Lori Jakiela Explained

Lori Jakiela
Occupation:	Author
Nationality:	American
Alma Mater:	Gannon University
Awards:	William Saroyan International Prize for Writing (2016)

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.^{[1] [2]}

Education and career

Jakiela was raised in Trafford, Pennsylvania and attended Gannon University.^[3] She is a professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg,^[4] and has also taught at Chatham University and served as co-director of the Chautauqua Institution's Summer Writers Festival.^[5]

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.^{[6] [7]} She was awarded a City of Asylum residency in Belgium in 2015.^[8]

She has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize.^[1]

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.^[8]

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)^{[2] [9]}
• The Bridge to Take When Things Get Serious (C&R Press, 2013)^[10]
• Miss New York Has Everything (Hatchette 2006)^[11]

Essays

• Portrait of the Artist as a Bingo Worker: Essays on Work and the Writing Life (Bottom Dog Press, 2017)^[12]
• 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)^[13]

External links

• Official website
• Faculty profile at University of Pittsburgh-Greenburg
• Faculty profile at Chatham University

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2016 nonfiction winner. Stanford Libraries. en. 2020-01-11.
2. News: Pittsburgh Current. Pittsburgh Author Gets Re-Release Of Award-Winning 2016 Memoir. Jody. DiPerna. September 9, 2019.
3. Web site: A closer look: Lori Jakiela. 2013-04-04. University Times. en. 2020-01-11.
4. Jones Susan. "Blum, Shekhar named to lead search committee for new chancellor." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: University Times, University of Pittsburgh, August 24, 2022.
5. Web site: Lori Jakiela. University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. 2020-01-14.
6. Web site: 2016 nonfiction winner. Stanford Libraries. en. 2020-01-11.
7. News: Pittsburgh Current. Pittsburgh Author Gets Re-Release Of Award-Winning 2016 Memoir. Jody. DiPerna. September 9, 2019.
8. Web site: Trafford writer wins City of Asylum residency in Belgium. Carpenter. Mackenzie. 2015-01-19. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. en. registration. 2020-01-11.
9. Reviews of Belief Is Its Own Kind of Truth, Maybe:
   • News: 'Belief Is Its Own Kind of Truth, Maybe': Lori Jakiela elevates the adoption memoir. Reed. Shannon. August 15, 2015. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
   • News: Hot Book Titles to Take to the Beach. Norman. Tony. June 15, 2015. The Frederick News-Post. NewspaperArchive.com.
   • Weave Magazine. Creation Stories: A Review of Lori Jakiela's, Belief Is Its Own Kind of Truth, Maybe. R. A.. Voss. June 6, 2015.
   • Heavy Feather Review. November 11, 2015. Belief Is Its Own Kind of Truth, Maybe, by Lori Jakiela. Vivian. Wagner.
   • Hippocampus. Reviews of three adoption memoirs. Michele. Sharpe. October 19, 2019.
   • Brevity. A Review of Lori Jakiela's Belief Is Its Own Kind of Truth, Maybe. Ellee. Prince. September 8, 2015.
   • Atticus Review. Finding Yourself Among Shifting Identities: A Review of 'Belief Is Its Own Kind of Truth, Maybe' By Lori Jakiela. October 4, 2015.
   • New Orleans Review. Belief Is Its Own Kind of Truth, Maybe. William. Boyle.
10. Reviews of The Bridge to Take When Things Get Serious:
    • News: Briefing Books: 'Hemlock Grove' hits it big; Lori Jakiela hits a nerve. Norman. Tony. May 19, 2013. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
    • News: City Paper. Lori Jakiela's new memoir is as much coming-of-age story as it is mid-life crisis. Bill. O'Driscoll. July 24, 2013.
11. Reviews of Miss New York Has Everything:
    • Nonfiction Book Review: Miss New York Has Everything: A Memoir. Publishers Weekly.
    • News: 'Miss New York Has Everything' by Lori Jakiela. Rouvalis. Cristina. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
12. Reviews of Portrait of the Artist as a Bingo Worker:
    • News: City Paper. Lori Jakiela's Portrait of the Artist as a Bingo Worker: The book's backbone is its celebration of labor. Fred. Shaw. January 24, 2018.
    • Pittsburgh Magazine. Undercover: What We're Reading in October. September 27, 2018. Kristofer. Collins.
13. Review of Big Fish:
    • News: Reviews of new chapbooks by Lori Jakiela and Judith Robinson: Jakiela's Big Fish explores everyday life, while Robinson's When I Loved You gets more philosophical. City Paper. Fred. Shaw. July 6, 2016.