Stephen Beachy
Encyclopedia
Stephen Beachy is a writer. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa
, in 1965. His first novel, The Whistling Song, was published by W. W. Norton
with cover illustrations by Curt Kirkwood
in 1991 and his second, Distortion, by Harrington Park Press, in 2000 and was reprinted in December 2010 by Rebel Satori Press. Two novellas, Some Phantom and No Time Flat were published in 2006 by Suspect Thoughts Press and have been described as a cross between The Turn of the Screw
and Herk Harvey's Carnival of Souls
. Robert Gluck said, "In these twin novellas, he explores madness and crime with the nocturnal lyricism of empty time and space." Beachy's fiction has been published in BOMB, Chicago Review, Blithe House Quarterly, SHADE, and various anthologies. He has written literary criticism for the San Francisco Bay Guardian
. In October, 2005, he published an article in New York Magazine, exposing the writer JT LeRoy
as the concoction of a woman named Laura Albert
, with the help of her family members.
From 1995 to 1996, he taught for WritersCorps
in San Francisco. Beachy now teaches in the MFA Program at the University of San Francisco
.
Beachy's parents are Mennonites and his paternal prandparents were Old Order Amish. His brother Tim Beachy is a member of the band Squidboy. Beachy is also a second cousin of biologist Philip Beachy and historian Robert Beachy.
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, in 1965. His first novel, The Whistling Song, was published by W. W. Norton
W. W. Norton
W. W. Norton & Company is an independent American book publishing company based in New York City. It is well known for its "Norton Anthologies", particularly the Norton Anthology of English Literature and the "Norton Critical Editions" series of texts which are frequently assigned in university...
with cover illustrations by Curt Kirkwood
Curt Kirkwood
Curtis Matthew Kirkwood is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, but currently resides in Austin, Texas....
in 1991 and his second, Distortion, by Harrington Park Press, in 2000 and was reprinted in December 2010 by Rebel Satori Press. Two novellas, Some Phantom and No Time Flat were published in 2006 by Suspect Thoughts Press and have been described as a cross between The Turn of the Screw
The Turn of the Screw
The Turn of the Screw is a novella written by Henry James. Originally published in 1898, it is ostensibly a ghost story.Due to its ambiguous content, it became a favourite text of academics who subscribe to New Criticism. The novella has had differing interpretations, often mutually exclusive...
and Herk Harvey's Carnival of Souls
Carnival of Souls
Carnival of Souls is a 1962 independent horror film starring Candace Hilligoss. Produced and directed by Herk Harvey for an estimated $33,000, the film did not gain widespread attention when originally released, as a B film; today, however, it is a cult classic...
. Robert Gluck said, "In these twin novellas, he explores madness and crime with the nocturnal lyricism of empty time and space." Beachy's fiction has been published in BOMB, Chicago Review, Blithe House Quarterly, SHADE, and various anthologies. He has written literary criticism for the San Francisco Bay Guardian
San Francisco Bay Guardian
The San Francisco Bay Guardian is a free alternative newspaper published weekly in San Francisco, California. The paper is owned mostly by its publisher, Bruce B...
. In October, 2005, he published an article in New York Magazine, exposing the writer JT LeRoy
JT LeRoy
Jeremiah "Terminator" LeRoy was a pseudonym created by American writer Laura Albert. The name was used from 1996 on for publication in magazines such as Nerve and Shout NY. After his first novel Sarah was published, "LeRoy" started making public appearances...
as the concoction of a woman named Laura Albert
Laura Albert
Laura Victoria Albert is the author of writings credited to the fictional teenage persona of JT LeRoy, a long-running literary hoax in which LeRoy was presented to the public and publishers as a transgender, sexually questioning, abused, former homeless drug addict and male prostitute...
, with the help of her family members.
From 1995 to 1996, he taught for WritersCorps
Writerscorps
WritersCorps is an American artists-in-service organization that hires professional writers to teach creative writing to youth. It grew from a national service model in the WPA tradition and is now an alliance of separately-run organizations in three cities....
in San Francisco. Beachy now teaches in the MFA Program at the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
.
Beachy's parents are Mennonites and his paternal prandparents were Old Order Amish. His brother Tim Beachy is a member of the band Squidboy. Beachy is also a second cousin of biologist Philip Beachy and historian Robert Beachy.
External links
- Stephen Beachy's website
- http://novelistic.typepad.com/novelistic/2007/04/stephen_beachy.html/Interview with Stephen Beachy