Sharon Mesmer

Fiction Writer, Poet

Brooklyn, NY
New York US
Email: 
shardav@verizon.net
Website: 
virginformica.blogspot.com

Author's Bio

I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago, in a neighborhood called Back-of-the-Yards. I began my career as a poet in Chicago in 1978, studying with Paul Hoover at Columbia College. While there I published a small chapbook, Jayne Mansfield’s Head (MOD Press, 1980), and co-founded two publications: letter eX (with Deborah Pintonelli and Carl Watson, 1984) and B City (with Deborah Pintonelli and Connie Deanovich, 1983). I moved to New York in 1988, and received my MFA in Creative Writing/Poetry at Brooklyn College, where I had the privilege of studying with Allen Ginsberg (through whose nomination I received the MacArthur Scholarship in Poetry), in 1990. For the last thirteen years I’ve taught undergrad fiction workshops and MFA/poetry seminars at the New School. I also teach personalized poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction workshops in my home and online.

Publications & Prizes

Fiction

Anthologies:
The Brooklyn Rail Fiction Anthology (Hanging Loose Press, 2006)
,
Unbearables (Autonomedia, 1995)
,
The Stiffest of the Corpse: An Exquisite Corpse Reader (City Lights, 1989)
,
Semiotext(e) USA (Columbia University Press, 1987)
Books:
In Ordinary Time (Hanging Loose Press, 2005)
,
Ma Vie à Yonago (Hachette Litteratures, 2005)
,
The Empty Quarter (Hanging Loose Press, 2000)
,
Half Angel, Half Lunch (Hard Press, Inc./The Figures, 1998)
Journals:
Central Park
,
Exquisite Corpse
,
Gargoyle Magazine
,
LIT
,
New Observations

Poetry

Anthologies:
Up Is Up But So Is Down: New York's Downtown Literary Scene 1974-1992 (New York University Press, 2006)
,
Voices of the City (Hanging Loose Press, 2004)
,
Heights of the Marvelous: a New York Anthology (St. Martin's Press, 2000)
,
Poems for the Nation, Edited by Allen Ginsberg (Seven Stories Press, 2000)
,
The Portable Boog Reader (Boog Literary, 2000)
,
Outlaw Bible of American Poetry (Thunder's Mouth Press, 1999)
,
Thus Spake the Corpse: An Exquisite Corpse Anthology (Black Sparrow Press, 1999)
,
The Second Word Thursdays Anthology (Bright Hill Press, 1998)
,
A Reasonable Affliction: 1001 Love Poems (Workman Publishing, 1996)
Books:
Annoying Diabetic Bitch (Combo Books, 2008)
,
The Virgin Formica (Hanging Loose Press, 2008)
,
Vertigo Seeks Affinities (Belladonna Books, 2006)
Journals:
Appearances
,
Boog City
,
Brooklyn Rail
,
Hanging Loose
,
Intro
,
Lingo
,
Long Shot
,
Lungfull!
,
New American Writing
,
Purple
,
Telephone
,
The World
,
Van Gogh's Ear
Prizes won: 

New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowships in Poetry, 1999 and 2007; residency at Fundacion Valparaiso (Spain), 2000; residencies at the MacDowell Colony, 1997 and 1993; residency at Hawthornden Castle (Scotland), 1994; MacArthur Scholarship, given through Brooklyn College MFA/Poetry program by nomination of Allen Ginsberg, 1990

Personal Favorites

What I'm reading now: 
PPL In A Depot by Gary Sullivan, Roof Books, Fun Home by Alison Bechdel, Houghton-Mifflin, Mute Objects of Expression by Francis Ponge, Archipelago, Taking Things Seriously by Joshua Glenn/Carol Hayes, Princeton Architectural, The Odyssey by Homer, Fagles translation, Penguin

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
Polish American
Prefers to work with: 
Any
Fluent in: 
French
Born in: 
Chicago
Raised in: 
Chicago, IL
Illinois
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Jun 26, 2008