Deesha Philyaw | |
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| Born | 1971 (age 54–55) |
| Education | |
| Occupations | Author, workshop leader, columnist |
| Website | deeshaphilyaw |
Deesha Philyaw is an Americanauthor,columnist, andpublic speaker. Her debutshort story collection,The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, was a finalist for the 2020National Book Award for Fiction and wonThe Story Prize.[1] Her personal essay writing topics include race, sex, gender, and pop culture.[2][3][4][5]
Philyaw was raised inJacksonville, Florida.[6] She received a BA in economics fromYale University[7] and an MA in education fromManhattanville College.[8]
Philyaw worked in corporate communications at a Pittsburgh-area bank before quitting to pursue her writing consultancy and freelance writing full-time. She decided to give up on her major and pursue what her passion.[9] She cites among her literary inspirationsToni Morrison,James Baldwin,Nafissa Thompson-Spires,Bassey Ikpi, and Tyrese Coleman.[10]
Philyaw's first book,Co-Parenting 101: Helping Your Kids Thrive in Two Households After Divorce, was written in collaboration with her ex-husband, Michael D. Thomas, and published in May 2013.[11]
Her debut short story collection,The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (2020), received critical acclaim.[12][13] Writing in the MinneapolisStar Tribune,Marion Winik said “Juicy goodness bursts from every page of Deesha Philyaw's debut short story collection. . . . This collection marks the emergence of a bona fide literary treasure.”[14] A starred review inKirkus Reviews said, "A collection of luminous stories populated by deeply moving and multifaceted characters. . . . Tender, fierce, proudly black and beautiful, these stories will sneak inside you and take root."[15] The book won the 2020Los Angeles Times Book Prize,[16] the 2021PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction,[17] the 2020/2021Story Prize[18] and was a finalist for theNational Book Award for Fiction.[19]
Philyaw has written a series of columns forThe Rumpus, titledVisible: Women Writers of Color[20] and forLiterary Mama,[21]The Girl is Mine.[22] Her essays have also appeared in theHarvard Review,The New York Times, andThe Washington Post.[10]
In 2021, Philyaw appeared onStorybound (podcast) reading an excerpts from her book,The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, with music sampled fromGil Assayas of GLASYS.
In 2021, it was announced thatThe Secret Lives of Church Ladies would be adapted for television byHBO Max with Philyaw and actressTessa Thompson executive producing through Thompson's production company Viva Maude.[23]
Philyaw currently lives in Miami, Florida with her two daughters.[24]
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