Louella Bryant

Fiction Writer, Creative Nonfiction Writer

Lincoln, VT
Vermont US
Twitter/X: 

Author's Bio

Louella Bryant is the bestselling author of eleven books, including Sheltering Angel, Based on a True Story of the Titanicand her most recent novel, Willie Rum Running Queen, a fictionalized story of true-life bootlegger Willie Carter Sharpe. Her nonfiction book While In Darkness There Is Light, a biography of Charlie Dean, brother to former DNC Chairman Howard Dean, won the SouthWest Writers Award for Nonfiction. Her other books include novels for adults and young adults as well as an award-winning collection of stories. Her short stories, poems and essays, have appeared in magazines and online. Fellowships were awarded her to The Julia and David White Artists’ Colony, Ciudad Colon, Costa Rica 2000 and Vermont Studio Center, Johnson VT 2013. She holds the MFA in Fiction from VCFA and a Masters in Education and Human Development from George Washington University. Formerly on the faculty of the Spalding University MFA in Writing Program, Louella now works as an independent editor in Vermont. 

Publications & Prizes

Creative Nonfiction

Book:
While In Darkness There Is Light: Adventure and Tragedy (Black Lawrence Press, 2008)

Fiction

Book:
Sheltering Angel: A Novel Based on a True Story of the Titanic (Black Rose Writing, 2023)
Prizes won: 

2002 Human and Civil Writes Award (Vermont NEA)

20006 SouthWest Writers Nonfiction Award

 

Personal Favorites

Favorite authors: 
Toni Morrison, Fred Chappell, Michael Ondaatje, Margaret Wise Brown, Stuart Dybek
What I'm reading now: 
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
Feminist
Born in: 
Bethesda, MD
Maryland
Raised in: 
Falls Church, VA
Virginia
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Last update: May 07, 2026