MFA in Creative Writing - Alumni

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A selection of alumni books.

 

To date, more than 380 students have received degrees from the SMC MFA in Creative Writing. Alumni have published more than 80 books, appeared in countless journals and magazines, and won many distinguished literary prizes. Others have started internationally known presses and publications like Omnidawn and the East Bay Review, and founded important reading series in the Bay Area such as Woolsey Heights, East Bay Poetry Summit, Literary Arts & Wine and the Studio One Reading Series.

Here is a sampling of alumni who have published books with houses across the U.S. and around the world. 

 

Are you an SMC MFA alum?

Alumni Books

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Ballad of a Slopsucker book cover

Ballad of a Slopsucker (short story collection) by Juan Alvarado Valdivia

MFA class of 2010

published February 2019, University of New Mexico Press 

 

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Cancerlandia book cover

¡Cancerlandia!: A Memoir by Juan Alvarado Valdivia

MFA class of 2010

published in 2015 by The University of New Mexico Press 

 

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Stay book cover

Stay (fiction) by Zachary Amendt

MFA class of 2014

published in June 2014 by Montag Press

 

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Locus book cover

Locus by Jason Bayani

MFA class of 2010

published April 2019, Omnidawn

 

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Amulet book cover

Amulet (poetry) by Jason Bayani

MFA class of 2010

published in April 2013 by Writebloody Publishing

 

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Where We Think It Should Go book cover

Where We Think It Should Go (poetry) by Claire Becker

MFA class of 2006

published in 2010 by Octopus Books

 

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Book Scavenger book cover

Book Scavenger (novel) by Jennifer Bertman

MFA class of 2001

published in 2015 by Henry Holt & Co.

 

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The Unbreakable Code book cover

The Unbreakable Code (novel)

by Jennifer Bertman

MFA class of 2001

published in 2016 by Henry Holt & Co.

 

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The Alcatraz Escape book cover

The Alcatraz Escape (fiction) by Jennifer Bertman

MFA class of 2001

published May 2018, Henry Holt & Co.

 

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Relativity book cover

Relativity (novel) by Cristin Bishara

MFA class of 1998

published in September 2013 by Walker Books for Young Readers

 

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SPI: The Case of the Dark Shadow book cover

SPI: The Case of the Dark Shadow (fiction) by Teresa Bonham

MFA class of 2003

published in 2012 by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.

 

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The Daddy Diaries book cover

The Daddy Diaries (novel) by Josh Braff

MFA class of 1997

published in 2015 by Prince Street Press

 

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The Unthinkable Thoughts of Jacob Green book cover

The Unthinkable Thoughts of Jacob Green (novel) by Josh Braff

MFA class of 1997

published in 2004 by Algonquin

 

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Peep Show book cover

Peep Show (novel) by Josh Braff

MFA class of 1997

published in 2010 by Algonquin

 

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Rust or Go Missing book cover

Rust or Go Missing (poetry) by Lily Brown

MFA class of 2007

published in 2010 by Cleveland State University Poetry Center

 

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The Color of Dusk book cover

The Color of Dusk (poetry) by Robin Caton

MFA class of 1997

published in 2001 by Omnidawn

 

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Simple Constructs for the Lizzies book cover

simple constructs for the lizzies (poetry) by Lisa Cattrone

MFA class of 2001

published in May 2016 by Trembling Pillow Press

 

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Gutenberg's Apprentice book cover

Gutenberg's Apprentice (fiction) by Alix Christie

MFA class of 1999

Fall 2014 by Harper in the U.S. and Headline in the U.K

 

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A Real Time of It book cover

A Real Time of It (poetry) by Sally Delehant

MFA class of 2009

published 2012 by the Cultural Society

 

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How Do You Deal with a Dead Girl book cover

How Do You Deal with a Dead Girl? (fiction) by Andrew Demcak 

MFA class of 1997 

published in March 2018, independently published

 

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Alpha Wave book cover

Alpha Wave (fiction) by Andrew Demcak

MFA class of 1997

2018 by Harmony Ink Press

 

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Ghost Songs cover

Ghost Songs (novel) by Andrew Demcak

MFA class of 1997

April 2014 by Harmony Ink Press

 

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If There'a a Heaven Above book cover

If There's a Heaven Above (novel) by Andrew Demcak

MFA class of 1997

published in January 2013 by JMS Books

 

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Night Chant book cover

Night Chant (poetry) by Andrew Demcak

MFA class of 1997

published in 2011 by Lethe Press

 

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A Single Hurt Color book cover

A Single Hurt Color (poetry) by Andrew Demcak

MFA class of 1997

published in 2010 by GOSS 183:: Casa Menendez Press

 

672 Hours (poetry) by Andrew Demcak

MFA class of 1997

published in 2009 by Gold Wake Press

 

Pink Narcissus (poetry) by Andrew Demcak

MFA class of 1997

published in 2009 by GOSS 183:: Casa Menendez Press

 

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Zero Summer book cover

Zero Summer (poetry) by Andrew Demcak

MFA class of 1997

published in 2009 by BlazeVOX Books

 

