Former Fellows
1986-1987
Juanita Brunk,
Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing Poetry Fellow,
MFA: George Mason University.
Brief Landing on the Earth's Surface (University of Wisconsin Press): poems
Debra Spark,
Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa.
Coconuts for the Saint (Faber & Faber): a novel;
The Ghost of Bridgetown (Graywolf Press): a novel;
Curious Attractions: Essays on Fiction Writing (University of Michigan Press)
1987-1988
Mari Hatta, Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing Poetry Fellow, MFA: University of Virginia. Picture Bride: screenplay
Marly Swick,
Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa.
A Hole in the Language: (University of Iowa Press): stories;
Summer Before the Summer of Love (Harper Collins): stories;
Paper Wings (Harper Collins): a novel;
The Evening News (Harper Collins): a novel
1988-1989
Lise Goett,
Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MA: New York University,
Waiting for the Paraclete (Beacon Press): poems
Ann Packer,
Jay C. and Ruth Halls Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of
Iowa.
Mendocino (Chronicle Books): stories;
The Dive From Clausen's Pier (Knopf): a novel;
Song Without Words (Knopf): a novel
1989-1990
Heather Aronson, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Fiction Fellow, MFA: University of Arizona
Adele Ne Jame,
Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MA: University of Hawaii.
Field Work (Petronium Press): poems
1990-1991
Michael Barrett, Jay C and Ruth Halls Fiction Fellow, MFA: University of Michigan. It's Saturday (Carnegie-Mellon University Press): stories
Max Garland,
Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa.
The Postal Confessions (University of Massachusetts Press): poems;
Hunger Wide as Heaven (Cleveland State University Press): poems
1991-92
Charles D'Ambrosio,
Jay C. and Ruth Halls Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa.
The Point (Little, Brown): stories;
Orphans (Clear Cut Press): essays;
The Dead Fish Museum (Knopf): stories
Karen Kovacik,
Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MA: Cleveland State University,
PhD: Ohio State University.
Beyond the Velvet Curtain (Kent State University Press): poems;
Metropolis Burning (Cleveland State University Press): poems
1992-93
Sara Corbett,
Jay C. and Ruth Halls Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa.
Venus to the Hoop (Anchor Books): non-fiction
Lisa Rhoades, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow, MFA: Columbia University and Louisiana State University. Strange Gravity (Bright Hill Press): poems
1993-1994
Aaron Anstett,
Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa.
Sustenance (New Rivers Press): poems;
No Accident (Backwaters Press): poems
Rebecca Lee,
Jay C. and Ruth Halls Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa.
The City is a Rising Tide: a novel
1994-1995
Joel Brouwer,
Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MFA: Syracuse University.
Exactly What Happened (University of Purdue Press): poems;
Centuries (Four Way Books): poems
Eileen Fitzgerald,
Jay C. and Ruth Halls Fiction Fellow,
MFA: Indiana University.
You're So Beautiful (St. Martin's Press): stories
1995-1996
Jon Loomis, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MFA: University of Virginia.
High Season: a novel;
Vanitas Motel (Field Books): poems;
The Pleasure Principle (Field Books): poems
Nancy Reisman,
Jay C. and Ruth Halls Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Massachusetts.
House Fires (University of Iowa Press): stories;
The First Desire (Knopf): a novel
1996-1997
Anne Caston,Jay C. and Ruth Halls Fiction Fellow,
MFA: Warren Wilson College. Flying Out With the Wounded (New York University Press): poems
Joseph Skibell, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Texas-Austin.
A Blessing on the Moon (Algonquin Books): a novel;
The English Disease (Algonquin Books): a novel
1997-1998
Allyson Goldin Loomis,
Jay C. and Ruth Halls Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Montana
Sarah Messer,
Diane Middlebrook Poetry Fellow,
MFA: University of Michigan.
