Sheila O’Connor is the author of two critically acclaimed novels, Where No Gods Came (University of Michigan Press) and Tokens of Grace (Milkweed Editions). Where No Gods Came was chosen as a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers title and won the Minnesota Book Award as well as the Michigan Award for Literary Fiction. Tokens of Grace was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award and nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her poetry and fiction have been published in anthologies and magazines including Mother and Daughters (Harmony Books) and The Next Parish Over (New Rivers Press) and The Best of Helicon Nine. Just Say the Word, a short story, won the Tamarack Award. She is the editor of two collections of poetry written by students from throughout Minnesota: Come Home Before Dark and In My Hand Forever. She is currently at work on a new novel.

Sheila was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota and received her B.A. from the University of Minnesota. She received her M.F.A. degree from the University of Iowa, Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Sheila has been the recipient of fellowships from the Bush Foundation, Loft McKnight and the Minnesota State Arts Board. She has taught fiction and poetry writing at the University of Minnesota, Metropolitan State University, the Loft, and Hamline University. In 2002, she was the recipient of the Outstanding Teaching and Service Award at Hamline University where she is an Assistant Professor in the Graduate Liberal Studies Program. In addition to her work with adults, she has also worked extensively with young people and educators for the past twenty years as a Writer-in-Residence. Her experience in K-12 education includes staff training as well as writing curriculum development.

• Feature Article in Minneapolis Star Tribune
• Author questionnaire & perspectives
• Author interview with Mary Grossman, St. Paul Pioneer Press
• Email Sheila

Author photo by Linda Cullen