Lori Jakiela is an American author of memoirs and poetry. She won Stanford University's William Saroyan International Prize for Writing for non-fiction for her third memoir, Belief Is Its Own Kind of Truth Maybe, in 2016.
Education and career Jakiela was raised in Trafford, Pennsylvania and attended Gannon University. She is a professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg,Jones Susan. "Blum, Shekhar named to lead search committee for new chancellor." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: University Times, University of Pittsburgh, August 24, 2022. and has also taught at Chatham University and served as co-director of the Chautauqua Institution's Summer Writers Festival.
Recognition Jakiela won Stanford University's William Saroyan International Prize for Writing for non-fiction for her third memoir, Belief Is Its Own Kind of Truth Maybe, in 2016. She was awarded a City of Asylum residency in Belgium in 2015.
She has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize.
Personal life Jakiela has worked as a flight attendant and as a freelance journalist, including The New York Times. the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and The Washington Post. She is married to novelist Dave Newman.
Selected works
Memoir
They Write Your Name on a Grain of Rice: On Cancer, Love and Living Even So (Atticus Books, 2023) Belief Is Its Own Kind of Truth, Maybe (Atticus Books, 2015; Autumn House Press, 2019)Reviews of Belief Is Its Own Kind of Truth, Maybe: The Bridge to Take When Things Get Serious (C&R Press, 2013)Reviews of The Bridge to Take When Things Get Serious: Miss New York Has Everything (Hatchette 2006)Reviews of Miss New York Has Everything:
Essays
Portrait of the Artist as a Bingo Worker: Essays on Work and the Writing Life (Bottom Dog Press, 2017)Reviews of Portrait of the Artist as a Bingo Worker: Ed. by M.J. Fievre. All that Glitters: A Sliver of Stone Anthology (Lominy Books, 2013) Ed by Sheryl St. Germain and Margaret Whitford. Between Song and Story: Essays for the 21st Century (Autumn Press House, 2011) Ed. by Elizabeth Penfield. Short Takes: Model Essays for Composition (Pearson) Ed. by Lee Gutkind. Keep It Real: Everything You Need to Know about Researching and Writing Creative Nonfiction (W.W. Norton, 2008) Ed. by Dinty Moore. The Truth of the Matter: Art and Craft in Creative Nonfiction (Pearson, 2006)
Poetry
How Do You Like It Now, Gentlemen? Poems at Mid-Life (Brickhouse Books, 2021) Spot the Terrorist (Turning Point 2012) The Regulars (Liquid Paper Press, 2001) Red Eye (Pudding House, 2010) The Mill Hunk's Daughter Meets the Queen of Sky (Finishing Line, 2011) Big Fish (Stranded Oak Press, 2016)Review of Big Fish:
References
External links Official website Faculty profile at University of Pittsburgh-Greenburg Faculty profile at Chatham University