Rachel Swearingen

Fiction Writer

Chicago, IL
Illinois US
Twitter/X: 

Author's Bio

Rachel Swearingen’s stories and essays have appeared in VICEThe Missouri Review, Kenyon ReviewOff AssignmentAgniAmerican Short Fiction, and elsewhere. Her story collection, How to Walk on Water and Other Stories, winner of the 2018 New American Press Fiction Prize, will be published in 2020. She is the recipient of the 2015 Missouri Review Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ Prize in Fiction, a 2012 Rona Jaffe Foundation Writer’s Award, and the 2011 Mississippi Review Prize in Fiction. In 2019, she was named one of 30 Writers to Watch by the Guild Literary Complex. She holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and a PhD from Western Michigan University, and teaches at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago.

Writers Retreats: 
Literary agent: 
Chris Clemans, Janklow & Nesbit

Publications & Prizes

Prizes won: 

2019 Guild Literary Complex 30 Writers to Watch

2018 New American Press Fiction Contest for How to Walk on Water and Other Stories

2015 Missouri Review Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ Prize in Fiction for "How to Walk on Water"

2012 Rona Jaffe Foundation Writer’s Award

2011 Mississippi Review Prize in Fiction for "Felina"

Personal Favorites

What I'm reading now: 
The Lost Book of Adana Moreau by Michael Zapata

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Born in: 
Raised in: 
WI
Wisconsin
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Last update: Feb 29, 2020