Louise Blum

Fiction Writer, Creative Nonfiction Writer

Corning, NY
New York US

Author's Bio

I am a novelist, short story writer, and essayist.  I spent 27 years teaching creative writing, LGBTQ+ lit, protest lit, graphic novel, disaster lit, & YA dystopian lit to first generation college students at a small & severely resource-deprived state university in the not-very-education-friendly region of north central PA. Since leaving that job, I began to work in public health during the pandemic. I live in Corning, NY and have given readings & taught workshops across the country. My work has been nominated for a Pushcart, and twice selected for inclusion in Best American Essays. I’ve received residencies at the MacDowell Colony, the Millay Colony, & at Norcroft. In 2023, I received a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts to write a play based on interviews I conducted with people about their experiences during the pandemic. This work will premier in November 2024.

Writers Retreats: 

Publications & Prizes

Creative Nonfiction

Anthologies:
Greetings From Janeland: Women Write More About Leaving Men for Women (Cleis Press, 2017)
,
FRACTURES (Ice Cube Press, LLC, 2016)
Book:
You're Not From Around Here, Are You? A Lesbian in Small-Town America (University of Wisconsin Press, 2001)
Journals:
Sun Magazine
,
Utne Reader

Fiction

Anthologies:
Pillow Talk (Alyson Publications, 1998)
,
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (Crossing Press, 1994)
,
Love's Shadow: Writings by Women (Crossing Press, 1993)
,
Lovers: Stories by Women (Crossing Press, 1992)
Book:
Amnesty (Alyson Publications, 1995)
Journals:
13th Moon
, ,
Common Lives/Lesbian Lives
, ,
Harrington Lesbian Fiction Quarterly
,
Journal of Lesbian Studies
, , ,
The Chronicle of Higher Education
,
West
Prizes won: 

My memoir, YOU’RE NOT FROM AROUND HERE, ARE YOU?, was named an Honor Book by the LGBT Round Table of the ALA, and my first novel, AMNESTY, was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award in Best Lesbian Fiction. My story "Killing My Father's Cat" (Cream City Review) was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and selected for inclusion in Best American Essays. My essay "How it Ends" which appeared in the Sun Magazine was also selected for inclusion in Best American Essays. 

Personal Favorites

Favorite authors: 
Margaret Atwood

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
LGBTQ
Prefers to work with: 
Any
Fluent in: 
English
Born in: 
Painesville, OH
Ohio
Raised in: 
Chardon, OH
Ohio
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Jan 29, 2024