The Bandit Letters (New Issues Press): poems;
The Red House (Viking): nonfiction
Brad Owens, Carl Djerassi Fiction Fellow, MFA: Stanford University
Jennifer Tonge,
Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MFA: University of Utah
1998-1999
Beth Ann Fennelly,
Diane Middlebrook Poetry Fellow,
MFA: University of Arkansas.
Open House (Zoo Press): poems;
Tender Hooks (W.W. Norton): poems;
Great With Child (W.W. Norton): non-fiction
John McNally,
Carl Djerassi Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa.
Troublemakers (University of Iowa Press): stories;
The Book of Ralph (Free Press): a novel;
America's Report Card (Free Press): a novel
Judith Claire Mitchell,
James C. McCreight Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa.
The Last Day of the War (Pantheon): a novel
Stephen Schottenfeld,
Jay C. and Ruth Halls Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa
Katharine Whitcomb, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MFA: Vermont College.
Hosannas (Parallel Press): poems;
Saints of South Dakota (Bluestem Press): poems
1999-2000
Quan Barry, Diane Middlebrook Poetry Fellow, MFA: University of Michigan. Asylum (University of Pittsburgh Press): poems; Controvertibles (University of Pittsburgh Press): poems
Anthony Doerr,
Jay C. and Ruth Halls Fiction Fellow,
MFA: Bowling Green State University.
The Shell Collector (Scribner's): stories;
About Grace (Scribner's): a novel;
Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia and the World's Biggest Funeral (Scribner's): nonfiction
Rick Hilles, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MFA Columbia University.
Brother Salvage (University of Pittsburgh Press): poems
Holiday Reinhorn, Carl Djerassi Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa.
Last Seen: screenplay; Big Cats (Free Press): stories
Lysley Tenorio, James C. McCreight Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Oregon
2000-2001
Ryan G. van Cleave, Anastasia Hoffman Poetry Fellow,
PhD: Florida State University.
Say Hello (Pecan Grove Press): poems;
Ha Ha Tonka: A Book of Rune (Higganum Hill Books): poems
Blas Manuel De Luna, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MFA: University of Washington.
Bent to Earth (Carnegie Mellon University Press): poems
Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Diane Middlebrook Poetry Fellow,
MFA: Ohio State University.
Miracle Fruit (Tupelo Press): poems;
At the Drive-In Volcano (Tupelo Press): poems
Erica Olsen, Carl Djerassi Fiction Fellow, MFA: University of Montana
Jennifer Vanderbes, James C. McCreight Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa.
Easter Island (Dial Press): a novel
Antoine Wilson, Carol Houck Smith Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa.
The Interloper (Handsel Press): a novel
2001-2002
Deborah Bernhardt, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MFA: University of Arizona.
Echolalia ( Four Way Books): poems
Susanna Daniel, Carl Djerassi Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa
Ha-yun Jung, Carol Houck Smith Fiction Fellow,
MA: Emerson College
Erika Meitner, Diane Middlebrook Poetry Fellow,
MFA: University of Virginia.
Inventory at the All Night Drugstore (Anhinga Press): poems
Imad Rahman, James C. McCreight Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Florida. I Dream of Microwaves (Farrar, Straus & Giroux):
Mitch Raney, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MFA: Bowling Green State University
2002-2003
Ashley Capps ,Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MA: Ohio University, MFA University of Iowa.
Mistaking the Sea for Green Fields ( University of Akron Press): poems
Miriam Gershow, James C. McCreight Fiction Fellow, MFA: University of Oregon
Tamara Avila Guirado, Carl Djerassi Fiction Fellow,
MFA: Mills College
Lydia Melvin, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MFA: Western Michigan University.
South of Here (New Issues Press): poems
Srikanth Reddy, Diane Middlebrook Poetry Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa.
Facts for Visitors (University of California Press): poems
David Zimmerman, Carol Houck Smith Fiction Fellow, MFA: University of Alabama
2003-2004
Josh Bell, Diane Middlebrook Poetry Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa.
