The Penmen Profile: Short Fictionist Tony Press

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Short fiction writer Tony Press published a collection of stories, “Crossing the Lines: Stories by Tony Press,” earlier this year. In 2014, one of his stories was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His story, “Funeral Season,” was published in 2015 in The Penmen Review. Press also writes…

read more...

The Penmen Profile: Playwright and Fiction Author Kathy Anderson

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Fiction writer and playwright Kathy Anderson’s first short story collection, “Bull and Other Stories,” published earlier this year. The collection was chosen for publication as the result of winningthe 2015 Autumn House Press Fiction Prize. Anderson’s short stories, essays, poems and articles have also published in journals, magazines and anthologies….

read more...

The Penmen Profile: Folklore Enthusiast Erica Obey

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Paranormal mystery, fantasy and historical romance author Erica Obey discovered a passion for creative writing through her interest in folklore. This discovery led to her obtaining an M.A. in Creative Writing and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature. Obey’s debut novel, “Back to the Garden” (2013), garnered praise from fellow authors Pat Conroy…

read more...

The Penmen Profile: Poet and Author Monica Wendel

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Monica Wendel is a poet and a non-fiction author. Her newest chapbook, “English Kills,” published in March 2016, achieved the Coal Hill Chapbook Contest. Her other chapbooks include “Pioneer” and “Call it a Window.” Wendel’s full-length book of poetry, “No Apocalypse,” was selected for the 2012 Georgetown Review Poetry…

read more...

The Penmen Review: Multi-Genre Author John Dufresne

by Rebecca LeBoeuf John Dufresne is the author of novels, short stories, nonfiction, plays and chapbooks. He has also edited anthologies and worked with 12 other authors to write “Naked Came the Manatee,” a 1996 mystery novel. Primarily a fiction writer, Dufresne’ most recent work, “I Don’t Like Where this…

read more...

The Penmen Profile: New England Historical Fiction Author Ed Londergan

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Ed Londergan‘s interest in American history is reflected throughout his novels. His Brookfield saga, consisting of “The Devil’s Elbow,” “The Long Journey Home,” and “The Farmhouse,” the unfinished final book of the saga, have a focus on the New England colonial time period. “The Devil’s Elbow” was a…

read more...

The Penmen Review: Anthropologist|Ethnographic Novelist John Colman Wood

by Rebecca LeBoeuf The author of two novels, “When Men Are Women” (1999) and “The Names of Things” (2012), anthropologist John Colman Wood incorporated his field research on a group of nomadic, camel-herding Africans into his writing. “The Names of Things,” a story that deals with love and grief as well…

read more...

The Penmen Profile: Memoirist for Survivors, Laurie Jean Cannady

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Memoirist Laurie Jean Cannady focuses on poverty in the United States, community and domestic violence and women’s issues in her writing and lectures. Her first book, “Crave: Sojourn of a Hungry Soul” (2015), was selected as an Indiefab Book of the Year 2015 finalist and The Root…

read more...

The Penmen Profile: Journalist Turned Memoirist Nancy Nau Sullivan

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Nancy Nau Sullivan’s background as a journalist has proven beneficial throughout her career as a writer, but has provided some challenges as well—particularly in fiction and memoir, which don’t adhere to the concise rules of journalism. Her memoir, “The Last Cadillac: A Memoir,” published in April 2016. Sullivan’s short stories have appeared in…

read more...

Even Best-selling Authors Face Challenges

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Even the most well-known authors face challenges when writing. Between the editing, the motivation and the time constraints, take a look at what challenges best-selling authors Toni Blake, Chris Bohjalian, Janet Evanovich, Tess Gerritsen, Sy Montgomery, Gwyn Hyman Rubio and Dee Dee M. Scott face when it comes to…

read more...