Picture an American storyteller who weaves love and loss into prose that lingers like a summer sunset—meet Meghan Kenny! Known for her poignant short stories and novels, Kenny captures the human heart with a visual flair, blending her photography passion with narratives that explore love’s complexities, often through male protagonists. From rural Wisconsin to literary acclaim, her journey is as captivating as her tales.
The Making of Meghan Kenny
Born and raised in Connecticut and New Hampshire, Meghan Kenny’s early life was steeped in New England’s quiet beauty, sparking her visual storytelling instincts. A knack for reading and writing led her to Kenyon College, where she earned a BA in English and Creative Writing, followed by an MFA in Fiction from Boise State University. Her mentor, Robert Olmstead, ignited her love for crafting stories, and her travels to Japan, Peru, and France enriched her perspective, infusing her work with universal themes of longing and resilience.
Meghan Kenny’s Unforgettable Stories
Kenny’s debut novel, The Driest Season (2018), a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award, is a haunting coming-of-age tale set in 1944 Wisconsin. Fifteen-year-old Cielle grapples with her father’s suicide amid drought and World War II, exploring grief and hope with poetic precision. The novel, expanded from an award-winning short story, showcases Kenny’s spare, evocative style. Her short story collection, Love Is No Small Thing (2017), delves into love’s many forms—parental, romantic, elusive—through characters who confront life’s unexpected turns. Stories like 'The Driest Season,' which won the 2005 Iowa Review Award, highlight her ability to distill profound emotions into fleeting moments. Kenny’s work, published in journals like The Kenyon Review and Gettysburg Review, draws from influences like Richard Yates and Cormac McCarthy, blending chronological storytelling with deep emotional resonance.
Her writing stands out for its visual quality, a nod to her photography background. Whether depicting a teenager’s raw grief or a man’s quiet yearning, Kenny crafts scenes that feel like snapshots—vivid, fleeting, and unforgettable. Her focus on male perspectives adds a unique lens, exploring love and vulnerability with empathy and nuance.
Why Meghan Kenny Matters
Meghan Kenny’s work resonates for its unflinching look at human fragility and resilience. Her stories, set against backdrops like rural America or wartime uncertainty, speak to timeless questions of love, loss, and identity. By teaching at institutions like Lancaster Country Day School and Gotham Writers’ Workshop, she inspires new writers, passing on her belief in the power of prompts to unlock creativity. Her awards, including the Iowa Review Fiction Award and Pushcart Prize Special Mention, underscore her influence in contemporary fiction, while her residencies at Bread Loaf and Vermont Studio Center cement her literary presence.
- Key Works: The Driest Season, Love Is No Small Thing, Scribbles and Squalls
- Awards: 2005 Iowa Review Award, PEN/Hemingway Award Finalist (2019)
- Fun Fact: Kenny’s travels to Japan and Peru shape her vivid, global storytelling.
Ready to lose yourself in Meghan Kenny’s world? Snag The Driest Season and dive into her soulful, visual prose!