The College of

Arts and Sciences

 

M.F.A., Umass-Boston

 

Areas of Interest & Expertise

• Fiction Writing (Novel, Short Story)

• APIA Literature

• Midwestern Literature

Recent Courses Taught

• Fiction Writing

Selected Publications

Books

• Go Home, Ricky!. The Overlook Press/ABRAMS, 2021.

Chapbook and Anthology Publications

• “No Frills,” Short Fiction, Forward: 21st Century Flash Fiction Anthology, 2019.

• Collection of Author’s Work, Awst Press, 2015.

• Orphans Burning Orphans, Greying Ghost Press, 2015.

Selected Magazine Publications

• “Battle Royale: 6 Books That Take on The Rich World of Wrestling,” Literary Hub, 2021.

• “An Amateur Apache Wrestles with America: Excerpt from Go Home, Ricky!,” Electric Literature, 2021.

• Excerpt from Go Home, Ricky!, Hyphen Magazine, 2021.

• “Gene Kwak on the Hopeful Momentum of a Debut Novel,” Interview, The Author’s Guild, 2021.

• Interview with Jean Kyoung Frazier, Interview, Juked, 2020.

• Interview with Ryan Ridge, Interview, The Adroit Journal, 2020.

• Interview with Kimberly King Parsons, Interview, Los Angeles Review of Books, 2019.

• Interview with David Nutt, Interview, The Fanzine, 2019.

• “No Frills,” Short Fiction, Wigleaf, 2018.

• “Every Encounter is Singular: Gene Kwak Interviews Askold Melnyczuk,” Interview, Los Angeles Review of Books, 2016.

• “Call and Response: The Gifts of Women Poets, Pt. 2,” Short essay, Poetry Foundation, 2015.

• “Honing the B.S. Meter: A Conversation with Gene Kwak,” Interview, Juked, 2015.

• “Bad Done to His Good Hand,” Short Fiction, Miracle Monocle, 2015.

• “Johnny America On The Black Market,” Short Fiction, Juked, 2014.

• “Warnings,” Short Fiction, CHEAP POP LIT, 2014.

• The Great 2014 Indie Press Preview, Essay, Electric Literature, 2014.

• Interview with Delaney Nolan, Interview, Hobart, 2013.

• “Last City I Loved: Omaha, Nebraska,” Essay, The Rumpus, 2013.

• “Neon God From The Top Turnbuckle,” Short Fiction, NOO Journal, 2013.

• “Single Word, Life Changer,” Short Fiction, Redivider, 2012.

• Interview with Mike Young, Interview, Hobart, 2012.

• “One In The Cylinder For An Occasion Such As This,” Short Fiction, Everyday Genius, 2012.

• “At The Benjamin Franklin,” Short Fiction, Hobart, 2011.

• “I Will Unburden the World of You,” Short Fiction, Haven Magazine, 2011.

• “Hobo Superman,” Short Story, Haven Magazine, 2011.

• “Scorch Atlas Does Not Bode Well For Us,” Book Review, Keyhole Magazine, 2010.

Selected Conference Presentations

• “How Writers of Color Use Humor to Tell Their Stories (featuring Gene Kwak, Mark Galarrita, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Edgar Gomez, and Deesha Philyaw)” Panelist, AWP, 2023.

Professional Appointments & Professional Service

• Weber State University, Visiting Writer, 2023.

• Catapult Online Writing Classes, Instructor, 2022.

• Oklahoma State University, Visiting Writer, 2022.

• Barrelhouse Conversations and Connections, Presenter, 2022.

• University of Massachusetts-Boston, Life After the MFA Guest Panelist, 2022.

• Periplus Collective, Mentor, 2022-2023.

• University of Massachusetts-Boston, Visiting Speaker, 2021.

• Metro Community College Creative Writing Forum, Presenter/Organizer, 2018.

Awards and Recognition

• Jentel Artist Residency, Resident, 2024.

• Ragdale Foundation, Resident, 2024.

• Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award, Poets and Writers, 2022.

• Wisconsin Institute of Creative Writing Fellowship, Finalist, 2020.

• George Bennett Fellowship, Semi-finalist, 2019.

• The Long List: Wigleaf Top 50, Honorable Mention, 2018.

• Yale Writers’ Workshop, Participant, 2018.

• Tin House Summer Workshop, Participant, 2018.