Brad Kessler
Encyclopedia
Brad Kessler is an American novelist. His most recent work is 2009's Goat Song.
Brad Kessler is the author of the critically acclaimed novel Birds in Fall which won the 2007 Dayton Literary Peace Prize
Part of Birds in Fall was previously published in the Spring 2006 The Kenyon Review
. and was named one of the best ten books of 2006 by the Los Angeles Times
. He is the recipient of the 2008 Rome Prize
from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a Whiting Writers' Award
, as well as awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the 2002 Lange-Taylor Prize, in collaboration with photographer Dona Ann McAdams
, awarded by Duke University
's Center for Documentary Studies. His other books include the recently released (2009) Goat Song: A Seasonal Life, A Short History of Herding, and the Art of Making Cheese, a work of literary non-fiction, and the 2001 novel, Lick Creek.
Kessler's essays and articles have appeared in The New Yorker
, The Nation
, New York Times Magazine, among others, as well as in The Kenyon Review. He is the author of several award-winning children’s books
. In an interview related to his non-fiction book Goat Song, Kessler noted: "I started as a journalist, but I always wanted to write fiction." He has taught at the New School University and in the MFA program at Antioch University
, Los Angeles.
He lives on a farm in Vermont with the photographer and sometimes collaborator, Dona Ann McAdams
.
Brad Kessler is the author of the critically acclaimed novel Birds in Fall which won the 2007 Dayton Literary Peace Prize
Dayton Literary Peace Prize
The Dayton Literary Peace Prize, which was first awarded in 2006, "is the only annual U.S. literary award recognizing the power of the written word to promote peace." Awards are given for adult fiction and non-fiction books published at some point within the immediate past year that have led...
Part of Birds in Fall was previously published in the Spring 2006 The Kenyon Review
The Kenyon Review
The Kenyon Review is a Literary magazine based in Gambier, Ohio, USA, home of Kenyon College. The Review was founded in 1939 by John Crowe Ransom, critic and professor of English at Kenyon College, who served as its editor until 1959...
. and was named one of the best ten books of 2006 by the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
. He is the recipient of the 2008 Rome Prize
Rome Prize
The Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists and to 15 scholars The Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists...
from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a Whiting Writers' Award
Whiting Writers' Award
The Whiting Writers' Award is an American award presented annually to ten emerging writers in fiction, nonfiction, poetry and plays. The award is sponsored by the Mrs. Giles Whiting Foundation and has been presented since 1985. As of 2007, winners receive US $50,000.-External links:**...
, as well as awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the 2002 Lange-Taylor Prize, in collaboration with photographer Dona Ann McAdams
Dona Ann McAdams
Dona Ann McAdams is an American photographer.Dona Ann McAdams’ work has been exhibited widely, nationally and internationally, at places such as the Museum of Modern Art, NYC; The Whitney Museum of American Art, NYC; The International Center of Photography; The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los...
, awarded by Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
's Center for Documentary Studies. His other books include the recently released (2009) Goat Song: A Seasonal Life, A Short History of Herding, and the Art of Making Cheese, a work of literary non-fiction, and the 2001 novel, Lick Creek.
Kessler's essays and articles have appeared in The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, The Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
, New York Times Magazine, among others, as well as in The Kenyon Review. He is the author of several award-winning children’s books
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
. In an interview related to his non-fiction book Goat Song, Kessler noted: "I started as a journalist, but I always wanted to write fiction." He has taught at the New School University and in the MFA program at Antioch University
Antioch University
Antioch University is an American university with five campuses located in four states. Campuses are located in Los Angeles, California; Santa Barbara, California; Keene, New Hampshire; Yellow Springs, Ohio; and Seattle, Washington. Additionally, Antioch University houses two institution-wide...
, Los Angeles.
He lives on a farm in Vermont with the photographer and sometimes collaborator, Dona Ann McAdams
Dona Ann McAdams
Dona Ann McAdams is an American photographer.Dona Ann McAdams’ work has been exhibited widely, nationally and internationally, at places such as the Museum of Modern Art, NYC; The Whitney Museum of American Art, NYC; The International Center of Photography; The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los...
.
External links
- Goats and Genre and Getting Closer to Truth: An Interview with Brad Kessler, The Fouth River, Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA, 3/16/2011
- Simon and Schuster author bio
- Los Angeles Times profile
- 2007 Whiting Writers' Awards
- Dayton Prize
- National Endowment for the Arts: Writers’ Corner
- 'Birds in Flight' interview on WAMC
- Vermont Public Radio Goat Song interview
- San Francisco Chronicle Goat Song review
- Senator Flies with Birds in Fall, Variety
- NPR: Life with Goats