Jonis Agee
Encyclopedia
Jonis Agee is a writer of short stories, novels, essays, and screenplays. She is the author of thirteen books, including five novels and five collections of short fiction. Three of her books have been New York Times Notable Books.
, and grew up in Nebraska and Missouri, places where many of her stories and novels are set. In addition, she lived for many years in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she taught at The College of St. Catherine
. She has also taught at the University of Michigan
, and the University of Nebraska. Educated at The University of Iowa
(BA) and The State University of New York at Binghamton (MA, PhD), she is the Adele Hall Professor of English at The University of Nebraska — Lincoln, where she teaches creative writing and twentieth-century fiction.
Her most recent novel, The River Wife (Random House
, 2007) is about five generations of women who experience love and heartbreak, passion and deceit against the backdrop of the nineteenth-century South. The book was selected by the Book of the Month Club
, the Literary Guild, and as a main selection by the Quality Paperback Book Club.
She lives on an acreage north of Omaha, Nebraska
, along the Missouri River
, with her husband, writer Brent Spencer.
Biography
Fiction writer, essayist, and screenwriter Jonis Agee was born in Omaha, NebraskaOmaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, and grew up in Nebraska and Missouri, places where many of her stories and novels are set. In addition, she lived for many years in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she taught at The College of St. Catherine
College of St. Catherine
St. Catherine University is a private Catholic university for women located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. There is also a campus in Minneapolis. Enrollment is 5,246 students. With approximately 2,900 bachelor's students, it is the largest university for women in the United States. Its...
. She has also taught at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, and the University of Nebraska. Educated at The University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
(BA) and The State University of New York at Binghamton (MA, PhD), she is the Adele Hall Professor of English at The University of Nebraska — Lincoln, where she teaches creative writing and twentieth-century fiction.
Her most recent novel, The River Wife (Random House
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
, 2007) is about five generations of women who experience love and heartbreak, passion and deceit against the backdrop of the nineteenth-century South. The book was selected by the Book of the Month Club
Book of the Month Club
The Book of the Month Club is a United States mail-order book sales club that offers a new book each month to customers.The Book of the Month Club is part of a larger company that runs many book clubs in the United States and Canada. It was formerly the flagship club of Book-of-the-Month Club, Inc...
, the Literary Guild, and as a main selection by the Quality Paperback Book Club.
She lives on an acreage north of Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, along the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
, with her husband, writer Brent Spencer.
Novels
- South of Resurrection (1998)
- Strange Angels (2000)
- The Weight of Dreams (2000)
- Sweet Eyes (2003)
- The River Wife (2007)
Short story collections
- Pretend We've Never Met (1989)
- Bend This Heart (1989)
- A .38 Special and a Broken Heart (1995)
- Taking the Wall (1999)
- Acts of Love on Indigo Road (2003)
Awards
- Minnesota State Arts Board Award in Fiction, 1977
- National Endowment for the Arts grant in fiction, 1978
- Bush Grant for Faculty Development in Creative Writing, 1983
- Loft-McKnight Award in Fiction, 1989
- Notable Book of the Year for Bend This Heart, New York Times, 1989
- Loft-McKnight Award of Distinction, 1991
- Notable Book of the Year for Sweet Eyes, New York Times, 1991
- Notable Book of the Year for Strange Angels, New York Times, 1993
- ForeWord Magazine's Editor's Choice Award for Taking the Wall, 2000
- Nebraska Book Award for The Weight of Dreams, 2000
- Nebraska Book Award Acts of Love on Indigo Road, 2004
- ForeWord Magazine's Gold Medal in Fiction for Acts of Love on Indigo Road, 2004
- John Gardner Fiction Award for The River Wife, Binghamton University, 2008
- Distinguished Artist Award in Fiction, Nebraska Arts Council, 2009
- Backwaters Press Publication Award, Nebraska Arts Council, 2009
- Mark Twain Award for Distinguished Contribution to Midwestern Literature, The Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature, 2009
- George Garrett Award, Association of Writers and Writing Programs, 2010
- Outstanding Research and Creativity Award (ORCA), University of Nebraska, 2010