Karol Nielsen

Karol Nielsen is the author of  the memoirs Raising the Price of the House (Finishing Line Press, 2024), Walking A&P (Mascot Books, 2018), and Black Elephants (Bison Books, 2011). Her first memoir was shortlisted for the 2012 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing in nonfiction and was selected as a 2011 Poets & Writers New and Noteworthy Book. Excerpts were honored as Notable Essays in The Best American Essays 2010 and 2005.

Her poetry chapbooks include Small Life (Finishing Line Press, 2022), Vietnam Made Me Who I Am (Finishing Line Press, 2020), and This Woman I Thought I'd Be (Finishing Line Press, 2012). Her forthcoming chapbook Cowgirl (Finishing Line Press) was a semifinalist for the 2025 New Women's Voices Competition. Her full-length poetry manuscript This New Manhattan was longlisted for the 2021 Terry J. Cox Poetry Award and was selected as a finalist for the 2007 Colorado Prize for Poetry. Her title poem was a finalist for the 2021 Ruth Stone Poetry Prize.