Ginger Strand

Last updated
Ginger Strand
Ginger Strand.jpg
Ginger Strand Author Portrait in Flight
Occupation Novelist, writing instructor
Period2005–present
Genre Fiction, Nonfiction
Website
www.gingerstrand.com

Ginger Strand is an American author of nonfiction and fiction. Her 2005 debut novel Flight was adapted from several of her short stories. [1] Her published books of non-fiction include Inventing Niagara: Beauty, Power, and Lies in May 2008, Killer on the Road: Violence and the American Interstate in 2012, [2] and The Brothers Vonnegut: Science and Fiction in the House of Magic in 2015. [3] She has published articles in The New Yorker, The New York Times,Pacific Standard,Tin House, and The Believer, among others. [4] She was a 2009 New York Foundation for the Arts fellow in nonfiction. [5]

Contents

Biography

Ginger Strand grew up mostly on a farm in Michigan. Her family moved often while her father served in the Air National Guard. Throughout her childhood, she lived in Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. [6] Her father later worked as a commercial airline pilot for TWA for 35 years. [7] Strand is a 1992 graduate from Princeton University. [7] She has a daughter and lives in New York City. [8] She has taught writing at Fordham University, Portland State University and the Bread Loaf Environmental Writers Conference. [9] [10] [11]

Her essays and fiction have appeared in The New Yorker , The Believer , Harper's , The Iowa Review , The Gettysburg Review , Tin House and Orion . [12] Strand has received residency grants from the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and the American Antiquarian Society, as well as a fellowship in nonfiction from the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference and a Tennessee Williams scholarship in fiction from the Sewanee Writers' Conference. [13] She is a contributing editor at Orion. Strand is also a former fellow in the Behrman Center for the Humanities at Princeton University. [14]

Strand is often considered an environmental writer, a label she has said she never sought. [15] She has been critical of Google’s environmental policies. [16] Her 2008 article "The Crying Indian" in Orion, which won a Pushcart Prize, drew links between Native American displacement, government-funded aluminum production, and Keep America Beautiful, which she labels an astroturfing organization. In a November 2006 New York Times story, she talks about her personal difficulty in being eco-conscious. [8]

She lists her obsessions as water, ancient Rome, infrastructure, SuperFund, airplanes, silent film, panopticons, P. T. Barnum, photography, lies, the 1930s, Niagara Falls, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Edward Wormley, consumerism and rhinoceroses, especially one named Clara who lived in the 18th century. [17]

Strand is represented by The Wylie Agency. [18]

Books

Strand's debut novel, Flight, was published by Simon & Schuster in May 2005. [19] Strand describes Flight as “the echoes and overlaps of four voices.” [20] The story takes places in the days leading up to a wedding in rural Michigan as the Gruens, a Midwestern family, struggle with their individual private dramas.

Strand's second book was nonfiction, Inventing Niagara: Beauty, Power, Lies, and published by Simon & Schuster in early 2008. The book combines history, reportage, and personal narrative to build a cultural history of natural wonder at Niagara Falls. [12] Strand writes about how Niagara Falls has been depicted and used throughout America's history, and how its natural environment has been altered.

In researching her second book, Strand used handbills, guidebooks, travelogues, treaties, and images in the American Antiquarian Society's collections. [21] The book chronicles Strands' fascination with infrastructure, which she calls "a culture's dream made visible.” [22]

Inventing Niagara received positive reviews in the New York Times Book Review, [2] Newsweek, [23] the Washington Post, [24] and the Wall Street Journal. [25] The book was a finalist for the 2008 Orion Magazine Book Award and was picked as one of summer 2008's best non-fiction books by Fresh Air on NPR. [26]

Strand's third book,Killer on the Road: Violence and the American Interstate was published by the University of Texas in 2012. The book looks at the links between serial murder and our Interstate Highway System, and was described in the New York Times as "part true-crime entertainment, part academic exegesis, part political folk ballad." [27] Profiling highway killers such as Charles Starkweather, Edmund Kemper, Wayne Williams, Roger Kibbe, and Bruce Mendenhall, Strand describes how they utilized the interstates and how the highways themselves serve as what she calls "analogs of cultural psychosis." [28]

Her fourth book The Brothers Vonnegut: Science and Fiction in the House of Magic was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 2015. [29] It traces the lives of brothers Kurt Vonnegut and Bernard Vonnegut during the time when both were working at General Electric in the 1940s, Kurt as a public relations man, and Bernard as a scientist in the General Electric Research Laboratory. It depicts how Bernard's involvement in early experiments in weather modification influenced the early writings of his brother Kurt. [3] Strand discussed the book on Science Friday [30] and it was subsequently the center of an episode of the podcast Undiscovered. [31]

In writing The Brothers Vonnegut, Strand received access to a cache of private letters between Kurt Vonnegut and his wife Jane Vonnegut which demonstrated how central Jane was in encouraging Kurt to become a writer. She wrote about their relationship for The New Yorker . [32]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurt Vonnegut</span> American writer (1922–2007)

Kurt Vonnegut was an American writer and humorist known for his satirical and darkly humorous novels. In a career spanning over 50 years, he published fourteen novels, three short-story collections, five plays, and five nonfiction works; further collections have been published after his death.