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Catching Tigers in Red Weather book cover

Catching Tigers in Red Weather (poetry) by Andrew Demcak

MFA class of 1997

published in 2007 by Three Candles Press, winner of The Three Candles Press Open Book Award, selected by Joan Larkin

 

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To Boil Water book cover

To Boil Water (short fiction) by Myha T. Do

MFA class of 2009

published in 2013 by Kore Press

 

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How to Build a Fire book cover

How to Build a Fire (nonfiction) by J. Scott Donahue

MFA class of 2014

published in May 2017 by Cider Mill Press

 

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50 Ways to Save the Honey Bees Book Cover

50 Ways to Save the Honey Bees (and Change the World) (nonfiction) by J. Scott Donahue

MFA class of 2014

published in June 2016 by Cider Mill Press

 

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Letters to Quince book cover

Letters to Quince (novella) by Jenny Drai

MFA class of 2006

published in March 2015 by Artistically Declined Press

 

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Song of Myself book cover

Song of Myself: and Other Poems by Walt Whitman

Co-edited by Bob Hass and Paul Ebenkamp MFA class of 2009

Published in 2010 by Counterpoint Press

 

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Writing the Silences book cover

Writing the Silences by Richard O. Moore

Co-edited by Brenda Hillman and Paul Ebenkamp MFA class of 2009

Published in 2011 by University of California Press

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The Etiquette of Freedom book cover

The Etiquette of Freedom: Gary Snyder, Jim Harrison, and the Practice of the Wild by Gary Snyder

Edited by Paul Ebenkamp MFA class of 2009

Published in 2011 by Counterpoint Press

 

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Modernist Women Poets book cover

Modernist Women Poets: An Anthology

Co-edited by Bob Hass and Paul Ebenkamp MFA class of 2009

Published in 2014 by Counterpoint Press

 

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Particulars of Place book cover

Particluars of Place (poetry) by Richard O. Moore

Co-edited by Garrett Caples, Brenda Hillman and Paul Ebenkamp MFA class of 2009

published 2015 by Omnidawn Publishing

 

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Arrives, then Steady Pace with the Hour book cover

Arrives, then Steady Pace with the Hour by Rebecca Eland

MFA class of 2014   

Published in November 2016 by Plein Air Editions, the imprint of Bootstrap Press

 

Sudden Lake by Rebecca Farivar

MFA class of 2008

Published in 2017 by Dikemble Press

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Correct Animal book cover

Correct Animal (poetry) by Rebecca Farivar

MFA class of 2008

published in 2012 by Octopus Books

 

Full Meal (poetry) by Rebecca Farivar

MFA class of 2008

Published in 2015 by Boaat Press

 

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Wider than the Sky book cover

Wider than the Sky (novel) by Katherine Field Rothschild

MFA class of 2001

published in 2020 by Soho Teen

 

Goodnight Saint Paul (travel memoir) by Kevin Finley

MFA class of 2009 (creative nonfiction)

published in 2015 by Think Piece Publishing

 

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Living With Light book cover

Axel Vervoordt: Living with Light (nonfiction) by Michael Gardner

MFA class of 2005 (creative nonfiction)

published in October 2013 by Flammarion

 

Without Repair (poetry) by Colby Gillette

MFA class of 2011 (poetry)

published in December 2014 by Called Back Books

 

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The Seed Bank book cover

The Seed Bank (poetry) by Gabe Gomez

MFA class of 2000

published in 2012 by Mouthfeel Press 

 

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The Outer Bands cover

The Outer Bands (poetry) by Gabe Gomez

MFA class of 2000

published by University of Norte Dame Press, winner of the Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize

 

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The Stone Roses book cover

The Stone Roses (nonfiction) by Alex Green

MFA class of 1997

published in 2006 by Continuum

 

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Emergency Anthems book cover

Emergency Anthems (poetry) by Alex Green

MFA class of 1997

published in January 2015 by Brooklyn Arts Press

 

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The Heart Goes Boom book cover

The Heart Goes Boom (fiction) by Alex Green

MFA class of 1997

published in 2016 by Wrecking Ball

 

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Ecopoetics book cover

Ecopoetics: Essays in the Field (nonfiction) co-edited by alumna Angela Hume and Gillian Osbourne

MFA class of 2008

published in March 2018 by University of Iowa Press

 

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The Middle book cover

The Middle (poetry) by Angela Hume

MFA class of 2008

published in 2013 by Omnidawn

 

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Middle Time book cover

Middle Time (poetry) by Angela Hume 

MFA class of 2008

published in 2016 by Omnidawn

 

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The Archivist book cover

The Archivist (poetry) by Jennifer Jean

MFA class of 2001

published by Big Table Publishing

 

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In the War book cover

In the War (poetry) by Jennifer Jean

MFA class of 2001

published by Big Table Publishing

 

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The Fool book cover

The Fool (poetry) by Jennifer Jean

MFA class of 2001

published in 2013 by Big Table Publishing

 

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Voz book cover

Voz (poetry) by Jennifer Jean

MFA class of 2001

published in 2023 by Lily Poetry Review

 

