Debra Monroe
Debra Monroe is an American novelist, short story writer, memoirist, and essayist. She has written seven books, including two story collections, a collection of essays, two novels, and two memoirs, and is also editor of an anthology of nonfiction. Monroe has been twice nominated for the National Book Award, is a winner of the prestigious Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction, and was cited on several "10 Best Books" lists for her nationally-acclaimed memoir, On the Outskirts of Normal: Forging a Family Against the Grain. As a Professor of English at Texas State University–San Marcos, Monroe has received numerous honors, including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2012, and The Conference of Southern Graduate Schools Outstanding Mentor Award, 2020. Early life and education Monroe was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota and grew up in Spooner, Wisconsin. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, her Master of Arts degree from Kansas State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in English from the University of Utah. Monroe has previously taught at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and currently teaches in the MFA Program at Texas State University–San Marcos. She lives