Christa Parravani
American author and assistant professor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christa Parravani is an author and assistant professor in creative non-fiction at West Virginia University.[1] Her first book focuses on the death of her twin sister, Cara.[2] Her second memoir revolves around the limited reproductive options in West Virginia and the flaws in the healthcare system in the state.[3]
Christa Parravani | |
|---|---|
| Born | Albany, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer, Professor, Photographer |
| Alma mater | Columbia University and Rutgers |
| Period | 2013–present |
| Genre | Memoir |
| Spouse | Anthony Swofford |
| Website | |
| christaparravani.com | |
Life
Parravani taught at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Greenfield Community College, Westfield State University and Keene State University in Keene, New Hampshire.[4]
Parravani received her Bachelor's Degree from Bard College in 1999, graduating with a focus on literature and photography.[4] She would go on to receive her first MFA in Visual Arts in 2003 from Columbia University. She received her second MFA in Creative Writing from Rutgers University in 2011.[5]
She is married to Anthony Swofford.[6]
Writing
Her first memoir Her was published in 2013.[2][7] Her second memoir Loved and Wanted: A Memoir of Choice, Children, and Womanhood was published by Henry Holt & Company in October 2020.[3][6]
Parravani has appeared in Guernica[7], Catapult, Vogue[8], The Millions[9], Salon[10], The Rumpus, The Daily Beast,[11] The Washington Post,[12] and The Los Angeles Times.[13] She has appeared on NPR[14] and PBS.[15]
Awards
- Residency Fellowship, Corporation of Yaddo
- Residency Fellowship, Dora Maar House, Brown Fellows Foundation
- Residency Fellowship, MacDowell
- Amazon Spotlight Debut of the month, March 2013
- Indiebound Next Pick, March 2013
- Salon Best book of 2013
- Wall Street Journal best book of 2013
- Library Journal best book of 2013
- An Oprah, People, and NPR must read book of 2013
- Huffington Post best book of the last 5 years for women, 2015
- Finalist for Books for a Better Life Award, 2013
- Residency Fellowship, Byrdcliffe Center for the Arts
- Mortimer Frank Travel Fellowship, Columbia University
Photography
Parravani completed a MFA in photography from Rutgers University and is represented by Foley Gallery in New York.[2]