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Bernice L. McFadden

バーニス・エル・マクファデン

Bernice L. McFadden

Pen Names: Geneva Holliday（Pseudonym used for humorous erotica）

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1965-09-26 （Brooklyn, New York, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Brooklyn, New York (birth and upbringing) → New Orleans (Tulane University employment) → Egypt (writers' residency) → New Hampshire (MacDowell Colony residency)

Career

Occupations
novelist, assistant professor of creative writing
Active Years
2000-
Affiliations
Tulane University (Assistant Professor of Creative Writing)
Nominations
Hurston/Wright Legacy Award (Finalist) - Gathering of Waters (2013), Hurston/Wright Legacy Award (Finalist) - Glorious (2011)

Education

St. Joseph's College (The Writer's Foundry, MFA)
Creative Writing (MFA)
Degree: MFA
Year of Graduation: 2016
Country: United States
Received MFA through The Writer's Foundry program

Awards

American Book Award
2017
Work: The Book of Harlan
Organization: Before Columbus Foundation
Result: Winner
NAACP Image Award (Outstanding Literary Work)
2017
Work: The Book of Harlan
Organization: NAACP
Result: Winner
Black Caucus of the American Library Association Fiction Award
2011
Work: Glorious
Organization: Black Caucus of the American Library Association
Result: Winner
Black Caucus of the American Library Association Fiction Honor Award
2001
Work: Sugar
Organization: Black Caucus of the American Library Association
Result: Honor
Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers
2000
Work: Sugar
Organization: Barnes & Noble
Result: Selection
Women's Prize for Fiction (Longlist)
2019
Work: Praise Song for the Butterflies
Organization: Women's Prize for Fiction
Result: Longlisted
BCALA Honor Award
2019
Work: Praise Song for the Butterflies
Organization: Black Caucus of the American Library Association
Result: Honor

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Sugar

2000 Novel

Early novel set in New York exploring family, violence, and personal redemption.

familyviolenceredemptionAfrican American experience

Glorious

2010 Novel

A novel combining multifaceted character studies with historical background; received critical acclaim.

memoryfamilyhistory

Gathering of Waters

2012 Novel

Explores inherited trauma and hope across generations; selected for multiple notable-books lists.

intergenerational traumahopecommunity

The Book of Harlan

2016 Historical novel

A historical novel centered on music and family history, depicting individual lives shaped by American history; won several awards.

musicfamily historyrace and history

Praise Song for the Butterflies

2018 Novel

An epic story about family, migration, and loss; longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction.

migrationlossfamily

Loving Donovan

2003 Novel

A work about love and family relationships; one of her earlier novels.

lovefamily

Bibliography

  • Sugar (2000)
  • The Warmest December (2001)
  • This Bitter Earth (2002)
  • Loving Donovan (2003)
  • Camilla's Roses (2004)
  • Nowhere is a Place (2006)
  • Glorious (2010)
  • Gathering of Waters (2012)
  • The Book of Harlan (2016)
  • Praise Song for the Butterflies (2018)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
lyrical, richly textured psychological detailinterweaving of historical and personal narratives
Recurring Motifs
family and inheritancememory and traumamusic and culture

Legacy

Bernice L. McFadden is acclaimed as a contemporary novelist who explores African American history and family narratives. She has received multiple awards and is frequently featured in book clubs and critical discussions.

Academic Societies

  • Communities associated with the Black Caucus (ALA)

In Popular Culture

  • Featured in book clubs such as the Richard and Judy Book Club (2021)

Trivia

  • Writes humorous erotica under the pen name Geneva Holliday.
  • Coined and copyrighted the term 'Angelcestor' in 2022 (U.S. Serial Number: 97288112).
  • Several works have been selected for book-club picks and year-end best-book lists.