<i>Cats Cradle</i> 1963 novel by Kurt Vonnegut

Cat's Cradle is a satirical postmodern novel, with science fiction elements, by American writer Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut's fourth novel, it was first published in 1963, exploring and satirizing issues of science, technology, the purpose of religion, and the arms race, often through the use of morbid humor.

<i>Slaughterhouse-Five</i> 1969 novel by Kurt Vonnegut

Slaughterhouse-Five, or, The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death is a 1969 semi-autobiographic science fiction-infused anti-war novel by Kurt Vonnegut. It follows the life and experiences of Billy Pilgrim, from his early years, to his time as an American soldier and chaplain's assistant during World War II, to the post-war years, with Billy occasionally traveling through time. The text centers on Billy's capture by the German Army and his survival of the Allied firebombing of Dresden as a prisoner of war, an experience which Vonnegut himself lived through as an American serviceman. The work has been called an example of "unmatched moral clarity" and "one of the most enduring anti-war novels of all time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creative nonfiction</span> Genre of writing

Creative nonfiction is a genre of writing that uses literary styles and techniques to create factually accurate narratives. Creative nonfiction contrasts with other nonfiction, such as academic or technical writing or journalism, which are also rooted in accurate fact though not written to entertain based on prose style. Many writers view creative nonfiction as overlapping with the essay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joan Didion</span> American writer (1934–2021)

Joan Didion was an American writer and journalist. She is considered one of the pioneers of New Journalism along with Gay Talese, Hunter S. Thompson, and Tom Wolfe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Saunders</span> American writer (born 1958)

George Saunders is an American writer of short stories, essays, novellas, children's books, and novels. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's, McSweeney's, and GQ. He also contributed a weekly column, American Psyche, to The Guardian's weekend magazine between 2006 and 2008.

Jill Krementz is an American photographer and author. She has published 31 books, mostly of photography and children's books. She was married to Kurt Vonnegut for almost 30 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Shields</span> American author and film director

David Shields is an American author who has published twenty-four books, including Reality Hunger, The Thing About Life Is That One Day You'll Be Dead, Black Planet, and Other People: Takes & Mistakes. The Very Last Interview was published by New York Review Books in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Hay (novelist)</span> Canadian novelist and short story writer (born 1951)

Elizabeth Grace Hay is a Canadian novelist and short story writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lia Purpura</span> American poet, writer and educator (born 1964)

Lia Purpura is an American poet, writer and educator. She is the author of four collections of poems, four collections of essays and one collection of translations. Her poems and essays appear in AGNI, The Antioch Review, DoubleTake, FIELD, The Georgia Review, The Iowa Review, Orion Magazine, The New Republic, The New Yorker, The Paris Review, Parnassus: Poetry in Review, Ploughshares. Southern Review, and many other magazines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracy K. Smith</span> American poet

Tracy K. Smith is an American poet and educator. She served as the 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States from 2017 to 2019. She has published five collections of poetry, winning the Pulitzer Prize for her 2011 volume Life on Mars. Her memoir, Ordinary Light, was published in 2015.

Stacey D'Erasmo is an American author and literary critic.

Beth Kephart is an American author of non-fiction, poetry and young adult fiction for adults and teens. Kephart has written and published over ten books and has received several grants and awards for her writing. She was a National Book Award Finalist for her book "A Slant of the Sun: One Child’s Courage."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ann Hood</span> American novelist

Ann Hood is an American novelist and short story writer; she has also written nonfiction. The author of fourteen novels, four memoirs, a short story collection, a ten book series for middle readers and one young adult novel. Her essays and short stories have appeared in many journals, magazines, and anthologies, including The Paris Review, Ploughshares,, and Tin House. Hood is a regular contributor to The New York Times' Op-Ed page, Home Economics column. Her most recent work is "Fly Girl: A Memoir," published with W.W. Norton and Company in 2022.

Victoria Chang is an American poet, writer, editor, and critic.

