New Grisham Writer-in-Residence

Dr. Megan Abbott
Courtesy of University Communications

Megan Abbott to teach graduate, undergraduate courses

By: Rebecca Lauck Cleary, University Communications

A highly acclaimed mystery-crime fiction author has been selected as the 2013 John and Renée Grisham Writer-in-Residence at the University of Mississippi

Megan Abbott is the Edgar-winning author of the novels “Queenpin” (Simon & Schuster, 2007), “The Song Is You” (Simon & Schuster, 2007), “Die a Little” (Simon & Schuster, 2005) and “Bury Me Deep” (Simon & Schuster, 2009). Her newest novel, “Dare Me” (Reagan Arthur Books), about the dark side of life for high school cheerleaders, was published in July and has been optioned for a feature film by Fox 2000 Pictures.

“I feel very, very fortunate,” Abbott said of her selection. “When a writer pal of mine learned of my appointment, she said, ‘That’s my dream gig!’ And it’s mine too.”

Born in the Detroit area, she graduated from the University of Michigan and received her doctorate in English and American literature from New York University. She has taught at NYU, the State University of New York and the New School University. This year, she is teaching at the Crime Fiction Academy at New York City’s Center for Fiction.

Abbott has much to bring to campus as the first non-Southerner to be chosen, said Beth Ann Fennelly, director of the MFA program in creative writing and associate professor of English.

“The committee reviewed dozens of recently published books, searching for a candidate who is emerging and dynamic, someone who has a lot to give our students and someone also who would benefit from a year of writing time,” Fennelly said. “Her oeuvre is interesting in that she was initially known as a mystery-crime writer, but has such skill and literary panache and background that she’s become more of a dual crossover writer.”

For Abbott, the invitation was made doubly meaningful since it came from Fennelly, a writer whose work she admires.

“Not only do I love Oxford, but I have always been so impressed and envious of the community of writers and book folks there. To have the opportunity to be a part of it, and a part of the illustrious John Grisham emerging writer tradition, is a true honor,” Abbott said. “I’ve visited classes there before, through my dear friend, the writer Jack Pendarvis, so I’m eager to get to know the students and their work better, to talk books and writing with them. I’m also looking forward to spending long, long hours and emptying my wallet at Square Books, one of the greatest bookstores I’ve ever visited.”

Abbott will teach a graduate workshop in fall 2013 and an undergraduate workshop in spring 2014.

“No doubt these will be very popular classes, as she already has a lot of fans here,” Fennelly said.

Ivo Kamps, professor and chair of the Department of English, said having Abbott as the Grisham Writer-in-Residence will be fantastic.

“She is an accomplished and successful novelist, and our students will be able to learn a lot from her,” Kamps said.

Her novel, “The End of Everything” (Reagan Arthur Books, 2011), a crime novel set in suburban Michigan, made the Best Books of the Year Lists for publications including Publisher’s Weekly, the Boston Globe, Baltimore City Paper and the Washington Examiner. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Salon, the Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Believer, Best Crime and Mystery Stories of the Year, Queens Noir and The Speed Chronicles.

Abbott is also the author of a nonfiction book, “The Street Was Mine: White Masculinity in Hardboiled Fiction and Film Noir” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2002) and the editor of “A Hell of a Woman,” an anthology of female crime fiction. She has been nominated for many awards, including three Edgar Awards, Hammett Prize, the Macavity, Anthony and Barry Awards, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Pushcart Prize.