Melanie Sumner
Melanie Sumner earned her MFA at Boston University and her B.A. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a former professor in the MFA Creative Writing program at Kennesaw State University and former writer-residence at three universities. Her published novels are How to Write a Novel (Random House), The Ghost of Milagro Creek (Algonquin) The School of Beauty and Charm (Algonquin), and Polite Society (Houghton Mifflin). She is a recipient of numerous awards, including the Whiting Award, a National Endowment for the Arts grant, and the New Mexico Book award. Currently she is editing a novel set in Alaska and outlining an historical novel.
Melanie’s publishing history includes short fiction and creative nonfiction in numerous journals and anthologies including The New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine, The New York Times, and Atlanta Magazine. She has appeared on NPR and Georgia Public Radio. Currently she lives in Taos, New Mexico.
Student Feedback for Melanie
I was worried about taking a course from a published novelist, but Melanie is so down to earth and easy to work with. She made me feel confident and taught me so much. Plus she has a great sense of humor. Amanda Wong
Melanie is one of those teachers who makes you want to do your best work. I thought I knew a lot about creative writing, but she showed me ways to make my story pop off the page. She is professional and encouraging. Lorenzo Sanchez
What a great class! We learned how to put our short stories together piece by piece and had a blast. At the end of the class I had some new friends and a short story I’m proud to send out for publication. Kyle Lindberg
I thought I was too old to become a writer, but it’s always been my dream. With Melanie’s helpful feedback and encouragement, I’ve written two short stories and outlined a novel. Mavis Bridgewater
