Risa Nicole Cohen likes to write about everyday situations and real-life experiences. But within her telling of ordinary life, others find something extraordinary.

“Public Transportation” is the first piece of short fiction the University of Iowa grad sent out for consideration of publication.

And in her case, the first time was the charm that shoved her work into the spotlight, along with the work of the 19 other young authors of “Let Go of My Ear! I Know What I’m Doing.”

Cohen’s tale about a young woman’s ride into the city of New York via the subway was something she had previously written for a creative writing class.

She credits her professor with starting the idea in her mind to write about a subway trip.

Cohen’s background also helped. Being a New Jersey girl, she knew the experience of taking the subway, but she says the character of Jodie is not based solely on herself.

“Jodie is a little bit of myself and a little bit of my best friend,” Cohen said. “She’s a little bit of everyone I know.”

In her story, Cohen managed to bring the activity of a subway car to life with a vivid portrayal of the images around her, from the buildings that “looked powerful as the orange clouds floated above them,” to a child’s vomit which “sounded like the wringing out of a wet sock, splashing as it hit the runner down the center of the bus.”

Cohen began her college career at a local college in Moorestown, N.J.

A few years later, when a friend announced her decision to move to the Midwest, Cohen decided to go along and finish her education at University of Iowa with a degree in English.

While taking as many creative writing classes as her major would allow, Cohen stumbled upon a brochure advertising “Let Go.” Not expecting an acceptance, Cohen was “floored” when it came.

“I had always heard you got 30 rejections before you got one acceptance letter,” she said.

But even with a rejection, Cohen could still count on her family for encouragement. She said her dad always used to hang whatever she brought home from school on the walls.

“When people enjoy reading what you write, it encourages you to keep doing it,” Cohen said.

Now living back at home in New Jersey, Cohen and some of the other writers included in the anthology have formed a network among themselves, though Cohen said she has not met any of the other authors yet.

Cohen said she plans to continue to submit her writing to Sulisa, and is looking into getting some of her poetry published.

“Any college person who is young and writing short stories, keep writing,” Cohen said. “There is a lot of talent in young writers that would never be seen if it wasn’t for Sulisa Publishing.”