Melissa Febos is an American writer and professor. She is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, Whip Smart (2010), and the essay collections, Abandon Me (2017) and Girlhood (2021).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles J. Shields</span>

Charles J. Shields is an American biographer of mid-century American novelists and writers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiphanie Yanique</span> American novelist

Tiphanie Yanique from Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, is a Caribbean American fiction writer, poet and essayist who lives in New York. In 2010 the National Book Foundation named her a "5 Under 35" honoree. She also teaches creative writing, currently based at Emory University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebecca Makkai</span> American novelist and short-story writer

Rebecca Makkai is an American novelist and short-story writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pamela Erens</span> American writer

Pamela Erens is an American writer who appeared on a list compiled by the Reader's Digest of "23 Contemporary Writers You Should Have Read by Now". She has written three critically acclaimed novels for adults, a highly praised novel for middle schoolers, and the memoir/critical hybrid Middlemarch and the Imperfect Life. Her debut novel, The Understory (2007), was a fiction finalist for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize,. Erens's second novel, The Virgins (2013), received accolades from many sources including The New York Times, The New Yorker and Vanity Fair. It was a finalist for the John Gardner Fiction Book Award. Her third novel, Eleven Hours, was published in May 2016. It was named a Best Book of 2016 by The New Yorker, NPR, and Kirkus. Erens's middle grade novel, Matasha, was published in June 2021. Erens has also written essays and critical articles for publications such as The New York Times, Vogue, Elle, Virginia Quarterly Review, and Los Angeles Review of Books.

References

  1. ↑ Strand, Ginger (May 2005). "Fear of Flight: Rewriting Short Fiction as a Novel | Poets and Writers". Pw.org. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  2. 1 2 Sullivan, Robert (2008-06-01). "Book Review - 'Inventing Niagara,' by Ginger Strand - Review". The New York Times . Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  3. 1 2 Wilwol, By John (18 December 2015). "'The Brothers Vonnegut,' by Ginger Strand". Sfgate.
  4. ↑ "Ginger Strand".
  5. ↑ https://s3.amazonaws.com/NYFA_WebAssets/Pictures/fbff420f-79fe-4f34-800a-f94a82fa5876.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  6. ↑ Strand, Ginger (September 2005). "The Perils of Writing Close to Home: Truth vs. Fiction | Poets and Writers". Pw.org. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  7. 1 2 "PAW: Alumni Spotlight". Princeton.edu. 2005-05-11. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  8. 1 2 Shaw, Dan (2006-11-12). "Eco-Conscious Meets Guilty Conscience - New York Times". The New York Times . Manhattan (NYC). Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  9. ↑ "Ginger Strand, author of Inventing Niagara, discussion and book signing at Main Street store". Tleavesbooks.com. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  10. ↑ "Portland State College of Liberal Arts & Sciences: Creative Writing | PSU & Tin House". Archived from the original on 2018-11-27. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  11. ↑ "Dream Loaf | Middlebury Bread Loaf Writers' Conferences".
  12. 1 2 "Orion Author Reading Lists". Orion Magazine. 2008-08-05. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  13. ↑ "Inventing Niagara: Beauty, Power, and Lies | Gothic Bookshop". Gothicbookshop.duke.edu. 2012-10-16. Archived from the original on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  14. ↑ "Wofford College - 'Dam Symposium' to explore energy future". Wofford.edu. 2010-03-12. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  15. ↑ "Ginger Strand on Being an Environmental Writer".
  16. ↑ "The Google Electric Bill". The Googlization of Everything. 2008-03-31. Archived from the original on 2012-11-06. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  17. ↑ "Ginger Gail Strand: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  18. ↑ http://www.wylieagency.com/clien [ dead link ]
  19. ↑ "Ginger Strand | Official Publisher Page". Authors.simonandschuster.com. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  20. ↑ Strand, Ginger. "The Believer - Ginger Strand's FLIGHT". Believermag.com. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  21. ↑ "Present and Former Artist and Writer Fellows at the American Antiquarian Society". Americanantiquarian.org. Archived from the original on 2012-09-23. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  22. ↑ "A Conversation with Ginger Strand". Orion Magazine. 2008-03-01. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  23. ↑ David Gates (2008-05-03). "Niagara Falls: America's Most Unnatural Wonder - Newsweek and The Daily Beast". Newsweek.com. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  24. ↑ "An Unnatural Wonder". Washingtonpost.com. 2008-05-25. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  25. ↑ Kauffman, Bill (2008-05-08). "Decline and the Falls - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  26. ↑ Greenlaw, Lavinia (2008-05-26). "Better than Sliced Bread: Summer's Best Nonfiction". NPR. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  27. ↑ Garner, Dwight (4 September 2012). "Those Madmen Driving Our National Highways". The New York Times.
  28. ↑ "Los Angeles Review of Books". 28 May 2012.
  29. ↑ The Brothers Vonnegut : science and fiction in the house of magic. Library of Congress. 17 November 2015. ISBN   9780374117016 . Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  30. ↑ "Kurt Vonnegut in the 'House of Magic'".
  31. ↑ "Kurt Vonnegut and the Rainmakers | Undiscovered".
  32. ↑ "How Jane Vonnegut Made Kurt Vonnegut a Writer". The New Yorker . 3 December 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.