Gene Kwak
Assistant Professor
Address: Morrill 309A
Phone: 405-744-6837
E-mail: gkwak@okstate.edu
Website: genekwak.com
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.