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Shannon Cain

シャノン・ケイン

Shannon Cain

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1964-06-03
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Tucson, Arizona, USA → New York City, USA → Saint-Paul de Vence, France

Career

Occupations
writer, editor, teacher, visual artist, activist
Active Years
1985-
Affiliations
University of Arizona (teaching), Arizona State University (teaching), Bennington College MFA program (teaching), Leipzig University (Picador Guest Professor), Kore Press (former Executive Director)
Influenced By
James Baldwin, Kurt Vonnegut, Sandra Cisneros, Nadine Gordimer
Nominations
Lambda Literary Award (finalist) — The Necessity of Certain Behaviors, Ferro-Grumley Award (finalist) — The Necessity of Certain Behaviors

Education

University of Arizona
French language and literature
Degree: B.A.
Country: United States
Warren Wilson College (Program for Writers)
Creative writing (MFA)
Degree: MFA
Country: United States

Awards

Drue Heinz Literature Prize
2011
Work: The Necessity of Certain Behaviors
Organization: University of Pittsburgh Press
Result: winner
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Literature Fellowship (prose)
2006
Organization: National Endowment for the Arts
Result: fellowship
O. Henry Prize
2008
Work: Short story "The Necessity of Certain Behaviors"
Organization: O. Henry Prize
Result: winner
Pushcart Prize
2009
Work: Short story "Cultivation"
Organization: Pushcart Press
Result: winner
Pushcart Prize
2013
Work: Short story "Juniper Beach"
Organization: Pushcart Press
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Necessity of Certain Behaviors

2011 Short story collection

A collection of short stories exploring sexuality, happiness, and self-fulfillment, often focusing on awkward domestic pressures and the consequences of personal choices.

sexualityhappinessself-fulfillmentdomestic tension

Roadside Curiosities: Short Stories About American Pop Culture (editor)

2014 Anthology (editor)

Editor of an anthology gathering short stories about American pop culture.

pop culturecontemporary society

Powder: Writing by Women in the Ranks, from Vietnam to Iraq (co-editor)

2008 Essays/anthology (co-editor)

An anthology of writing by women who served in the ranks from Vietnam to Iraq. The collection was adapted for the stage as "Coming in Hot."

warfemale experiencemilitary
Adaptations
  • [stage] Coming in Hot / Jeanmarie Simpson

Bibliography

  • The Necessity of Certain Behaviors (2011)
  • Roadside Curiosities: Short Stories About American Pop Culture (editor, 2014)
  • Powder: Writing by Women in the Ranks, from Vietnam to Iraq (co-editor, 2008)

Adaptations

  • Stage adaptation of Powder (Coming in Hot)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
intimate psychological portrayal in short fictionsatirical and ironic narrationblend of realism with social engagement
Recurring Motifs
domestic awkwardnesssexuality and identityperspectives from activism and social movements

Legacy

A multifaceted short fiction writer, editor, and activist whose work and cultural projects (including founding La Maison Baldwin) contribute to contemporary American letters and cross-disciplinary arts.

Trivia

  • Squatted in James Baldwin's villa for a short time in 2016 in an effort to save it.
  • Founder of La Maison Baldwin, an organization celebrating James Baldwin's life and work.
  • Creates large-scale origami installations (Les nouveaux oiseaux) and produced over 1,000 paper cranes for a 2019 event.
  • Received a French 'skills and talents' (passeport talent) visa and later renewed residency as a person of international renown.