"The Lantern" based in Columbus, OH

Published writer calls OSU home

 Other than the Indiana Jones cap he religiously wears every day, Adam Salviani seems like the normal Ohio State student.

He says he isn't that obsessive about the cap - he's just a big fan of Harrison Ford and the Indiana Jones movies. Therefore, the cap is a must.

But Salviani is different in another way, too. While many may remember the genius who wears sneakers, Salviani should be known as the writer underneath the Indiana Jones hat.

Only a freshman, Salviani has already published two books, and he's working his fifth and sixth.

His writing stemmed from a crush he had during his early teenage years.

When Salviani was in high school, he knew he was in love. But he didn't know how to tell his crush of his feelings, so he thought of different ways to approach her. Salviani finally decided to write the girl a message. He said written words seemed to be the best method.

Salviani said he never knew he wanted to be a writer. But when he started penciling his thoughts on a sheet of paper, he forgot about the teenage girl of his dreams. Instead, writing became his focus.

At the age of 14, he came out with his first action book entitled, "The Savior." His first book's hero was named by Nostradamus to save the world from World War III.

Salviani had sent part of his manuscript to iUniverse Publishers.

"They liked what I had," he said. For the first time, Salviani got to see his name in print on books not only nationwide, but worldwide as well.

The results of the sales were beyond Salviani's expectations. The book sold out in the United Kingdom without receiving any type of public promotion, he said.

"I didn't expect one would be sold," he said.

Now, only a freshman, Salviani has come out with his second book, "In Search of You." Unlike his first book, his second book is more serious as he focuses on a blue-collar protagonist who is trying to survive the pain of losing both his mom and his sister, Emily, to a car accident.

"I was at the point where I wanted to see a bigger idea," he said.

In fact, much of what Salviani writes in his books parallels events that occurred in his life.

In 2001, Salviani lost two friends - one to the tragic Sept. 11 attacks. As a New Yorker, Salviani was hit harder than many Americans. He started writing his second published book shortly after the attacks.

Only a few months later, Salviani lost a closer friend, also named Emily, coincidentally, in a car accident.

There came a time when Salviani said he didn't want to write anymore. "I almost thought about quitting completely," he said. He didn't like having to write for an audience.

"It's a lot more fun writing for yourself," he said. However, Salviani said he was not the type to be a quitter. Besides, he wanted to continue writing for his fans.

"Nowadays I write two books at a time," he said. "One of them is a fantasy novel, and the other is about how religion doesn't apply at our time."

Salviani said he is hoping to have a book signing sometime next month.

If not writing or watching Indiana Jones movies, Salviani could be found fencing or dancing. He's a member of the Ohio State fencing and ballroom dancing clubs.