Josip Novakovich
Encyclopedia
Josip Novakovich is a Croatian American writer.
His grandparents had immigrated from the Croatia
, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, to Cleveland, Ohio, and, after the First World War, his grandfather returned to what had become Yugoslavia. Josip Novakovich was born (in 1956) and grew up in the Central Croatian town of Daruvar
, studied medicine at the University of Novi Sad
. At the age of 20 he left Yugoslavia, continuing his education at Vassar College
(B.A.), Yale University
(M.Div.), and the University of Texas, Austin (M.A.).
He has published a novel (April Fool's Day), three short story collections (Yolk, Salvation and Other Disasters, Infidelities: Stories of War and Lust), two collections of narrative essays (Apricots from Chernobyl, Plum Brandy: Croatian Journey) and two textbooks (Writing Fiction Step by Step, Fiction Writer's Workshop).
Novakovich has taught at Nebraska Indian Community College
, Bard College
, Moorhead State University, Antioch University Los Angeles
, creative writing
at the University of Cincinnati
, and Pennsylvania State University
. He is currently in Montreal teaching at Concordia University
.
Mr. Novakovich is the recipient of the Whiting Writer's Award, a Guggenheim fellowship
, two fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts, panelist of National Endowment of the Arts, an award from the Ingram Merrill Foundation, and an American Book Award
from the Before Columbus Foundation
. He was anthologized in Best American Poetry, Pushcart Prize
(three times), and O.Henry Prize Stories
. Kirkus Review finds Novakovich as "the best American shorts stories writer of the decade".
His works were published in almost all top writers' magazines in the USA (Ploughshares, New York Times Magazine, Double Take, The Threepenny Review etc.)
His grandparents had immigrated from the Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, to Cleveland, Ohio, and, after the First World War, his grandfather returned to what had become Yugoslavia. Josip Novakovich was born (in 1956) and grew up in the Central Croatian town of Daruvar
Daruvar
Daruvar is a town in central Croatia, population 9,815 , total municipality population 13,243 ....
, studied medicine at the University of Novi Sad
University of Novi Sad
The University of Novi Sad is a university located in Novi Sad, the capital of Serbian province of Vojvodina and the second largest city in Serbia....
. At the age of 20 he left Yugoslavia, continuing his education at Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
(B.A.), Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
(M.Div.), and the University of Texas, Austin (M.A.).
He has published a novel (April Fool's Day), three short story collections (Yolk, Salvation and Other Disasters, Infidelities: Stories of War and Lust), two collections of narrative essays (Apricots from Chernobyl, Plum Brandy: Croatian Journey) and two textbooks (Writing Fiction Step by Step, Fiction Writer's Workshop).
Novakovich has taught at Nebraska Indian Community College
Nebraska Indian Community College
Nebraska Indian Community College is a co-educational public, regionally accredited community college located in Macy, Nebraska. Nebraska Indian Community College began in July, 1973 as the American Indian Satellite Community College under a grant from the Fund for the Improvement of...
, Bard College
Bard College
Bard College, founded in 1860 as "St. Stephen's College", is a small four-year liberal arts college located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.-Location:...
, Moorhead State University, Antioch University Los Angeles
Antioch University Los Angeles
Antioch University Los Angeles is a small private liberal arts school currently located in Culver City, California. The school is a campus of Antioch University.-Background:Antioch College was founded in 1852 in Yellow Springs, Ohio...
, creative writing
Creative writing
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
at the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
, and Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
. He is currently in Montreal teaching at Concordia University
Concordia University
Concordia University is a comprehensive Canadian public university located in Montreal, Quebec, one of the two universities in the city where English is the primary language of instruction...
.
Mr. Novakovich is the recipient of the Whiting Writer's Award, a Guggenheim fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
, two fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts, panelist of National Endowment of the Arts, an award from the Ingram Merrill Foundation, and an American Book Award
American Book Award
The American Book Award was established in 1978 by the Before Columbus Foundation. It seeks to recognize outstanding literary achievement by contemporary American authors, without restriction to race, sex, ethnic background, or genre...
from the Before Columbus Foundation
Before Columbus Foundation
The Before Columbus Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1976 by Ishmael Reed, Victor Hernández Cruz, Shawn Wong and Rudolfo Anaya to be "a multi-ethnic organizing dedicated to promoting a pan-cultural view of America," especially through the promotion of multicultural writers.One of...
. He was anthologized in Best American Poetry, Pushcart Prize
Pushcart Prize
The Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are invited to nominate up to 6 works they have featured....
(three times), and O.Henry Prize Stories
O. Henry Award
The O. Henry Award is the only yearly award given to short stories of exceptional merit. The award is named after the American master of the form, O. Henry....
. Kirkus Review finds Novakovich as "the best American shorts stories writer of the decade".
His works were published in almost all top writers' magazines in the USA (Ploughshares, New York Times Magazine, Double Take, The Threepenny Review etc.)
External links
- Josip Novakovich at the Pennsylvania State University Department of English
- Cincinnati Magazine, Dec 1998, p. 57
- http://www.matis.hr/zbornici/2001/Text/Text4-1.htm Hrvatski iseljenički zbornik 2001., Vladimir P. Goss: Hrvatski duh u engleskom ruhu (summary in English CROATIAN SPIRIT IN ENGLISH ATTIRE )