Sweta Srivastava Vikram

Creative Nonfiction Writer, Fiction Writer, Poet

Author's Bio

Sweta Srivastava Vikram (www.swetavikram.com), featured by Asian Fusion as “one of the most influential Asians of our time,” is a best-selling author of 12 books, five-times Pushcart Prize nominee, mindfulness writing coach, social issues advocate, and a certified yoga & Ayurveda counselor who helps writers and creative professionals lead creative, productive, and healthier lives. Louisiana Catch (Modern History Press 2018) is her debut U.S. novel and featured on U.K.'s list of "Books to Read in 2018." Born in India, Sweta spent her formative years between the Indian Himalayas, North Africa, and the United States collecting and sharing stories. She writes about women, multiculturalism, wellness, and identity. Sweta, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, amongst other publications, across nine countries on three continents, is an award-winning writer and graduate of Columbia University. She lives in New York City with her husband and in her spare time, teaches yoga to female survivors of rape and domestic violence. You can find her in these online spaces: Twitter (@swetavikram), Instagram (@swetavikram), and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Words.By.Sweta)

Publications & Prizes

Fiction

Book:
Louisiana Catch (Modern History Press, 2018)

Poetry

Books:
Wet Silence (Modern History Press, 2014)
,
No Ocean Here: Stories in Verse about Women from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East (Modern History Press, 2013)
Chapbooks:
Saris and a Single Malt (Modern History Press, 2016)
,
Beyond the Scent of Sorrow (Modern History Press, 2011)
,
Because All Is Not Lost (Modern History Press, 2010)
,
Kaleidoscope: An Asian Journey of Colors (Modern History Press, 2010)
Prizes won: 
  • The Asian Writer in the UK list Sweta’s upcoming novel, Louisiana Catch, on their Books to Read in 2018 list.
  • Better American Poetry, 2017, US, Nomination (Poetry), “I Write,” “Wait for Me,” and “Fifty Minutes from New Delhi” from the collection Saris and a Single Malt
  • Pushcart Prize, 2016, US, Nomination (Poetry), “I Write” from the collection Saris and a Single Malt
  • Sweta is nominated for the prestigious Split The Rock Award, for her poem, “Working Girl,” for poetry and activism, 2016, US
  • Pushcart Prize, 2015, US, Nomination (Poetry), “Nickname and Nectar” from the collection Wet Silence
  • Sweta wins the International Poetry Award, 2015, UK
  • Pushcart Prize, 2013, US, Nomination (Poetry), “Superwoman” from the collection No Ocean Here
  • “Brothel,” one of Sweta’s poems from her latest poetry collection, No Ocean Here, is selected to be a part of ArtWorks for Freedom, an anti-human trafficking benefit concert and campaign
  • Sweta is awarded the Joan Jakobson Scholarship, Fiction, Wesleyan Writers Conference, 2013, US
  • Sweta’s poem “Auto Immune Deficiency Syndrome” is selected to be a part of an AIDS awareness film: The Dawn
  • Indian Book Reviews votes Perfectly Untraditional as Best Read of the Month for March 2012
  •  
  • Selected by the Queens Council on the Arts as a participant for the 2012 Build Your Own Business for Writers program, US .
  • Interviewed by NY1 and chosen as the “Queens Person of the Week,” US .
  • Novel Perfectly Untraditional was voted as The Best Read of the Month for March 2012, India
  • Independent Literary Awards 2011, US, Short-listed, (Poetry collection), Beyond the Scent of Sorrow
  • Asian American Members’ Choice Awards 2011, US, Nomination (Poetry collection), Kaleidoscope: An Asian Journey of Colors
  • Poem “Enough” was nominated for Best of The Net 2011 Nominations, 2011, US
  • Winner of the Azsacra International Poetry Award, 2011, Russia
  • Pushcart Prize, 2011, US, Nomination (Poetry Collection), Not All Birds Sing
  • Wesleyan Scholarship for the Wesleyan Writers Conference, 2011, Connecticut, US
  • Pushcart Prize, 2010, US, Nomination (Poetry collection), Kaleidoscope: An Asian Journey of Colors
  • Part scholarship for Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation, 2010, San Francisco, US .Unisun Poetry Prize, 2010, India, Shortlist (English Poetry)

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
Asian American, Feminist, Indian American, South Asian
Prefers to work with: 
Any
Fluent in: 
English, Hindi
Born in: 
India
Raised in: 
India, North Africa, & the US
India
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Mar 05, 2018