Patrice Melnick

Creative Nonfiction Writer

Grand Coteau, LA

Louisiana US

Email:

Author's Bio

Patrice Melnick is a writer, arts administrator and community activist.

She is the founder of the Festival of Words, a rural, literary arts organization in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. Melnick taught English and creative writing at Xavier University in New Orleans for thirteen years before moving to Grand Coteau. Patrice Melnick holds a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Austin, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Her poems and essays have appeared in many literary journals including Prism International, Red Brick Review and Grain. She has been honored for both her writing and community contributions. Her poem “Tattoos and Birthmarks,” was awarded 3rd prize in Federico Garcia Lorca Poetry Prize. She received the Public Humanities Programming award from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and was named one of the Louisianians of 2019 by Louisiana Life Magazine.

Patrice Melnick has published a memoir, Po-boy Contraband: from Diagnosis Back to Life (Catalyst Press) and a poetry chapbook, City of Hey Baby (Finishing Line Press.) She lives in Grand Coteau, where she lives with her loving and very patient husband, Olan.

Education:

University of Alaska, Fairbanks MFA

Publications & Prizes

Books:

Po-Boy Contraband: From Diagnosis Back to Life (Catalyst Book Press, 2012)

Turning Up the Volume (Xavier Review Press, 2005)

Prizes won:

Named as one of the Louisianians of the Year by Louisiana Life Magazine, 2019.

Outstanding Educator, Lafayette Parish Democratic party, 2018.

Oliver-Sigur Humanitarian Award from The Louisiana Council on Human Relations, 2015. “Tattos and Birthmarks,” 3rd prize in Federico Garcia Lorca Poetry Prize. (Judge: Sean Thomas Dougherty.) December, 2014.

Public Humanities Programming award from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. March, 2013.

Honorable Mentions for best stories of the year, 2012. Tales from the South.

Residence Grant from The Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico. Residency for May 20 --August 1, 2005.

"Writer's Body," Finalist Gulf Coast Non-Fiction Prize (judged by Mark Doty.) Residence Grant from The Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico. Residency for May 15 -- July, 2003.

“Writing for My Life,” 1st place, The Writers Workshop 8th Annual Memoirs Contest. April 8, 2002.

“Intimacy,” 2nd place, The El Dorado Writers--Guild Sixth Annual Writing Contest. March 18, 2002.

“Rearranging the Furniture,” 3rd place, Rosalie Fleming Memorial Essay Prize (Judged by Mary Eastham), January, 2001.

“Rearranging the Furniture,” runner-up for Maclean Hunter Award for Literary Non-fiction. December, 2000.

Personal Favorites

Favorite authors:

Tim O'Brien Ross Gay Redmond O'Hanlon Bruce Weigl Dave Eggers Nick Flynn Cornelius Eady Lucille Clifton

What I'm reading now:

mother of chaos: queen of the nines by Kelly Clayton, Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

More Information

Gives readings:

Yes

Travels for readings:

Yes

Identifies as:

Jewish

Prefers to work with:

Adults

Fluent in:

English

Born in:

Dallas, TX

Texas

Raised in:

Dallas, TX

Texas

Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.

Last update: Dec 26, 2020