No Planets Strike ( Zoo Press): poems
Matt Frieidson, Carl Djerassi Fiction Fellow, MFA: University of Oregon
Frances Hwang, James C. McCreight Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Montana.
Transparency (Back Bay): stories
Nathan S. Jones, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow, MFA: University of Michigan
Jacinda Townsend, Carol Houck Smith Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa.
Sharmila Voorakkara, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MFA: University of Virginia.
Fire Wheel (University of Akron Press): poems
2004-2005
Justin Haynes, Carl Djerassi Fiction Fellow,
MFA: Notre Dame University
John Lee, Carol Houck Smith Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Michigan
Ellen Litman, James C. McCreight Fiction Fellow,
MFA: Syracuse University.
The Last Chicken in America (W.W. Norton): a novel in stories
Kirk Lee Davis, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow, MFA: University of Michigan
Cynthia Marie Hoffman, Diane Middlebrook Poetry Fellow, MFA: George Mason University
Eric Burger, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow, MFA: University of Arizona
2005-2006
Colleen Abel, Diane Middlebrook Poetry Fellow,
MFA: Vermont College
Gabrielle Daniels,Carl Djerassi Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of California-Irvine
Rebecca Dunham, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MFA: George Mason University.
The Miniature Room (Truman State University Press): poems
Brandi Reissenweber, James C. McCreight Fiction Fellow,
MFA: New York University
Adam Stumacher, Carol Houck Smith Fiction Fellow, MFA: St. Mary's College
Kate Umans, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow, MFA: University of Michigan
2006-2007
Danielle Evans, Carol Houck Smith Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Iowa
Sean Hill, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow, MFA: University of Houston. Blood Ties & Brown Liquor (University of Georgia Press): poems
Jennifer Key, Dianne Middlebrook Poetry Fellow,
MFA: University of Virginia
Laleh Khadivi, Carl Djerassi Fiction Fellow,
MFA: Mills College
Derek Mong, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow,
MFA: University of Michigan
April Wilder, James C. McCreight Fiction Fellow,
MFA: University of Montana
2007-08 Fellows
Danielle Deulen, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow, MFA: George Mason
Kevin A. Gonzalez, Carol Houck Smith Fiction Fellow, MFA: The University of Iowa
Nick Lantz, Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow, MFA: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Shara Lessley, Diane Middlebrook Poetry Fellow, MFA: University of Maryland
Edward Porter,James C. McCreight Fiction Fellow,
MFA: Warren Wilson College
Timothy Scott, Carl Djerassi Fiction Fellow,
MFA: New York University
Dan O'Brien, Carl Djerassi Distinguished Fellow in Playwriting, MFA: Brown University
Our inaugural Djerassi Distinguished Fellow in Playwriting Dan O'Brien has an MFA in Playwriting and Fiction from Brown University. His plays include The Voyage of the Carcass, The Dear Boy, Key West, Am Lit, Crazy Jane on God, An Irish Play, and Moving Pictures among others. His work has been staged at the So-Ho Playhouse, the Geva Theatre Center, the Pittsburgh Playhouse, The Humana Festival, and the Brown University Mainstage. In 2006-2007, he was a Hodder Fellow at Princeton, where he taught playwriting. He has also been a faculty member at the Sewanne Writers Conference. Dan has received awards and residencies from the New Harmony Project, Yaddo, the Sundance Theater Lab, and he has won the Osborn Award and the Mark Twain Comedy Playwriting Award. His fiction has appeared in the magazines StoryQuarterly, Quarterly West, and the Belleville Review among others and in the anthology 25 and Under.
Contact Information
Questions about the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing and its fellowships should be emailed to the Institute director, Professor Jesse Lee Kercheval, or mailed to her at the following address:
Professor Jesse Lee Kercheval
Director, The Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing
Department of English
6195G Helen C. White Hall
600 N. Park St.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI 53706