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Object Lesson book cover

Object Lesson (poetry) by Jennifer Jean

MFA class of 2001

published in 2021 by Lily Poetry Review

 

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Summoning the Phoenix book cover

Summoning the Phoenix: Poems and Prose About Chinese Musical Instruments (children's book) by Emily Jiang

MFA class of 2009

published in 2014 by Shen's Books

 

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Life Lessons Harry Potter Taught Me book cover

Life Lessons Harry Potter Taught Me by Jill Kolongowski

MFA Class of 2014

Published October 2017, Ulysses Press

 

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Bearded Lady book cover

Bearded Lady (memoir) by Allison Landa

MFA class of 2006

forthcoming by Pen-L Publishing

 

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A Hotel in Belgium book cover

A Hotel in Belgium (poetry) by Brett Fletcher Lauer

MFA class of 2007

published in March 2014 by Four Way Books

 

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Upstream book cover

Upstream (novel) by Melissa Lion

MFA class of 2000

published in 2006 by Wendy Lamb Books

 

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Swollen book cover

Swollen (novel) by Melissa Lion

MFA class of 2000

published in 2004 by Wendy Lamb Books

 

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Gentlemen Prefer Asians book cover

Gentlemen Prefer Asians: Tales of Gay Indonesians and Green Card Marriages (memoir) by Yuska Lutfi 

MFA class of 2014

published in 2016 by ThreeL Media

 

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Starting Up Silicon Valley book cover

Starting Up Silicon Valley by Katherine Maxfield

MFA class of 1998 (fiction)

published in 2014 by Greenleaf Book Group

 

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I Shall Be Near to You book cover

I Shall Be Near To You (fiction) by Erin Lindsay McCabe

MFA class of 2010

published in January 2014 by Crown Publishing

 

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Beyond the Chainlink book cover

Beyond the Chainlink (poetry) by Rusty Morrison

MFA class of 1999

published in January 2014 by Ahsahta Press

 

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After Urgency book cover

After Urgency (poetry) by Rusty Morrison

MFA class of 1999

published in 2010 by Tupelo Press and winner of the Tupelo Press' Dorset Prize

 

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 The True Keeps the Calm Biding book cover

The True Keeps Calm Biding Its Story (poetry) by Rusty Morrison

MFA class of 1999

published in 2008 by Ahsahta Press

 

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Whethering book cover

Whethering (poetry) by Rusty Morrison

published in 2004 by Colorado State University’s Center for Lit. Publishing

 

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Mortar book cover

Mortar (poetry) by Sara Mumolo

MFA class of 2009

published in October 2013 by Omnidawn Publishing

 

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Day Counter book cover

Day Counter by Sara Mumolo

MFA class of 2009

published 2018 by Omnidawn Publishing

 

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Hive Mind book cover

Hive-Mind (memoir) by Gabrielle Myers

MFA class of 2010

published in September 2015 by CreateSpace

 

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There Was a Fire Here book cover

There Was a Fire Here (nonfiction) by Risa Nye

MFA class of 2011

published in June 2016 by She Writes Press

 

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Crave book cover

Crave, a Memoir of Food and Longing (memoir) by Christine O'Brien 

MFA class of 2011

published November of 2018 by St. Martin's Press. 

 

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Telegraph book cover

Telegraph (poetry) by Kaya Oakes

MFA class of 1997

published in 2007 by Pavement Saw Press

 

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The Nones Are Alright book cover

The Nones Are Alright (memoir) by Kaya Oakes

MFA class of 1997

published in October 2015 by Orbis Books

 

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Slanted and Enchanted book cover

Slanted and Enchanted (nonfiction) by Kaya Oakes

MFA class of 1997

published in 2009  by Henry Holt

 

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One Day You'll Burn book cover

One Day You'll Burn (novel) by Joseph Schneider

MFA class of 2015

published February, 2020, Poisoned Pen Press

 

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Futuring book cover

Futuring (poetry) by Mike Sikkema

MFA class of 2006

published in 2008 by Blazevox Books

 

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January Found book cover

January Found (poetry) by Mike Sikkema

MFA class of 2006

published in 2014 by Blazevox Books

 

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Stantion, California book cover

Stanton, California (short stories) by Sam Silvas

MFA class of 1997

published in 2016 by Silver Birch Press

 

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Prison as Punishment book cover

Prison as Punishment (nonfiction) by Ralph Spinelli

MFA class of 2006

published in 2014 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

 

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The Women's Guide to Successful Investing book cover

The Women's Guide to Successful Investing: Achieving Financial Security and Realizing Your Goals (nonfiction) by Nancy Tengler

MFA class of 2009

published in 2014 by Palgrave Macmillan

 

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Crown of Dust book cover

Crown of Dust (novel) by Mary Volmer

MFA class of 2005

published in 2010 by Soho Press

 

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Residence, Illinois book cover

Reliance, Illinois by Mary Volmer

MFA class of 2005

published in April 2017 by Soho Press

 

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Dear, Companion book cover

Dear, Companion (poetry) by A.E. Watkins

MFA class of 2007

published in 2012 by Dream Horse Press