My story as a writer starts in a newsroom. I took a job at a small paper on a Florida island right out of college and ended up six years later reporting for one of the nation’s largest daily newspapers. During that time, I wrote about beached whales, rodeos, inventor contests, polygamists, rain, house movers, fat camp, subdivision names, Rick Perry, Ron Paul, diapered astronauts, tarpon, coyote attacks, hoarders, Virgin Mary miracles, shrimp boats, gay-deniers, circadian clocks, the stink of red tide, gasoline prices, and one man put to death by the state of Texas.
After six years at that, I decided it was high time to shrink my audience base. So I packed up and moved to Iowa, where I got an MFA in creative nonfiction writing and later started (but never finished) an MFA in literary translation. During those years, I also managed to learn Spanish, get married, spend a year in Colombia on a Fulbright, have a kid, climb lots of trees, and start writing what would become my first book.
I am now a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine and an assistant professor in the creative writing program at Arizona State University. I’m also the author of the essay collection Mine, winner of the River Teeth Book Prize and the GLCA New Writer’s Award and longlisted for the Pen/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay and a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award (as well as one of LitHub’s favorite books of 2018), and I translated the novella Cordoba Skies by the Argentine writer Federico Falco. My essay “The Accusation” was a finalist for a National Magazine Award and was named one of Longform’s top 10 longform works in 2020.
With Lina María Ferreira Cabeza-Vanegas (writer extraordinaire), I am currently editing a forthcoming anthology of the essay in the Americas called The Great American Essay. My second book, To Name the Bigger Lie, will be out from Scribner next year, June 13, and is funded in part by the good people at the National Endowment for the Arts. I live in Arizona with my partner, two kids, and a sweet but ferocious mutt named Oki.
Just a quick thank you note for presenting on linked essays at AWP. We both enjoyed the session and found a number of nuggets that are already helping us with our projects. Thanks so much
Just a quick note to say how compelling and awful — and beautifully written — your piece in the NYT was. I’m so sorry you and your wife went through such a horrible circumstance.
Thanks, John.
Thank you for your feature essay “The Accusations Were Lies. But Could We Prove It?” published in the NYT yesterday. I was deeply moved by your story and inspired by the clarity and honesty of your writing. So I just ordered your book MINE from Amazon. Love that you are a translator too. I translate Spanish to English and English to Spanish. Do you ever attend ALTA? Would be great to meet you there if you do. Peace.
Thanks, Eduardo. And, yes, I do go to ALTA some years. I hope to meet you there at some point.
Hi. I just read / listened to your NYTimes magazine piece which could be part of a syllabus for a Creative Non Fiction semester but instead is a memoir of your recent life. Such a horrible story but I applaud both your honesty in expressing the doubt about Marta and the decision to take a higher path. By not pursuing further legal action you’ve placed “J.”‘s future in the realm of his own self destructive tendencies. I doubt he will be able to live with his guilt.
Just read your article in the NYT. I hope the whole process brings you some sort of peace in the end. I am sorry that you had to go through that journey with your life partner and children. Thanks for sharing your story. You continue to be a terrific writer. God bless you and your family.
Just read your feature in NYT “The Accusations were lies….” and felt compelled to find out more about you guys and write a few words. May the almighty save us all from people like J who know the system well enough to abuse it and prevent their victims from using it. It is people like J who make the system difficult for real complainants and provide an excuse to real perpetrators to complain of witch-hunting.
I just read your piece in NYT Magazine. I’m so sorry for what you and your family went through.
Just heard the Daily NYT podcast of your moving story. Thank you. Peace to you & your sweet family.
Thank you! We’re in a much better place now
I heard your story on today’s episode of the Daily. I was angry that your family did not get real justice and that you did not go to Michigan in the end (I understand the pain of being stuck in a city that feels like the wrong fit). I hope your family has found peace. I’m also planning to order your essay collection; your writing is beautiful. Best wishes.
Thanks so much! We are in a much better place now.
I just read your beautifully written story. So sorry this happened to you. Just wondering, after his horrible manipulations did “J” get the job in Michigan? I’m hoping NO!
Regards
I heard your story in yesterday’s edition of The Sunday Read by The Daily. I am so sorry and was horrified by what you and your wife had to go through. I know the academic job market is a battlefield, but I never thought people would go to these lengths. It also gave me a new perspective on sexual misconduct cases and made me question my preconceived belief in the guilt of the accused. All the best for you and your family.
Thanks, Toni.
I’ve just listened to your story via The Daily NYT podcast. I feel so relieved that you were all able to have peace in your lives again.
Wishing you & your family many years of happiness, love & laughter.
Rhiannon Holt
Australia
Thanks, Rhiannon!
I just read both of your NYT articles about academia and honesty. I’m sorry you both had to face the harassment you did, but so compellingly written–like a dark mystery novel. You also explain academia so well to academics (which I am) and nonacademics alike.
I loved your podcast on Pineapple where I came to learn about your story. A few thoughts: 1. You have a knack and a voice for podcasting and should keep going. 2. Its sobering that people like J exist, guiltless and narcissistic (my guess), and a useful lesson to all. Yet, we can’t go through life suspecting everyone, and despite how difficult it is – have to put it behind. 3. Have you heard the podcast strictly stalking? Many J like characters there – torturing others with impunity.