Profile

B.A. (Writing major and Professional Writing minor), University of Victoria; M.F.A., University of Iowa

Publications

• How a Woman Becomes a Lake (Penquin Random House CA, 2020)
• Y (Simon & Schuster, 2013)

Marjorie Celona’s debut novel, Y, was published in eight countries and won France’s Grand Prix Littéraire de l’Héroïne. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Marjorie’s work has appeared in The O. Henry Prize Stores, The Best American Nonrequired Reading, The Southern Review, Harvard Review, The Sunday Times, and elsewhere. Marjorie’s second novel, How a Woman Becomes a Lake, is forthcoming in 2020 from Penguin Random House CA, Little, Brown UK, and Malpaso Ediciones (Spain).

Honors & Awards

• Canada Council for the Arts: Grant for Professional Creative Writers (2020)
• University of Oregon Creative Arts Fellowship (2019)
• O. Henry Award for “Counterblast,” juror favorite selected by Ottessa Moshfegh (2018)
• University of Oregon Center for Study of Women in Society Grant (2018)
• University of Oregon Faculty Research Award (2018)
• Canada Council for the Arts: Grant for Professional Creative Writers (2017)
• Best Foreign Novel, Grand Prix Littéraire de l’Héroïne (France): Y (2014)
• Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award (2014)
• Other Distinguished Stories of 2012, The Best American Short Stories 2013: “The Everpresent Hell of Other People” (2013)
• 13: Best Canadian Short Stories: “The Everpresent Hell of Other People” (2013)
• #1 Indie Next Pick for January from IndieBound: Y (2013)
• Friends of American Writers Award: Y (2013)
• Waterstones 11 Literary Prize (UK): Y (2013)
• 12: Best Canadian Stories: “Family Stories” (2011)
• Canada Council for the Arts: Grant for Professional Creative Writers (2011)
• 10: Best Canadian Stories: “This is When I Love You the Most” (2010)
• Crazyhorse Fiction Prize: “This is When I Love You the Most” (2010)
• Olive B. O’Connor Fellowship, Colgate University (2010)
• John C. Schupes Post-doctoral Fellowship, Iowa Writers’ Workshop (2010)
• Ailene Barger Barnes Prize for Excellence in the Short Story (2009)
• The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2008: “Y” (2008)
• 07: Best Canadian Stories: “Y” (2008)

Author website: marjoriecelona.com