Picture a storyteller who weaves fairy tales with a fierce feminist edge and a deep Jewish heart—meet Veronica Schanoes! This American author and Queens College professor has carved a unique niche in speculative fiction, blending dark fantasy with historical grit and social justice. Her work, like the award-winning Burning Girls and Other Stories, pulses with raw emotion and bold reimaginings of classic tales, making her a standout voice in contemporary literature.
With a knack for turning folklore into something both haunting and empowering, Schanoes invites readers into worlds where marginalized voices—especially Jewish women—take center stage. Ready to dive into her spellbinding stories? Let’s explore the life and legacy of this literary trailblazer.
The Making of Veronica Schanoes
Veronica Schanoes grew up with a love for stories that shaped her path as both a scholar and a writer. Earning her doctorate in English literature from the University of Pennsylvania in 2007, she dove deep into fairy tales, feminist theory, and Jewish representation in speculative fiction. Her academic roots inform her creative work, giving it a rich, layered quality that resonates with readers and critics alike. Influenced by leftist values and a commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices, Schanoes began crafting fantasy stories that challenge power dynamics and reframe traditional narratives.
Her early career blended teaching at Queens College, CUNY, with publishing short fiction on platforms like Tor.com. This dual role as educator and storyteller allowed her to explore the intersections of myth, history, and identity, setting the stage for her distinctive voice in fantasy literature.
Veronica Schanoes’s Unforgettable Stories
Schanoes’s writing is a vibrant tapestry of fairy tale retellings, Jewish folklore, and social commentary. Her debut collection, Burning Girls and Other Stories (2021), is a masterclass in blending historical trauma with fantastical elements. The titular novella, Burning Girls, reimagines Grimm’s Rumpelstiltskin through the lens of a Jewish girl in 19th-century Poland, confronting demons and antisemitism as she navigates a new life in America’s sweatshops. This powerful work won the Shirley Jackson Award and was nominated for Nebula and World Fantasy Awards.
Another gem, Among the Thorns, responds to the antisemitic fairy tale The Jew in the Thornbush. It follows Itte, a young Jewish girl seeking vengeance for her father’s murder, weaving a tale of cultural identity and poetic justice. Stories like Emma Goldman Takes Tea with the Baba Yaga showcase Schanoes’s ability to merge historical figures with mythic archetypes, exploring Jewish revolutionary spirits with a sharp, socialist edge. Her prose is precise yet dreamy, balancing whimsy with the weight of real-world pain.
Schanoes’s style stands out for its feminist and socialist lens, often centering women and Jewish experiences. Her work excavates the pain of history—antisemitism, labor exploitation, gendered violence—while offering narratives of resilience and rebellion. Whether set in a shtetl or a New York tenement, her stories feel alive, urgent, and deeply human.
Why Veronica Schanoes Matters
Veronica Schanoes is more than a fantasy writer; she’s a cultural alchemist, transforming fairy tales into vehicles for social justice and Jewish identity. Her work challenges the often Eurocentric, Christianized narratives of traditional folklore, offering instead stories that honor the resilience of Jewish communities and women’s strength. By tackling themes like antisemitism, worker’s rights, and feminist empowerment, she bridges the gap between academic theory and accessible storytelling, making her a vital voice in speculative fiction.
Her influence extends beyond literature, inspiring readers to question power structures and embrace marginalized perspectives. As a professor, she shapes future writers and scholars, while her fiction continues to spark conversations about history, identity, and justice. Schanoes’s legacy is one of courage, creativity, and unwavering commitment to truth.
- Key Work: Burning Girls and Other Stories (2021)
- Awards: Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novella (2013) for Burning Girls
- Academic Role: Associate Professor at Queens College, CUNY
Snag Burning Girls and Other Stories and dive into Veronica Schanoes’s fierce, fantastical world! Her tales of Jewish magic, feminist fire, and historical heart will leave you enchanted and inspired.