself more than anything,” said Pittard. “I remember sitting in front of a mirror in fourth or fifth grade and telling myself stories. Seriously, I found myself incredibly entertaining.”

“Another thing that probably prompted the obsession [for writing] was listening to these really brutal fairy tales. The act of storytelling worked itself into my everyday life.”

Pittard also credits her parents for her love of writing.

“My mother loved to read and tell stories. And my father told the most amazing anecdotes. I think I inherited a nice combination of their talents.”

From what Pittard has told us so far, it looks like men and women of all ages will be reading her new book.

“It’s about boys, about men and it’s about childhood and decisions we make as children that haunt us for the rest of our lives,” said Pittard. “It’s about regret and obsession, about our necessarily clumsy acceptance of adulthood.”

“The Fates Will Find Their Way” is also catching the attention of some pretty popular names.

“It’s going to be reviewed in O Magazine in February,” said Pittard. “That feels pretty amazing, pretty unreal.”

“It’s also going to be reviewed by The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, Elle, and Details Magazine.”

“I’m not convinced [that] I’m not dreaming,” said the author. “That’s how it feels; I’m very lucky and very, very happy.”

Many young writers never think that they will make it to Oprah or The New York Times, but at such a young age, Pittard is proving that childhood dreams can come true.

“I’m still pretty surprised and shocked by adulthood,” said Pittard, smiling. “I assume most of us are. I fight adulthood, for it and against it, every day.”

Her word of advice to current writers: “Read everything you write out loud.” “If it doesn’t sound good out loud, it can’t sound good when we’re reading it alone in our heads.”

Hannah Pittard will be reading at Lincoln Hall, located at 2424 N. Lincoln Avenue, on Jan. 25 and at Women and Children First, 5233 N. Clark Street, on Jan. 28.